Published: October 13, 2025, 22:35 EDT

Republican lawmakers have introduced a bill seeking to loosen parts of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), a landmark U.S. law that has safeguarded whales, seals, and polar bears for over half a century. The proposal has drawn sharp criticism from environmental groups, who warn that weakening the act could reverse decades of conservation progress.

A 50-Year-Old Conservation Milestone Under Review

Enacted in 1972, the Marine Mammal Protection Act was designed to halt the rapid decline of marine species like whales and seals by prohibiting hunting, capture, or harassment within U.S. waters. It remains one of the most influential wildlife protection laws in the world, credited with reviving populations once driven close to extinction.

Conservation advocates say the law’s scientific approach has been pivotal. “The Marine Mammal Protection Act is one of our bedrock laws that helps base conservation measures on the best available science,” said Kathleen Collins of the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

The law predates the Endangered Species Act by a year and grew out of the global movement to save whales from industrial hunting. At the time, public awareness soared after scientists discovered whales could communicate through song — a revelation that inspired widespread empathy and cultural change.

Proposed Amendments Aim to Reduce Industry Restrictions

The new proposal, introduced by Republican Representative Nick Begich of Alaska, argues that the MMPA has placed “undue constraints” on fishermen, tribes, and marine industries. The bill seeks to revise population goals for marine mammals and narrow the legal definition of what constitutes “harassment.”

Currently, the law defines harassment as any activity with the potential to injure marine mammals. The proposed change would limit that definition to only actions that actually cause injury — a shift that critics say could make it harder to protect vulnerable species.

Environmental organizations warn that such a change could endanger species like the Rice’s whale, which numbers only a few dozen in the Gulf of Mexico. The bill also includes a clause delaying certain North Atlantic right whale protections until 2035, a move conservationists call devastating for a species already down to fewer than 400 individuals.

Begich has said he aims to “protect marine mammals while ensuring policies work for those who live and work alongside them,” but his office declined to comment further on the bill’s progress in Congress.

Fishing and Marine Industries Push for Reform

Support for the legislation comes from a coalition of U.S. fishing groups, particularly in Maine, Alaska, and Hawaii, where industry leaders argue that the law no longer reflects current realities.

In a July letter to the House of Representatives, fishing groups praised the effort as “a positive and necessary step for the success of American fisheries.”

Virginia Olsen, political director of the Maine Lobstering Union, said the MMPA’s restrictions on lobster fishing have made it difficult to sustain one of Maine’s key industries. “We do not want to see marine mammals harmed,” Olsen said. “But we need a healthy ocean and a balanced policy that supports Maine’s heritage fishery.”

Under existing rules, Maine lobstermen must comply with gear regulations and seasonal closures aimed at preventing whale entanglements. Olsen and other industry figures contend these restrictions offer little measurable benefit to the right whale population.

The National Marine Manufacturers Association has also urged lawmakers to modernize the law, saying outdated provisions hinder innovation in marine technology and environmental compliance.

Environmental Advocates Warn of Long-Term Damage

Environmentalists say rolling back the Marine Mammal Protection Act would undermine decades of progress. Many see the proposal as part of a broader push to relax federal environmental regulations that began under the Trump administration.

“The Marine Mammal Protection Act is flexible and effective. We don’t need to overhaul it,” said Gib Brogan, senior campaign director at Oceana, adding that the law has helped restore species such as humpback whales, once on the brink of extinction.

Experts also warn that revising definitions of harm could complicate oversight of industries like offshore drilling, shipping, and oil exploration — sectors often linked to collisions and noise pollution affecting whale populations.

Debate Over Imports and Global Seafood Trade

The law not only governs U.S. fisheries but also restricts imports of seafood from countries that fail to meet similar standards. Those provisions have become a flashpoint for the seafood trade, as they can result in embargoes against foreign suppliers.

The National Fisheries Institute, representing U.S. seafood importers, argues that these restrictions penalize domestic businesses. “Our fisheries are well-regulated and responsibly managed,” said Gavin Gibbons, the institute’s chief strategy officer. “We can’t expect fishermen to catch more here to offset import limits without jeopardizing sustainability.”

Gibbons emphasized that the group supports the act’s goals but wants “responsible implementation” that recognizes the global nature of the seafood supply chain.

However, conservationists warn that loosening U.S. import standards could allow poorly regulated foreign fisheries to flood the market, undermining global sustainability efforts.

