Ocean health | Spark of Genius

Island states win historic climate case in world oceans court

By Peter Schulte / July 21, 2024

Nine small island states have won a historic climate change case at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, which ruled that all signatories to a United Nations treaty on marine activities must do more to protect the world’s oceans from climate change. The tribunal found that signatories to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea’s responsibilities to prevent marine pollution extend to greenhouse gas emissions, which harm oceans by altering the earth’s atmosphere.

New Zealand to ban most single-use plastics by 2025

By Peter Schulte / June 28, 2021

The new measure builds on the country’s 2019 decision to phase-out plastic bags and includes everything from disposable cutlery to ear buds and fruit labels, The Guardian reported.

U.K. launches world’s largest ocean monitoring system

By Peter Schulte / April 7, 2021

The U.K. government, under the Blue Belt program, has announced its plan to install underwater camera rigs for monitoring ocean wildlife across over 4 million square kilometers of ocean space.

India fishermen divert their catch of ocean plastic so it can be used to rebuild roads

By Peter Schulte / April 5, 2021

The Kerala fishermen’s work has so far amassed 176,000 pounds (80,000 kilograms) of plastic, of which more than half has gone towards creating 84 miles (135km) of road.

Canada launches satellite technology that identifies vessels illegally catching fish

By Peter Schulte / March 15, 2021

It is estimated that illegal fishing accounts for about 30% of all fishing worldwide, representing up to 26 million tons of fish caught annually at a cost to the global economy of more than $23 billion a year.

Sanctuary containing ‘healthiest coral reefs in the world’ just tripled in size

By Peter Schulte / February 11, 2021

The Gulf of Mexico’s largest coral sanctuary just got 200 percent bigger, now that the U.S. government formally approved the expansion of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary.

Ivory Coast designates first-ever marine sanctuary

By Peter Schulte / January 15, 2021

The 1,000 square mile area is the first of five that the Ivory Coast government has designated for protection.

14 countries commit to ocean sustainability initiative

By Peter Schulte / December 8, 2020

Governments from 14 countries responsible for 40% of the world’s coastlines and 20% of global fisheries have committed to sustainably manage their national waters by 2025 and encouraged all other nations to join them by 2030.

Chinese island province of Hainan bans all disposable plastics

By Peter Schulte / December 7, 2020

Plastic polymer food containers, forks, drink cups, knives, straws, plastic bags, packaging bags, and other items that are not biodegradable are no longer allowed to be sold at major establishments like supermarkets, hospitals, government and state-owned buildings like schools, and tourist attractions.

Tristan da Cunha establishes a massive marine protected area

By Peter Schulte / November 16, 2020

The government of Tristan da Cunha, a four-island archipelago of about 250 people, has announced that it will be protecting approximately 700,000 square kilometers of its waters, creating the world’s fourth-largest Marine Protected Area.