While we often overlook the smaller life forms in favor of their cuter, more charismatic counterparts, the impact of increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere on less visible species could have enormous ramifications.

Good news about the marine environment seems to be an increasingly rare occurrence these days. However, there was only celebration in Chile yesterday after a Government announcement declaring Chilean waters a Whale Sanctuary.

I was concerned to read today that the World Conservation Union (IUCN) has downgraded the status of the majority of the world’s humpback whale populations.

The problem with science has always been its poor track record in wide distribution among the community. Marine science is no exception.

“Dead zones” containing too little oxygen for fish to breathe are growing as global temperatures increase. Warmer water dissolves less oxygen, so as temperatures rise, oxygen vanishes from oceans.

The first comprehensive review on the ecology and conservation of Mediterranean bottlenose dolphins will be soon published.

When people ask me what they can do to help the oceans, my immediate response is to say, “don’t eat shrimp!” Shrimp fisheries are the most destructive in the world and eating shrimp can be one of the worst things you can do to the oceans and to coastal communities.

Trading on our reputation as the greatest of all whale-loving nations, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has seriously let the people of Australia down this week, not to mention the whales.

Genevieve Johnson takes you around the world to understand issues that are important to people and local communities.

Giovanni and Joan run the Earthwatch program – “Dolphins of Greece”. Joan and the Earthwatch volunteers jump into one zodiac, Giovanni, Silvia, Chris and I, into another.

The sperm whale is the world’s largest toothed predator. It also has the largest brain, the largest nose, and lives its life among a strongly bonded family group. These factors alone make sperm whales among the most fascinating creatures on Earth, and a species I am captivated by.