What’s Next for the Marine Mammal Protection Act

The proposed amendments are still under discussion in Congress, with no timeline for a formal vote. Lawmakers from coastal states are expected to weigh in heavily, as the debate touches on both environmental and economic priorities.

While industry groups see modernization as essential for business growth, conservation advocates view it as a step backward that could endanger marine biodiversity and weaken the United States’ international environmental leadership.

As the political battle continues, one fact remains clear: the Marine Mammal Protection Act — a 50-year-old cornerstone of U.S. conservation policy — faces its most significant challenge in decades.

Source: AP News – Republicans try to weaken 50-year-old law protecting whales, seals and polar bears

The post Lawmakers Push to Roll Back Key Marine Protection Law Safeguarding Whales and Seals appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.

Written: July 29, 2025, 18:00 EDT

Industrial fishing for krill in the Southern Ocean has reached record-breaking levels, raising serious concerns among scientists, conservation groups, and international regulators. With 84% of the seasonal catch quota already reached by mid-year, officials warn that the fishery may be forced to close early — a first in its history.

Environmental experts say the rapid increase in krill harvesting near the Antarctic Peninsula could jeopardize the health of the marine ecosystem, undermine climate regulation, and intensify conflict between commercial interests and wildlife conservation.

Krill catch nears critical threshold

According to data reviewed by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), krill fishing in the 2024–2025 season has already reached 518,568 metric tons, or about 84% of the annual 620,000-ton limit. That threshold, if exceeded, would trigger an automatic closure of the fishery.

The report, not officially released to the public, was obtained by the Associated Press from a source concerned about overfishing. The individual, who requested anonymity, said krill are being increasingly caught in concentrated areas, putting added pressure on wildlife such as whales, seals, and penguins that rely on the tiny crustaceans for food.

“Most of the krill is being taken from smaller and smaller hotspots,” said Capt. Peter Hammarstedt, campaign director for Sea Shepherd Global, which recently completed its third monitoring voyage in the region. “It’s like saying you’re only taking 1% of deer in the U.S., but you’re hunting all of them in Rhode Island.”

Why krill matters: ecosystem and climate

Krill may be tiny — comparable in size to a paper clip — but their role in marine ecosystems is massive. With a global biomass estimated at 63 million metric tons, krill serve as the primary food source for numerous species, including whales, seals, penguins, and fish.

They’re also vital to the planet’s fight against climate change. According to a peer-reviewed study published last year, krill contribute to the removal of 20 million tons of carbon from the atmosphere annually by sequestering it in the ocean — roughly equal to the emissions of 5 million cars.

But that role is under growing threat. Climate change, advances in trawling technology, and a booming market for krill-based products — including omega-3 supplements, fishmeal, and pet food — have sharply increased demand.

During the 2023–24 season, a fleet of 12 industrial trawlers, mostly from Norway and China, harvested 498,350 tons of krill — until now the largest catch on record since CCAMLR began tracking such data in 1973.

Whale injuries, dead zones, and ecological stress

The impacts of krill fishing are not abstract. During recent seasons, observers documented humpback whales becoming entangled or injured in the massive cylindrical nets used to harvest krill.

AP journalists who traveled to the Southern Ocean in 2023 reported vessels trawling in close proximity to whale feeding grounds. The concern is compounded by the fact that many whale populations, still recovering from industrial whaling, rely heavily on krill to survive.

Additionally, with expired geographic catch restrictions, trawlers now have access to critical marine habitats without the previous spatial limits that distributed fishing more evenly. These expired controls had been in place for 15 years but were not renewed due to political gridlock at last year’s CCAMLR meeting.

Failed management deal triggers regulatory breakdown

Efforts to adopt a new krill management plan collapsed at the 2024 CCAMLR summit, where Russia, China, the United States, and over two dozen other countries failed to reach consensus.

The proposed plan included the creation of a California-sized marine reserve around the Antarctic Peninsula — the continent’s most biologically rich and visited region. It also aimed to spread out catch zones to reduce concentrated fishing pressure.

However, negotiations unraveled after the United Kingdom and Australia submitted a last-minute proposal to lower catch limits further. That move reportedly led China to withdraw support, effectively blocking the plan and allowing prior restrictions to expire.

