Environment

• Wednesday, June 12th 2019 - 06:36 UTC

  Canada bans capture and breeding of cetaceans such as whales and dolphins

  

  Canada's parliament on Monday approved a bill banning the capture and breeding of cetaceans such as whales and dolphins in a move hailed by animal rights activists. The bill, first proposed in 2015 and now awaiting symbolic royal approval, will not apply retroactively, meaning captive marine mammals can stay confined.

• Friday, June 7th 2019 - 09:56 UTC

  South Georgia Marine Protected Area enhancement, announced last December, comes into effect

  

  Following an announcement in December 2018, a suite of enhancements to the South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands Marine Protected Area (SGSSI-MPA) have now been signed into legislation by HM Commissioner Nigel Phillips CBE. The enhanced measures are designed to further conserve the rich biodiversity found within the ocean surrounding this sub-Antarctic UK overseas territory. The new measures build on the existing MPA designated in 2012 and are based on scientific evidence considered during the first 5-year review of the MPA.

• Thursday, June 6th 2019 - 08:05 UTC

  Campaign to end “circus-style” shows with dolphins at theme parks

  

  After the documentary film Blackfish galvanized a movement to end SeaWorld's killer whale performances, animal rights activists on Wednesday called for an end to “circus-style” dolphin shows at the theme parks.

• Thursday, June 6th 2019 - 07:00 UTC

  Busiest day of the year for Antarctic Tour Operators as IAATO Ship Scheduler opens

  

  The Antarctic travel season may still be months away, but responsible Antarctic tour operators from across the globe experienced their busiest day of the year on Tuesday, June 5, as the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators’ (IAATO) Ship Scheduler opens.

• Wednesday, June 5th 2019 - 13:01 UTC

  Falkland Islands Reception in London

  

  Marking another successful year the Annual Falkland Islands Government Reception took place on Tuesday 4th June at Middle Temple, London.

• Wednesday, June 5th 2019 - 09:50 UTC

  Brazil: Amazon rainforest deforestation advancing at its fastest rate during May

  

  Deforestation of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil sped up in May to the fastest rate in a decade, according to data from an early-warning satellite system, as experts pointed to activity by illegal loggers encouraged by the easing of environmental protections under President Jair Bolsonaro.

• Wednesday, June 5th 2019 - 09:07 UTC

  Antarctica Tour Operators pledge to turn tide on plastics with new waste reduction guidelines

  

  The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) has pledged to turn the tide on plastics with new guidelines set to reduce single-use plastic use among visitors to the white continent.

• Tuesday, June 4th 2019 - 19:29 UTC

  Falklands challenged by the complexity of Brexit uncertainties, but will fight for a “fair deal” pledges Governor Phillips

  

  The challenging complexity and uncertain consequences of Brexit, progress in understandings with Argentina, including the second weekly air link to Sao Paulo, a sound economy with financial stability and the strong commitment of the Falkland Islands population with representative democracy, were outlined by Governor Nigel James Phillips, CBE in his annual address to the elected Legislative Assembly of the Falkland Islands.

• Tuesday, June 4th 2019 - 09:51 UTC

  New wharf for South Georgia: extra berth for polar vessel RRS Sir David Attenborough

  

  An £8.15 million contract to build a new wharf at the remote Sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia is awarded to BAM Nuttall this week. The contract is part of a major investment programme to modernize the UK’s Antarctic infrastructure.

• Monday, June 3rd 2019 - 08:44 UTC

  MSC Opera crashes into a wharf in Venice; heated row over the lagoon city and its fragile ecosystem

  

  A massive cruise ship lost control as it docked in Venice on Sunday crashing into the wharf and hitting a tourist boat after suffering an engine failure. Tourists on the harbor could be seen running away as the 13-deck MSC Opera scraped along the dockside, its engine blaring, before knocking into a tourist boat, amateur video footage posted on Twitter showed.