As the war between the United States and Iran enters its third week, it is clear that the intensified fighting is also having devastating consequences for the fragile marine life in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
Several ships have been subjected to suspected attacks in connection with the Strait of Hormuz, according to the British maritime security organisation UKMTO. French President Emmanuel Macron is calling on the G7 countries to restore traffic in the important strait ‘as soon as possible’.
1.6 million tonnes of ammunition are rotting on the seabed of the Baltic and North Seas. This rubbish from the Second World War is a ticking time bomb. As the casings rust, they release chemicals that slowly poison the seas.
Every year, a small group of harbour porpoises traverses a narrow strait from the Black Sea to the Sea of Asov, then returns again, in a natural migration cycle. Since prehistory, these Black Sea porpoises have been isolated, evolving separately from other porpoises, becoming smaller, but with larger snouts. They’re sleek and cute, with eyes and mouths that have the perpetual hint of a smile.