“The truth was it was the UK,” said Matts Johansen, CEO of Aker BioMarine, the largest krill-based product supplier, during a speech at the UN Oceans Conference in June 2025. “Just a couple days before the vote, the UK threw another suggestion and that’s when the Chinese backed off.”

The UK Foreign Office denied the allegation, stating it continues to support sustainable krill fishing and robust marine protection measures.

Industry defends current catch as sustainable

In response to rising concern, Javier Arata, executive director of the Association of Responsible Krill Harvesting Companies, which accounts for 95% of krill harvests, said the higher catch levels are still sustainable and based on prior scientific consensus.

He noted that the expired catch-spreading measures were intended to be temporary and that ongoing political disagreements — not scientific recommendations — are to blame for the current regulatory gap.

Arata also emphasized that his organization supports the creation of marine protected areas in Antarctica but urged regulators not to delay adoption of scientifically “ready-to-go” reforms while awaiting political consensus.

Satellite data confirms concentrated trawling

Global Fishing Watch, a U.S.-based nonprofit that monitors fishing activity through satellite data, confirmed that trawling has intensified in known krill hotspots.

In particular, fishing activity in Sub-Area 48.1, a region near the Antarctic Peninsula, has more than doubled this season compared to all of last year. The group, which collaborates with international bodies to promote transparency, said the increased clustering of vessels adds stress to already vulnerable ecosystems.

What’s next for Antarctic krill management?

With the krill season nearing its automatic shutdown point and no new management plan in place, pressure is mounting on CCAMLR to act quickly before long-term ecological damage is done.

Currently, less than 5% of the Southern Ocean is protected, far short of the 30% conservation target set by the United Nations for global oceans by 2030. Without renewed restrictions or marine reserve designations, environmental groups fear the krill fishery could become unsustainable, undermining decades of marine conservation work.

For now, as vessels continue to harvest krill at unprecedented rates, the future of Antarctica’s most critical — and often overlooked — species remains uncertain.

Source: AP News – A record catch of krill near Antarctica could trigger an unprecedented end to fishing season

The post Record Antarctic krill catch nears quota, sparking urgent calls to close fishery early appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.

In the dark depths of the ocean, sperm whales, those massive giants of the sea, are communicating in ways we’ve only just begun to understand. Through AI, researchers have uncovered a stunningly sophisticated communication system in these creatures, revealing structures in their vocalizations akin to human language.

Sperm Whales and the Mystery of Squid Hunting

Sperm whales are known for their ability to dive over 3 kilometers (10,000 feet) deep into the ocean, where they hunt for giant squid. But exactly how they catch such fast-moving prey remains a mystery. “They’re slow swimmers,” says marine scientist Kirsten Young from the University of Exeter, while squid are swift. The question remains: How do these whales manage to catch the elusive squid? Could it be that the whales are using their vocalizations to stun their prey, or is there something more at play in these deep waters?

Despite their formidable size and intelligence, sperm whales remain challenging to study. They often forage at depths beyond sunlight’s reach, diving for hours at a time. At depths of 1,000 meters (3,300 feet), groups of sperm whales communicate continuously, using a series of clicks. These “codas,” as researchers call them, are vocalized throughout their hunts and when they come together at the surface to socialize. But as Young points out, our understanding of these whales is still very limited, as we see only brief snapshots of their lives during the short time they surface.

A New Era of Whale Communication Research

Sperm whales’ complex social structures, which are matrilineal and involve multiple generations, depend heavily on sophisticated communication. For example, these whales coordinate as a group to protect themselves from predators like orcas. Yet, it’s only recently that scientists have made major strides in deciphering their communication.

David Gruber, a lead researcher at the Cetacean Translation Initiative (Ceti), explains that understanding the intricacies of whale communication is a challenging task, given that whales have evolved in ways vastly different from humans. However, modern technology, including AI, has opened a window into these deep-sea conversations, revealing a “phonetic alphabet” in sperm whale vocalizations.

AI and the Discovery of Sperm Whale Codas

Since 2005, Ceti’s research team, led by Shane Gero, has been studying the social behavior and vocalizations of sperm whales in the Eastern Caribbean. After analyzing thousands of hours of recordings, researchers discovered that sperm whales have far more than the previously thought 21 types of codas. In fact, they identified 156 distinct codas, revealing a complex and sophisticated system of vocalizations.

