What is a tākoketai black petrel? Tākoketai black petrel are sleek, entirely black seabirds with an impressive 1.1-metre wingspan, endemic to Aotearoa New Zealand. They are long-lived and slow to breed: after spending several years roaming the open ocean, they return home to nest, pairing up for life and digging burrows close to the very […]
Bottom trawling is a destructive commercial fishing method that drags heavy, weighted nets across the seafloor, causing extensive and long-lasting damage to marine ecosystems. Impacts include destruction of benthic (seafloor) habitats, reduced biodiversity, significant bycatch, and release of carbon from stored sediments. It is one of the most damaging ways to take fish from the ocean. Watch: what bottom trawling does […]
What is Blue Carbon? Blue carbon refers to the carbon captured and stored in coastal and marine ecosystems, like mangroves, seagrasses, and salt marshes. These habitats are highly effective at sequestering carbon. These ecosystems play a crucial role in climate change mitigation, biodiversity protection, and coastal resilience. Why is it Called “Blue” Carbon? The term […]
What Does “Benthos” Mean? Benthos refers to organisms that live on, in, or near the seabed, also known as the benthic zone. These organisms can include crabs, corals, worms, sea stars, and various types of algae. What is the Benthic Zone? The benthic zone is the ecological region at the bottom of a body of […]
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Send us your favourite ocean photo and a few words about what you love most about the Gulf, and together, we’ll spotlight why the Gulf deserves urgent protection – for us, and for future generations.