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- 1War oil spills in Strait of Hormuz threaten reefs●Oil spills from war are spreading towards coral reefs and mangroves in the Strait of Hormuz. Fossil fuel dependence puts
Oil spills linked to the war are spreading through the Strait of Hormuz toward coral reefs and mangrove ecosystems, raising alarm among environmental groups. Greenpeace warns that fossil fuel dependence is placing people, nature and economies at risk, and is calling for a shift to clean, decentralised energy to prevent future damage.
- 2Norway Creates Its Largest Marine Protected Area●Norway has created its largest marine protected area, covering 1,848 km² of coral reefs, sponge gardens and fish nurseri
Norway has designated its largest marine protected area, covering 1,848 square kilometres of coral reefs, sponge gardens and fish nurseries. The move lifts formally protected waters from 4.8% to 6% of Norwegian territory. Discussion has focused on reports that the government drew the boundary around its salmon farms rather than through them, raising questions about how much industrial activity the new protections actually restrict.
- 3Two million tyres dumped to build a reef became an ecological disaster▼On a site the size of 27 football fields, 2 million of these were dropped in the ocean to create an artificial reef – instead, it became a disaster
A failed artificial reef project saw around two million tyres dumped across an underwater area the size of 27 football fields, in the hope of attracting marine life. Instead, the tyres shifted in currents, crushed coral and scattered across the seabed, damaging the surrounding ecosystem. The story is being highlighted as a cautionary tale about large-scale ocean interventions gone wrong.
- 4US reef robot finds coral pillar with 25 times more fish▼In 2026, a US reef robot found one coral pillar hiding nearly 25 times more fish and followed reef sounds
A US underwater robot has located a coral pillar hiding nearly 25 times more fish than surrounding reef, using reef sounds to navigate and identify hotspots. The 2026 finding suggests acoustic monitoring could transform how scientists survey reefs and prioritize conservation of dense fish habitats.
- 5Salazar introduces Tropical Forest and Coral Reef Conservation Reauthorization Act●Representative Maria Elvira Salazar introduces H.R. 10505: Tropical Forest and Coral Reef Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2026
Representative Maria Elvira Salazar has introduced H.R. 10505, the Tropical Forest and Coral Reef Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2026, in the US House of Representatives. The bill would reauthorize existing US conservation programs that protect tropical forests and coral reefs. The measure has been filed ahead of current authorizations, with details of funding levels and duration not yet widely reported.
- 6Bacteria on coral reef fish gills carry chemosynthesis genes●DNA reveals chemosynthesis genes in bacteria living on coral reef fish gills
Researchers have found that bacteria living on the gills of coral reef fish carry genes for chemosynthesis, meaning they may be able to produce energy from chemicals rather than light. The discovery, reported by Phys.org, suggests fish gills could host microbial communities with an unusual metabolism, expanding what scientists know about where chemosynthetic microbes live.
- 7Scientists probe the ocean's mysterious deep reefs▼Inside a quest to learn about the ocean’s mysterious “deep reefs”
A newly reported scientific effort is shedding light on the ocean's 'deep reefs' — little-known coral and rocky ecosystems lying in dim waters beyond the reach of typical diving surveys. Researchers are using advanced exploration methods to document what lives there and how these hidden habitats function, as interest grows in protecting deep-sea environments.