Slow Progress in Protecting Polar Waters
Posted by Claire Christian of Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition in Ocean Views on March 19, 2013 
Yesterday, I talked about the justification for imposing new requirements on ships that operate in polar waters. The good news is that countries with major presences in the Arctic and Antarctic agree that such requirements are necessary, and over the past decade have made slow but steady progress towards creating them. The bad news…
Little-known Code Could Have a Major Impact on Polar Environments
Posted by Claire Christian of Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition in Ocean Views on March 18, 2013 
Scientists recently identified multiple new trans-Arctic shipping routes that will be accessible to non-ice-strengthened vessels in just a few decades., Given that such routes would have been unimaginable a few decades ago, this research is yet another sobering reminder of the massive changes that anthropogenic climate change has caused. At the other end of the…
Antarctica Braces for Influx of Invasive Species
Posted by Claire Christian of Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition in Ocean Views on January 7, 2013 
Antarctica and the Southern Ocean may seem very far away from civilization, but they are at great risk of losing their unique qualities due to human activities. Warmer temperatures and human visitation are increasing the likelihood that invasive species can take up residence in the Antarctic, and potentially cause major changes. Two studies have found…
Strong Evidence for Ocean Acidification Impacts in Southern Ocean
Posted by Claire Christian of Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition in Ocean Views on November 29, 2012 
For years, researchers have warned that the increasing acidity of the oceans is likely to create a whole host of problems for the marine environment. Most of these warnings were predictions for future decades as well as theories about possible impacts based on experiments under artificial conditions. Now, scientists have discovered proof that ocean acidification…
Nations Have Historic Opportunity to Protect Antarctic Waters
Posted by Claire Christian of Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition in Ocean Views on October 23, 2012 
When people hear the word “Antarctica,” they might think about penguins or towering icebergs. But the region is more than ice and birds that fly under water – the Southern Ocean makes up 10% of the world’s ocean and is home to almost 10,000 species. This week, 24 governments, including the EU, U.S., New Zealand,…
100% Pure? New Zealand’s Green Image Shows Cracks in Antarctic Fishing
Posted by Claire Christian of Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition in Ocean Views on September 26, 2012 New Zealand enjoys its green image, branding itself as “100% pure.” Yet when it was given an opportunity to make a truly bold move to protect a uniquely undisturbed marine ecosystem, it balked. Last month, the NZ cabinet rejected a proposed U.S.-NZ plan to turn a large swath of the Ross Sea, which is part…
