Science

Also known as “sea cows”, manatees are some of the gentlest (and cutest) creatures in the ocean. A few fun facts: 💙 They can eat up to 10% of their body weight in plants every day 💙 They spend most of their time resting, grazing, and cruising slowly 💙 They’re incredibly curious and social, often approaching humans (please admire from a distance!) 💙 They can hold their breath for up to 20 minutes, but usually come up every few minutes for air Let’s keep protecting these peaceful giants and the waters they call home. #ManateeAwarenessDay #OceanIssues ·Manatees #WildlifeConservation #SeaCows

Also known as “sea cows”, manatees are some of the gentlest (and cutest) creatures in the ocean. A few fun facts: 💙 They can eat up to 10% of their body weight in plants every day 💙 They spend most of their time resting, grazing, and cruising slowly 💙 They’re incredibly curious and social, often approaching humans (please admire from a distance!) 💙 They can hold their breath for up to 20 minutes, but usually come up every few minutes for air Let’s keep protecting these peaceful giants and the waters they call home. #ManateeAwarenessDay #oceanissues #WildlifeConservation #SeaCows

Seagrass meadows may not get as much attention as coral reefs or mangroves, but they are just as vital to our planet 🌱🌊 Seagrass ecosystems capture and store large amounts of carbon (helping fight climate change), provide shelter and nursery grounds for marine life, protect coastlines from erosion and support fisheries and food security for millions of people Yet, seagrass is disappearing at an alarming rate due to pollution, coastal development, and climate change. Protecting seagrass is about preserving biodiversity, strengthening coastal communities, and securing a healthier future for our oceans. #Seagrass #OceanConservation #MakeaDifference #ProtectOurPlanet

Day 2 at the Villars Ocean Forum 🌊 Kicked things off with a brief but inspiring chat with Her Deepness Dr. Sylvia Earle, followed by a fascinating presentation from Prince Shah Karim al-Hussaini. The day continued with powerful discussions on the role of storytelling in driving real change, and wrapped up with an excellent roundtable on ocean regeneration projects. So many insightful ideas and meaningful conversations—truly energizing to be part of it all. #villarsoceanforum #oceanissues

Great first day at the Villars Ocean Forum 2026. Started with an impactful keynote, followed by the latest science on global tipping points—some of it quite concerning. There was also important discussion around changes in major ocean systems and what they could mean for our shared ocean. The sessions balanced urgency with optimism, with thoughtful conversations on solutions, policy development, and implementation. Looking forward to seeing what tomorrow brings.

The Go Diving Show is on and it is ON FIRE! Come and say hi.

Rain or shine! An enjoyable, but very windy day on the Isle of Wight yesterday doing macro and micro plastic surveys with some UoP students.

We’ve become so used to seeing plastic on our beaches that many of us barely notice it anymore. A bottle here. A wrapper there. Just part of the scenery. But plastic is never just an eyesore. It entangles marine animals. Birds mistake it for food. Sun and waves break it down into microplastics that enter the ocean, the food chain, and ultimately us. What we’ve learned to ignore is quietly causing lasting harm. The environment shouldn’t be a dumping ground. #OceanIssues #PlasticPollution #ProtectOurOceans #OceanHealth #StopPlastic

Bull sharks (Carcharhinus leucas) are apex predators that play a key role in maintaining marine ecosystem stability. By regulating prey populations, they help preserve biodiversity and support healthy reef and coastal systems. Despite their ecological importance, bull sharks face increasing pressure from overfishing, bycatch, and habitat degradation. Protecting sharks is a science-based approach to protecting ocean health. #SharkScience #MarineConservation #BullShark #ApexPredators #OceanEcosystems ProtectOurOceans