Caribbean green turtles are now ecologically extinct—sadly they were once incredibly abundant…

Post author:Philip Mladenov
Post published:16/07/2020

Green turtles in the pre-Columbian Caribbean Sea once numbered in the tens of millions. Today, as a result of over 400 years of intense hunting, only about 300,000 remain, or around 0.3 per cent of historical numbers. Adult green turtles feed mainly on turtle grass and in the past they acted as ecosystem engineers by structuring and maintaining healthy seagrass habitat. Their ecological extinction has had a profound effect on Caribbean marine ecosystems.

Marine Biology – A Very Short Introduction – Philip Mladenov

Post author:Philip Mladenov
Post published:09/07/2020

The fully updated 2nd edition of my book Marine Biology published by Oxford University Press is now available in print and as an ebook from all major booksellers. It provides a readable and informative introduction to the oceanic environment and the nature of life in the oceans for a wide audience, including students, researchers, and intellectually curious readers who would like a balanced and engaging introduction to the subject.

Fishing the oceans – How much fish do we really take?

Post author:Philip Mladenov
Post published:07/07/2020

Accurate information on how much fish we take from the oceans is an essential starting point for much needed improvement in global governance and management of wild seafood resources. However, official databases have been significantly underestimating the global marine fish catch for at least 70 years. What needs to be done to improve the overall quality of the global ocean fisheries database?