Background Articles

The survey started in 1971 as a review of commercially important fish like cod and halibut, but has grown into an annual scientific assessment of all sea life hauled up from the deep.

“Nobody knows how old it is. We do know that it’s disappearing.”

As Australia faces historic drought conditions, the impacts of climate change are increasingly difficult to ignore.

The winter commercial crabbing season in the Norton Sound will begin February 25 with a quota less than half of its 2018 figure and a third of the 2017 quota.

Chalky meat is not dangerous to humans but is not desirable and thus costs the fishermen at the dock.

After years of hearing concerns from fishermen about the prevalence of “chalky” halibut, the International Pacific Halibut Commission is planning an investigation.

A new study has documented unexpected consequences following the decline of great white sharks from an area off South Africa. The study found that the disappearance of great whites has led to the emergence of sevengill sharks, a top predator from a different habitat. A living fossil, sevengill sharks closely resemble relatives from the Jurassic period, unique for having seven gills instead of the typical five in most other sharks.

Over 90 species of birds have been counted in this year’s winter bird census—which is the most diverse range ever recorded. Kristinn Haukur Skarphéðinsson, animal ecologist with the Natural History Institute of Iceland, says, however, that numbers of some common winter species are shrinking fast, due to climate change.

Biological samples to be tested for tuberculosis and botulism have been sent to California and Washington since the Nov. 30 quake damaged the Anchorage facility.

If the trend of reduced ice on the world's lakes continues at its current pace, the Canadian tradition of shinny could become a thing of the past, according to new research.

While most wolves prefer ungulates like moose, deer and mountain goats, the Gustavus pack has displayed a preference for sea otter.

Scientists from NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have declared 2018 the fourth warmest year on record. It ranks behind 2016, 2017 and 2015, respectively. And it's only going to get warmer from here, they predict.

Ice seals thought to be most affected by the disappearance of arctic sea ice seem to be doing well, according to data presented at the Alaska Marine Science Symposium last week. The two species of ice seals that were declared “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act are, so far, doing well with less sea ice. …

When geophysicist Sigurjón Jónsson started researching South Iceland earthquakes a short while after the big one in 2000, he was struck by how many of the other big shakes had also occurred during summertime. He decided to search through old records and found 30 earthquakes in South Iceland that had caused damage were recorded—either by date or at least by time of year. He noticed a pattern and wanted to learn more.

Greenhouse gas emissions provide extreme warming on Svalbard.

At least a third of the ice in the Himalayas and the Hindu Kush will thaw this century as temperatures rise, disrupting river flows vital for growing crops from China to India, scientists say.

An official says time and money was running out. No decisions have been made yet on what to do next winter.

The temperature in Whitehorse has dipped just as competitors are doing final preparations for the Yukon Arctic Ultra. The 82 participants in this year's race should be well aware of the dangers posed by the frigid weather, after last year's serious injuries.