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Greece plans to create two marine parks, one in the Ionian Sea and one in the Aegean Sea

Greece Announces Major Initiative for Marine Parks

In a significant environmental move, Greece has announced plans to invest €780 million in the creation and maintenance of marine parks across the country. These initiatives aim to protect marine biodiversity and make Greece a leader in marine conservation in Europe, including a ground-breaking ban on bottom trawling in all marine protected areas.

Screenshot of NovoScuba's website

New UK-Based Dive Training Agency Launched

NovoScuba, a UK-based dive training agency, has announced the introduction of a subscription-based training platform, aiming to offer an alternative approach to the traditional dive education system. The founders, leveraging over a century of combined experience in the diving industry, have designed a platform that they believe will modernize diving education by addressing some of the shortcomings of existing training methods.

pregnant shark
A pregnant reef shark (Ila France Porcher)

pH Threshold Unlocks Reproductive Maturity in Sharks and Rays

For fish and other water-breathing animals like sharks and rays, reaching reproductive maturity is a crucial milestone that impacts their entire life history. The size at which they reach maturity, coupled with their subsequent growth rate, affects their longevity and reproductive capacity. Now, researchers have pinpointed a specific pH threshold, termed the "reproductive respiration threshold" (RRT), which kickstarts the hormonal processes leading to maturation.

Explorer Ventures – Retro 1987 Birthday Celebration Sale

It's time to awaken your inner '80s icon, dust off that boombox, tease up those bangs, and get ready to score some epic 1987 savings with Explorer Ventures Fleet! 

This sale is running for two weeks only, starting May 7th - May 21st, 2024. This is your chance to score some epic savings that are hotter than a Miami summer. 

Shark nets in New South Wales
Shark nets in New South Wales (Sam Hood, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

Unintended Deaths Soar in NSW Shark Net Program

According to the findings, more than half of the 208 non-target species ensnared in the nets over the past eight months met a grim fate, with 134 animals, including critically endangered grey nurse sharks and leatherback turtles, among the casualties. The figures, made public as the nets were removed for the season, highlight the significant toll the program exacts on marine biodiversity.