The global footprint of fisheries

ScienceDaily

Fishing activity now covers at least 55 percent of the world's oceans -- four times the land area covered by agriculture -- and can now be monitored, in near real time, to the level of individual vessels. More here.

Europe's key animals 'making a comeback'

BBC News

Some of Europe's key animals have made a comeback over the past 50 years, a report suggests. More here.

Study confirmed plastic beach debris a danger to wildlife.

SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

At current rates of plastic production, by 2050 the total mass of plastics in our oceans will outweigh the biomass of fish.  — World Economic Forum. More here.

Pieces of plastic that washed ashore after a storm. 
Pacific Ocean beach in San Francisco. Source: 
Plastic Oceans. Author: Kevin Krejci.

Illegal global trade of pangolins

Science News

A baby pangolin.

Pinterest photo - author unknown.

Animal traffickers are taking advantage of remote ivory trade routes to smuggle pangolins – one of the world’s most endangered animals – out of Central Africa, a new study has found. Story here.

High levels of microplastics found in Northwest Atlantic fish

ScienceDaily

An Atlantic sturgeon. US Fish & Wildlife Service.

New study finds microplastics in the stomachs of 73 percent of mesopelagic (medium-depth) fish caught in the Northwest Atlantic -- one of the highest levels globally. More here.

The value of pollinator species diversity

Science 

An unidentified pollinator in Manitoba. PinP photo.

Large numbers of species are needed to support ecosystem functioning. Story here.

Tree rings reveal increased fire risk for southwestern US

Nature

The Pacheco fire in New Mexico. 2011.

Photo by John Fowler.

Historical record points to climate patterns that could prime the region for an intense fire season. Story here.