June 24, 2020 By Doug Johnson Hakai Magazine
After a fishing boat ran aground on a fragile atoll, the consequences for the ecosystem were alarming—and curious.
A Shipwreck’s Incalculable Toll on a Remote Reef
Mercury With That? Shark Fins Served with Illegal Doses of Heavy Metals
June 19, 2020 By Elizabeth Claire Alberts Mongabay
Shark fin soup is said to be the food of emperors, but a new study finds this “luxury” dish may not be so favorable to the person who eats it. A team of international researchers discovered that shark fins contain high levels of mercury — in most cases, much higher than what’s legally considered safe for human consumption.
Opinion: Sustainable Bluefin Tuna? Not So Fast.
May 27, 2020 By Jennifer E. Telesca Hakai Magazine
Buying fish with a clear conscience isn’t easy these days. The ocean is so depleted and the demand so high that only half of the world’s seafood comes from the wild. The rest is farmed. Well-intentioned consumers want to know how to minimize harm through their purchasing power when at retailers such as Marks and Spencer, Walmart, and Whole Foods. The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) offers one of several guides. I’m afraid it’s a sham.
What Goes Up Must Come Down
May 13, 2020 By Michael Allen Hakai Magazine
Rapid proliferation of satellites in orbit is raising a number of concerns: astronomers fear the tiny craft will mar their observations, while Starlink satellites have already proved to be a possible collision risk for other spacecraft. And Nicola Pirrone, research director at the National Research Council of Italy’s Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, is worried about what would happen if one of these satellite manufacturers were to switch to using mercury as a fuel—a cheap and readily available alternative.