Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Trump orders likely to drive species’ extinction, wildlife advocates warn

admin — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 15:00:51 +0000

In addition to layoffs and hiring freezes, a ‘God squad’ can effectively veto ESA protections for endangered species

At least a dozen US states rush to ban common food dyes, citing health risks

admin — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 15:00:50 +0000

RFK Jr’s ‘Maha’ giving fresh momentum to longtime efforts to outlaw additives, which is now a bipartisan movement

At least a dozen US states – from traditionally conservative Oklahoma to liberal-leaning New York – are rushing to pass laws outlawing commonly used dyes and other chemical additives in foods, citing a need to protect public health.

USDA cuts more than $1bn in local food purchases for schools, food banks

admin — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 13:13:58 +0000

Millions of children could lose free school meals as food costs rise, warns School Nutrition Association president

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has slashed two programs that provided more than $1bn for schools and food banks to purchase food from local farms and ranchers.

About $660m of those funds were contained in the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program, which provided funds to schools and child care facilities but is now being eliminated.

Controlled-release fertilizers can spread microplastics on US cropland – study

admin — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 12:00:47 +0000

Tiny bits of plastic can end up in water and soil at alarming levels, said lead author of University of Missouri paper

Fertilizers that shed microplastics are increasingly spreading on America’s cropland, research shows, raising new worry about the soil contamination and safety of the US food supply.

Incidents at English hazardous industrial sites ‘going unchecked’

admin — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 11:00:45 +0000

Staff crisis at Environment Agency, which helps monitor 950 sites, means it is hearing about incidents later than normal, insider says

The team responsible for preventing environmental risks at England’s most hazardous industrial sites is facing a recruitment crisis and one insider has warned environmental incidents are going unchecked.

The Mexican women who defied drug-dealers, fly-tippers and chauvinists to build a thriving business

admin — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 11:00:44 +0000

The Guardianas del Conchalito ignored chants of ‘get back to your kitchens’, determined to protect the environment and create a sustainable shellfish operation

Ahead of the small boat, as it bobs on the waters near La Paz in the Mexican state of Baja California, is a long line of old plastic bottles strung together on top of the waves. Underneath them are as many as 100,000 oysters, waiting to be sold to the upmarket hotels down the coast.

Experts warn of North Sea collision’s ‘devastating’ impact on marine life

admin — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 10:48:05 +0000

Highly toxic jet fuel leaking from oil tanker threatens local ecosystems as investigations begin into collision’s cause

Leaking fuel from the collision between a cargo ship and oil tanker in the North Sea would have a “devastating” impact on marine life, experts have said, as investigations began into the cause of the incident.

Fires continued to burn onboard both vessels 24 hours after the Stena Immaculate tanker and cargo ship Solong collided off the coast of Yorkshire on Monday morning. A search for a missing crew member was called off overnight.

Chicken manure can be classified as industrial waste, judge rules

admin — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 07:07:21 +0000

US-style mega-farms in Herefordshire face tough new regulations after high court ruling

Industrial poultry farms face tough new regulations around the disposal of chicken manure after a judge ruled it can be classified as waste and requires a detailed and transparent plan to dispose of it without damaging the environment.

The high court ruling means new US-style mega-farms in Herefordshire will have to deal with poultry manure as if it was industrial waste.

New scheme to offer campers unprecedented access to wild spaces across Britain

admin — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 07:00:34 +0000

A new partnership will give campers exclusive access to rewilding sites and a chance to join in with conservation efforts

Campers looking for a back-to-nature experience this summer will be able to wild camp on land that was previously off-limits across Britain thanks to an initiative launched by camping booking platform CampWild and the nature recovery charity Rewilding Britain.

Thames Water faces court claim that £3bn bailout is ‘poor, short-term fix’

admin — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 06:00:32 +0000

Campaigners to argue in court of appeal that plan is not in public interest and special administration is best option

Environmental campaigners will challenge the granting of a high-interest £3bn emergency loan to struggling Thames Water at an appeal on Tuesday, arguing the “eye-watering” costs for a short-term fix are not in the public interest.