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Australian Environment Minister Tony Burke Thursday hit out at Japan’s “alleged” scientific whaling as researchers hailed the testing of new acoustic tracking technology for the endangered blue whale.

Burke was given a demonstration of the science in the city of Hobart, where he applauded the innovation and dedication of those working to find out more about the threatened species — the largest animal that has ever lived.

“Blue whales are under threat of extinction and improved scientific knowledge will help in the conservation and recovery of the species,” he said of a creature that can grow to 31 metres (102 feet).

“This research reinforces Australia’s commitment to non-lethal research of whales...

Australia’s Great Barrier Reef has lost more than half its coral cover in the past 27 years, a new study shows.

Researchers analysed data on the condition of 217 individual reefs that make up the World Heritage Site.

The results show that coral cover declined from 28.0% to 13.8% between 1985 and 2012.

They attribute the decline to storms, a coral-feeding starfish and bleaching linked to climate change.

The research is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal.

Glen De’ath from the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) and colleagues determined that tropical cyclones – 34 in total since 1985 – were responsible for 48% of the damage, while outbreaks of the coral-feeding crown-of-thorns starfish accounted for 42%.

Two severe coral bleaching events in 19...

Fish species are expected to shrink in size by up to 24% because of global warming, say scientists.

Researchers modelled the impact of rising temperatures on more than 600 species between 2001 and 2050.

Warmer waters could decrease ocean oxygen levels and significantly reduce fish body weight.

The scientists argue that failure to control greenhouse gas emissions will have a greater impact on marine ecosystems than previously thought.

Previous research has suggested that changing ocean temperatures would impact both the distribution and the reproductive abilities of many species of fish. This new work suggests that fish size would also be heavily impacted.

The researchers built a model to see how fish would react to lower levels of oxygen in the water...

Reports from Japan indicate its annual whale hunt in the Southern Ocean could be in doubt this year.

A leading newspaper says the country’s Fisheries Agency is considering suspending the hunt because the fleet’s ageing factory ship is in need of major repairs.

But as Latelines’s North Asia correspondent Mark Willacy reports from Tokyo, the agency insists the refit can be done in time.

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: It’s become an annual clash on the high seas, between Japanese whalers and militant activists from the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. But now it appears Japan is considering a temporary ceasefire with a leading newspaper reporting that the whalers may stay in port this year.

JUNICHI SATO, GREENPEACE JAPAN: The Asahi news report says that the Fisheries Agency with Japan is consid...

Beachgoers on Cape Cod may have spotted several sharks this summer, but when Chris Fischer and his crew

In just five decades, Brazil has lost 80 percent of the coral reef once found along 3,000 kilometers (1,864 miles) of its northeastern coast, according to a study cited by local media Sunday.

Brazil’s reef ecosystems

An Egyptian environmental NGO has said coral reefs in the Red Sea are continuing to face bleaching that threatens their survival.

The Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Agency (HEPCA) reported last month that there was

As IUCN publish the first of their expert verdicts in various reefs, another nail in the coffin of corals looks likely as the formal 2

Killer whale mothers live longer lives in order to protect their sons, a study has found.

Females give birth in their thirties but can live for a further 50 years after having their offspring.

Scientists from the University of Exeter used long-term records to identify possible reasons for this long non-reproductive phase of life.

They found that the presence of mothers ensured greater survival of adult sons to breeding age.

The findings are published in the journal Science.

“Prolonged life after menopause remains one of nature’s great mysteries,” said Dr Darren Croft from the University of Exeter who led the study.

Killer whales, also known as orca, are of particular interest because, after humans, they have one of the longest post-reproductive life spans in the natural world.

Most animal...

A think tank has made a controversial case for freezing fishing in Europe, saying most fish stocks would return to sustainable levels within five years.

The London-based New Economics Foundation (Nef) argues in its report that the suspension would generate billions of pounds in profits by 2023.

Private investment would compensate fishermen and maintain boats.

A senior UK fishing industry representative said stocks were already improving and the idea made no sense.

Unsustainable fishing remains a major issue for the EU, where 75% of stocks are still overfished and catches are only a fraction of what they were 15-20 years ago.

The European Parliament approved measures this week against third countries which allowed the practice.

However, Maritime and Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki rec...