Breaking Waves: Ocean News https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-waves/karl.mathiesen.freelance%40guardian.co.uk en Shark culls brought in after fatal attack cause division and anger in New Caledonia https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/shark-culls-brought-after-fatal-attack-cause-division-and-anger-new-caledonia <p>Authorities say capture of bull and tiger sharks necessary to protect lives as environmentalists launch urgent legal challenge</p> <p>Some beaches in areas of New Caledonia are closed to swimming and the authorities have begun shark culling off the capital, Nouméa, after a fatal attack in the popular tourist spot – prompting a legal challenge to stop the operation and reigniting debate over public safety and marine conservation.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/shark-culls-brought-after-fatal-attack-cause-division-and-anger-new-caledonia" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 02 Mar 2026 04:20:27 +0000 admin 102736 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Concerns for ‘declining’ fur seal spotted at Cooks River in inner Sydney https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/concerns-declining-fur-seal-spotted-cooks-river-inner-sydney <p>Long-nosed fur seal seen on banks of waterway in city’s inner west similar to those occasionally found outside Sydney Opera House</p> <ul> <li> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2026/mar/02/politics-updates-federal-parliament-anthony-albanese-labor-angus-taylor-coalition-nsw-budget-estimates-iran-war-reactions-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></p> </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/concerns-declining-fur-seal-spotted-cooks-river-inner-sydney" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 02 Mar 2026 02:56:47 +0000 admin 102735 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Disbelief as crocodile captured in Newcastle creek thousands of kilometres from natural habitat https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/disbelief-crocodile-captured-newcastle-creek-thousands-kilometres-natural-habitat <p>The juvenile freshwater crocodile was first spotted by a group of teenagers in Ironbark Creek in the Australian city on Saturday</p> <p>An Australian freshwater crocodile has been captured in a city creek thousands of kilometres south of its normal range, after sightings shocked onlookers at a suburban park.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/crocodiles">crocodile</a> was first spotted in Ironbark Creek in Newcastle – about 100km north of Sydney – around midday on Saturday, by a group of teenagers.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/disbelief-crocodile-captured-newcastle-creek-thousands-kilometres-natural-habitat" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 02 Mar 2026 01:30:33 +0000 admin 102734 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Datacentre developers face calls to disclose effect on UK’s net emissions https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/datacentre-developers-face-calls-disclose-effect-uk-s-net-emissions <p>Campaign groups write to technology secretary amid concerns that sites could double overall electricity demand</p> <p>Datacentre developers are facing pressure to reveal whether their projects will increase the UK’s net greenhouse gas emissions, amid concerns the sites could <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/feb/23/new-datacentres-risk-doubling-uk-electricity-use-ofgem-peak-demand">double national electricity demand</a>.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/datacentre-developers-face-calls-disclose-effect-uk-s-net-emissions" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Sun, 01 Mar 2026 16:00:44 +0000 admin 102733 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Thousands of pollution incidents in England downgraded without site visit, data suggests https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/thousands-pollution-incidents-england-downgraded-without-site-visit-data-suggests <p>Exclusive: Whistleblower figures show large rise in ‘serious’ to ‘minor’ downgrades based on water company evidence</p> <p>Environment Agency (EA) staff have downgraded thousands of serious pollution incidents by water companies in England without visiting to investigate, data unearthed by freedom of information (FoI) requests suggests.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/thousands-pollution-incidents-england-downgraded-without-site-visit-data-suggests" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Sun, 01 Mar 2026 07:00:34 +0000 admin 102732 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org A scorching summer has left Australian wildlife on the brink, but it doesn’t have to be this way | Euan Ritchie and Jess Harwood https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/scorching-summer-has-left-australian-wildlife-brink-it-doesn-t-have-be-way-euan-ritchi <p>Unsettling predictions are now our catastrophic reality, but a brighter future is still within reach if our political leaders change course</p> <p>Soaring, scorching, record temperatures, yet again. Distressing, protracted droughts. Raging fires and devastating floods. Australia’s summer is drawing to a close, and a reprieve from <a href="https://theconversation.com/rain-one-minute-heatwave-the-next-how-climate-whiplash-drives-unpredictable-fire-weather-273104">climate whiplash</a> can’t come soon enough.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/scorching-summer-has-left-australian-wildlife-brink-it-doesn-t-have-be-way-euan-ritchi" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Sat, 28 Feb 2026 19:00:21 +0000 admin 102731 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org ‘Who’d guess they’re the same species?’ What Italy’s wall lizards reveal about genetic diversity and why it matters https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/who-d-guess-they-re-same-species-what-italy-s-wall-lizards-reveal-about-genetic-divers <p>Understanding biodiversity within species is key to our understanding of why nature works the way it does, say researchers</p> <ul> <li> <p>Words and photographs by Roberto García-Roa</p> </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/who-d-guess-they-re-same-species-what-italy-s-wall-lizards-reveal-about-genetic-divers" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Sat, 28 Feb 2026 07:00:05 +0000 admin 102730 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org North Dakota judge finalizes $345m judgment against Greenpeace in pipeline case https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/north-dakota-judge-finalizes-345m-judgment-against-greenpeace-pipeline-case <p>Judge slashed a $667m damages award to Energy Transfer over Greenpeace’s role in Dakota Access Pipeline protests</p> <p>A North Dakota judge on Friday finalized a $345m judgment against Greenpeace in a lawsuit pursued by pipeline company Energy Transfer <a href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/companies/ET.N">(ET.N)</a> over the environmental group’s role in protests against the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/north-dakota-judge-finalizes-345m-judgment-against-greenpeace-pipeline-case" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Sat, 28 Feb 2026 02:09:38 +0000 admin 102729 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Last of the summer rain puts southern states on flood watch and Sydney on alert for bull sharks https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/last-summer-rain-puts-southern-states-flood-watch-and-sydney-alert-bull-sharks <p>SA premier Peter Malinauskas warns residents to prepare for heavy falls and possible flash floods</p> <ul> <li> <p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p> </li> </ul> <p>Late summer rain is causing havoc across Australia, with South Australia on flood watch, Victoria cleaning up after a downpour, and Sydney issuing a shark warning after heavy falls.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/last-summer-rain-puts-southern-states-flood-watch-and-sydney-alert-bull-sharks" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Sat, 28 Feb 2026 00:33:05 +0000 admin 102728 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Winter getting shorter in 80% of major US cities, new data shows https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/winter-getting-shorter-80-major-us-cities-new-data-shows <p>Researchers find that across 195 US cities, winters are on average nine days shorter than they were in 1970-1997</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/winter-getting-shorter-80-major-us-cities-new-data-shows" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Fri, 27 Feb 2026 19:18:38 +0000 admin 102727 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org