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Human activity is increasing in the Arctic marine environment due to climate change. To help the most vulnerable areas, the Global Marine Program of IUCN, along with partners, is convening a series of workshops aimed at enhancing ecosystem-based management and identifying biologically or ecologically important or vulnerable habitats. Burgerbukta, a bay in Svalbard, Norway, is being managed for ecosystem protection.

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Protecting Arctic habitat

Human activity is increasing in the Arctic marine environment due to climate...

The Brazilian Atlantic Islands site was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2001. The rich waters of the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago and Rocas Atoll are extremely important for the breeding and feeding of tuna, shark, turtle, and marine mammals. Th

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Brazilian Atlantic Islands: Fernando de Noronha and Atol das Rocas Reserves

The Brazilian Atlantic Islands site was inscribed on the World Heritage List in...

Using dynamite to stun or kill bigger fish to sell at market leaves behind many dead undesired fish as bycatch.

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Fishing with Dynamite

Blast fishing, when dynamite or other explosives are used to stun or kill fish, is...

A white Antarctic landscape with John Weller standing away from the camera in the distance.

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Protecting a Pristine Ocean

While the Ross Sea is perhaps the most pristine place left in the world’s ocean,...

An adult leatherback turtle makes its way back to shore from the ocean.

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Female Leatherback Turtle Crawls From The Sea To Nest

"Leatherback turtles are the oldest, deepest-diving and widest-ranging of all sea...

The Exxon Valdez oil spill occurred on March 24, 1989 when an oil tanker grounded on a reef in Alaska’s Prince William Sound. It spilled almost 11 million gallons of crude oil, which reached 1,300 miles of coastline. The spill's remote location, accessib

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Exxon Valdez Oil Spill

The Exxon Valdez oil spill occurred on March 24, 1989 when an oil tanker grounded...

Traditional fishing techniques now involve monofilament nets, with snorkelers diving down to ensure the bigger fish don't get away.

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Fishing with a Net

Traditional fishing techniques now involve monofilament nets, with snorkelers...

Atmospheric carbon is captured by coastal mangroves, seagrasses and salt marshes at a rate five times faster than tropical forests.

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Blue Carbon

What is blue carbon? It's a term used to describe the carbon that is captured from...

A comparison of an undisturbed Oculina coral reef and one that has been devastated by trawling.

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Undisturbed vs. Trawled Reef

The Oculina deep-sea coral reef at top has not been disturbed by humans—but...

Orange roughy and various marine species, bycatch, on the deck of a research trawler

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Orange Roughy and Bycatch

Orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus) is a deep ocean fish that grows and matures...

A brittle star clings to the branches of a deep sea coral

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Brittle Star Coral Mutualism

A brittle star wraps its arms around the branches of a deep sea octocoral. The...

Phoenix’s mother, Stumpy (number 1004), was killed in a collision with a ship near Virginia in February 2004. She was pregnant with her sixth known calf.

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When Ships Strike

Phoenix’s mother, Stumpy (#1004), was killed in a collision with a ship near...