Today is World Oceans Day! A moment to pause and reflect on the vast, mysterious, life-giving force that covers over 70% of our planet.
For me, the ocean isn’t just a campaign or a cause, it’s my passion and my life’s work. It’s where I find meaning, purpose and sometimes even peace. It’s also where some of the biggest challenges of our time are playing out, often unnoticed.
While today shines a spotlight, the truth is, every day is Oceans Day. Every day brings new research, new crises, new signs of change, both good and bad. That’s why I started this digest.
Each week, I collect the stories that matter. The ones that slip beneath the headlines, but carry weight. Stories of crisis, discovery, and hope. Grouped for clarity. Told simply. Linked for anyone who wants to dive deeper.
Let’s get into it.
Crises Unfolding
You can’t fix what you don’t face.
Marine Heatwave Engulfs Area Five Times the Size of Australia
A vast marine heatwave, one of the largest ever recorded, has spread across 38 million square kilometres of ocean, raising fears for marine life, weather systems and global climate stability.
Read it here
Radioactive Waste Dumped in the Atlantic for Decades
A new report reveals that more than 140,000 tonnes of radioactive waste were dumped into the Atlantic Ocean between 1949 and 1982, some of it in unmarked barrels.
Read it here
Bottom Trawling in French ‘Protected’ Waters Sparks Outrage
As France prepares to host the UN Ocean Summit, a new exposé reveals bottom trawling is still allowed in 90% of its so-called marine protected areas, prompting calls of hypocrisy and greenwashing.
Read it here
Thousands of UK Sewage Spills Went Unpunished
A major BBC investigation reveals that thousands of illegal sewage discharges went unnoticed or unpunished due to outdated permits and system failures.
Read it here
Ocean Heat and Rising Seas Threaten Pacific Communities
The World Meteorological Organisation warns that ocean warming and sea level rise are accelerating in the South-West Pacific, endangering lives, cultures, and economies.
Read it here
Science That Surprised Me
How we see the ocean shapes how we treat it.
Giant Viruses May Shape Ocean Life
New research suggests giant viruses could be playing a pivotal role in marine ecosystems, regulating biodiversity, influencing carbon cycles and possibly rewriting what we know about life in the sea.
Read it here
13,000 Ocean Giants Reveal Hidden Highways
Three decades of tracking sharks, whales and tuna have uncovered vast migratory corridors in the ocean. These “blue highways” could reshape how we design marine protected areas.
Read it here
Hurricanes Stir Up the Deep Ocean
New research shows that hurricanes don’t just batter coastlines, they disturb marine ecosystems thousands of metres below the surface, altering chemistry, mixing layers and reshaping life in the deep.
Read it here
Japan’s Deepest Ocean Mission Yet
A 20-day expedition led by JAMSTEC has sent a human-piloted submersible to explore the deepest parts of Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone. The goal: to uncover life no one has ever seen.
Read it here
The Southern Ocean Gets Its Name
Earth officially has a fifth ocean. The Southern Ocean, encircling Antarctica, is now formally recognised, redefining how we map and protect our planet’s waters.
Read it here
Signs of Motion
Not victory, but momentum.
The Ocean Pact Is Here. Will It Save the Sea?
The European Commission has adopted a sweeping new Ocean Pact to tackle marine degradation and revive blue economies. Will words become action before it's too late?
Read it here
UN Warns Time Is Running Out to Save the Ocean
In the lead-up to UNOC 2025, the UN has issued a stark reminder: the window for ocean recovery is closing. With growing political will and new treaties taking shape, there’s still hope.
Read it here
Global Ocean Trade Is Rebounding But Needs Reform
The UN’s latest trade update shows a recovery in global ocean trade, with a call to accelerate sustainable blue economy reforms and ensure ocean health is part of economic planning.
Read it here
One to Read With Coffee
Not breaking news, but a broken silence.
Our Dangerous Blindness to the Ocean
This sharp opinion piece asks why ocean stories still get buried and why our blindness to the sea could cost us everything.
Read it here
That’s all for now.
If one of these stories gave you pause, share it. If you want to go deeper, don’t worry, more writing is on the way next week.
Thanks for reading and supporting the Blue and have a great Oceans Day, however you spend it,
Luke
Voice for the Blue
📌 PS – Please consider restacking or sharing if this piece struck a chord, it helps raise the alarm and fuels this kind of independent ocean journalism that challenges, informs and (hopefully) makes a difference. Oh and if you haven’t already, I would love it if you subscribed, and you’ll receive my articles straight into your inbox, every couple of days!