After a 40-year quest, Professor Christine Maggs has confirmed the discovery of a new seaweed species, ceramium ruenessianum, found living on maerl beds in UK waters off Cornwall. The pink-striped seaweed, nicknamed "pink-zebra weed," will join the Natural History Museum's collection, highlighting the biodiversity of threatened maerl habitats.
Prof. Christine Maggs has identified a new seaweed species, ceramium ruenessianum, found on maerl beds in Cornwall, UK, after a 40-year search. The discovery, confirmed with DNA sequencing, highlights the biodiversity of maerl and the importance of marine conservation.
A Russian frigate, Neustrashimy, conducted a 30-minute live-fire artillery exercise 40 nautical miles south of Plymouth in international waters, closely monitored by the Royal Navy's HMS Tyne and a French military aircraft. The incident follows increased Russian naval activity near UK waters, including a previous warning shot incident involving a British yacht.
The UK is experiencing an "extreme" marine heatwave with ocean temperatures 2C warmer than usual, potentially causing mass-mortality events for marine species. Scientists link this to Europe's recent heat dome and El Niño conditions, warning of significant ecosystem disruption.
The UK has arrested and charged Ajay Pant, an Indian national and captain of the MV Smyrtos, for allegedly breaching sanctions by supplying Russian oil. The arrest occurred during a dramatic operation in the English Channel, coinciding with new UK sanctions targeting Russia's "shadow fleet" of oil tankers.
A massive bloom of common octopuses (Octopus vulgaris) in UK waters, first seen in Devon and Cornwall in 2025, has spread to Scotland and Wales, impacting the fishing industry and marine ecosystem due to warming seas.
The UK has issued a licence indefinitely allowing imports of diesel and jet fuel made from Russian crude oil if refined in third countries, reversing a ban imposed last year. The move comes amid fears of jet fuel shortages due to Middle East conflict and follows similar rollbacks in the US and EU.
