23 January 2019 — Marine science update
Sent 23 January 2019. Part of Little Blue Letter.
"What you do or don't do has an impact on the world. So be positive, make a difference."
~ Sylvia Earle
Protecting the Big Blue
- Over 50 prominent international and domestic marine and environmental non-governmental organisations, eminent scientists and world-leading universities have united to #BacktheBlueBelt and advocate for marine protected areas (MPAs).
- The Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands has announced amendments to their MPA. This has not resulted in full protection of the waters around these uninhabited South Atlantic islands, despite support from the UK public, 285 MPs, scientists, businesses and conservationists.
- The first Marine Science Symposium focusing on the 644,000-km2 British Indian Ocean Territory was recently held at the Royal Geographical Society. (Check out the summary and videos)
- The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)’s MPA standards are being reissued and will be released in 2019, emphasising that MPAs should be “conservation focused with nature as the priority”.
Gif of the week
Leaving work on a Friday...
Marine science update
- Scientists prepare for 'the most detailed whale poo expedition ever'.
- Microplastic pollution in remote South Atlantic islands is as high as in the UK.
- ‘Purpose vs performance: What does marine protected area success look like?’
- Researchers at the University of Queensland have compiled a database of all marine spatial plans around the globe, to help governments and organisations prioritise areas for protection.
From the editor
Happy new year everyone! Apologies for the gap in publication. Normal service has now been resumed! We are looking for contributors for this year. You can put your name down here. We'd also love to partner with institutions to produce some in-depth series on particular topics - please do get in touch.
Little Blue Letter was curated this week by Dr Emma McIntosh. Emma is Coordinator of the Great British Oceans coalition and has a PhD from the University of Oxford focused on the design and evaluation of protected area networks. 
Editing etc. by Glen Wright. Glen is a researcher studying marine governance, the high seas, and ocean energy. He is a drinker of tea, lover of the sea, and an Oxford comma user. Glen recently published Academia Obscura: The Hidden Silly Side of Higher Education.
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