marine biodiversity

Praise poured in from Canadian environmental groups on Sunday, March 5, 2023, for a newly signed treaty that will help protect biodiversity in the high seas, where conservation efforts across vast stretches of the planet have historically been hampered by a confusing patchwork of laws.

Actress and activist Jane Fonda is campaigning for a treaty to save marine creatures that are hunted for food including sharks, swordfish, octopus and tuna, saying they feel joy, feel sadness when they lose their offspring, and “are our brethren in the ocean.”

International NGOs gathered at COP15 in Montreal to talk about the risk offshore oil presents for marine ecosystems.

Canada has made disappointingly little progress in preserving the variety of life in its oceans largely because of a contradiction in the federal department that's supposed to protect it, says a group of senior scientists.