Sperm whale codas are rhythmic sequences of clicks, and each coda contains between three and 40 rapid-fire clicks. The researchers, including Pratyusha Sharma, a PhD student at MIT, used AI to identify subtle variations in the speed and tempo of these clicks. These changes, akin to “ornamentation” in music, indicate that sperm whale vocalizations likely carry a wealth of information, much more nuanced than initially thought.

Sharma compares these changes in whale vocalizations to how we understand the meaning of words in human language, saying that context plays a huge role in interpreting meaning. For example, in human speech, we change the tone or elongate a word like “what” to convey surprise or confusion. Similarly, sperm whales adjust their vocalizations, making slight modifications to convey different meanings.

The Sperm Whale Phonetic Alphabet: A Step Toward Understanding Their Language

One of the key findings of Ceti’s research is that sperm whale codas are formed from a set of basic “phonemes,” or vocal units, that can be combined in a variety of ways. This combinatorial approach to coda construction is similar to how humans combine phonemes to create words and sentences. Although researchers are still far from fully understanding how sperm whales use these codas to convey meaning, this discovery suggests that sperm whales might have a far more complex communication system than previously realized.

However, as Gruber notes, we’re still in the early stages of decoding whale communication. He compares this phase of research to being at “base camp” – there’s a long journey ahead before we can fully grasp the cognitive abilities of these creatures and understand what they are really trying to say.

The Road Ahead for Sperm Whale Research

Despite the exciting discoveries, some experts caution against an overly anthropocentric approach to interpreting whale vocalizations. Focusing too much on language might limit our understanding of the sperm whale’s unique way of life. Nonetheless, the research is an important step forward. Young, who has been studying sperm whales for years, sees it as an incremental step toward understanding these remarkable animals. If we can uncover what is truly meaningful to them, it may help us protect them.

Sperm whales are currently classified as “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and their population is still recovering from the devastating effects of commercial whaling in the 19th and 20th centuries. Today, they face new threats, including climate change, ocean noise pollution, and ship strikes.

By understanding their communication and social structures, researchers hope to protect these majestic creatures and ensure their survival for future generations. As Young puts it, the more we understand about the sperm whale, the better we’ll be able to protect them and preserve the ocean’s deep mysteries.

Source

The post AI Unveils the Complex Communication of Sperm Whales appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.

Paul Watson, the prominent anti-whaling activist and former head of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, has been released from prison in Greenland and will not face extradition to Japan, according to the Danish Justice Ministry and Watson’s defense team.

Japan had requested Denmark to extradite Watson, who had been held in Greenland since his arrest earlier this year based on a Japanese warrant. However, Denmark denied the request, as there is no extradition treaty between the two countries.

Background of the Case

Watson, a Canadian-American citizen, faced charges related to a 2010 incident where he allegedly obstructed a Japanese whaling vessel by ordering his ship’s captain to throw explosives at it. The encounter was part of Watson’s long-standing campaign against whaling. Japan’s coast guard sought his arrest over these actions, and he was listed in an Interpol red notice.

The Japanese government had sought Watson’s extradition to face a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison if convicted. However, the Danish Justice Ministry determined that Japan did not provide sufficient assurances that the time Watson had already served in Greenland would be credited toward any future sentence in Japan.

Watson’s Reaction to the Release

In a video posted by his foundation on social media, Watson expressed relief at his release, stating, “After five months it’s good to be out and… good to see that they are not going to send me to Japan, and so have a go-home for Christmas.” He also shared the emotional difficulty of being separated from his two young children since June.

A History of Legal Challenges

Watson’s legal troubles aren’t new. In 2012, he was detained in Germany on a Costa Rican extradition warrant but fled bail when he discovered Japan had also requested his extradition. Since then, Watson has lived in several countries, including France and the United States.

In 2022, Watson stepped down from his role at Sea Shepherd to focus on his foundation, which called his arrest politically motivated and demanded his release.

Japan’s Whaling Practices

Japan continues to defend its whaling activities, claiming whale meat is an important part of its food culture and supporting the sustainable use of whales. In 2019, Japan withdrew from the International Whaling Commission and resumed commercial whaling within its exclusive economic zone.

What Happens Next

Watson’s defense attorney, Jonas Christoffersen, expressed relief and confirmed that the decision not to extradite Watson is final. “We are happy and relieved that Paul Watson is now free,” Christoffersen said. Watson is expected to head back home after his release.

Source

The post Paul Watson Freed from Greenland, Won’t Be Extradited to Japan appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.