A group of experts from international conservation organizations is announcing a new strategy for combating the decline of sharks and closely related rays, while warning that the rays are even more threatened and less protected than the higher profile sharks.
The call for greater inclusion of rays in conservation action plans is part of "Global Priorities for Conserving Sharks and Rays: A 2015-2025 Strategy," released today in conjunction with a Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) meeting on shark conservation currently underway in San Jose, Costa Rica.

Australia’s leading marine scientists are appealing to the federal government to reject a review expected to recommend a significant reduction in the size of ocean sanctuaries and an expansion of areas permitted for commercial fishing.

The second meeting of the signatories to the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Sharks is taking place in San José from 15 to 19 February at the kind invitation of the Costa Rican Government. It will be preceded by the first meeting of the Memorandum’s Advisory Committee under the chairmanship of John Carlson of the USA. The MOU is a non-legally binding instrument and was negotiated under the auspices of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS).

More than 7000 tropical islands, clear warm water, vast coral reefs and mind-blowingly beautiful flora and fauna make the Philippines a true scuba diver’s paradise.
You can find almost every underwater adventure and experience here. At some dive resorts, shore diving on the house reef is popular, but divers can also hop on a day boat or live-aboard to access the sheer reef walls and atolls offshore.

Applying circular economy principles to global plastic packaging flows could transform the plastics economy and drastically reduce negative externalities such as leakage into oceans, according to the latest report by the World Economic Forum and Ellen MacArthur Foundation, with analytical support from McKinsey & Company.

In a significant move to save one of the world’s most-treasured marine animals, Peru has approved strong regulations to protect the giant oceanic manta ray, a species particularly vulnerable to fishing activity.

President Barack Obama Monday signed into law a bill phasing out the manufacture of facewash, toothpaste and shampoo containing plastic microbeads by July 1, 2017 and the sale of these products by July 1, 2018.

The holidays are upon us, and ’tis the season for many parties and gatherings. The Office of Response and Restoration has put together a few tips for keeping your impact on the ocean low throughout all your festivities, including a few for reducing waste that could become marine debris:

It was a bright day for the Ocean at the UN climate talks in Paris on Friday.
Over fifty of the world’s greatest advocates for the Ocean ranging from Environment Ministers, EU Commissioners, Ambassadors, UN officials and eminent scientists shared a common concern and call.
All cited the importance of a healthy Ocean for planetary stability, all lamented the current fragile state of the Ocean, and all called for cohesive action moving forward.

The Oceans Day at COP21, on Friday 4 December, will build on the recommendations and solutions put forward by the Ocean and Climate Forum, previous UNFCCC Oceans Days and the Oceans Day at Rio+20, as well as the outcome of the World Oceans Day organized by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission and the Ocean and Climate Platform at UNESCO Headquarters.