The Latest Breaking News from the Southern Ocean

Sea Shepherd Ship’s Covert Role: Sam Simon funds MY Sam Simon; longest pursuit hits illegal fishing

In 2012, Sea Shepherd acquired the MY Sam Simon ship with funding from Sam Simon. This vessel took aim at Japanese whalers in the Southern Ocean, subsequently chasing illegal fishing boats for an impressive 110 days. During this mission, it collected numerous illegal fishing nets, underscoring the relentless battle against…

The Times of India · Sep 12

Bird flu could devastate Macquarie Island. Why are we removing the scientists we need to understand it?

Australia’s Macquarie Island lies deep in the Southern Ocean, about 1,500 kilometres southeast of Tasmania. This World Heritage-listed sanctuary is a haven for species such as elephant and fur seals, penguins, albatrosses and petrels, and a key site for wildlife researchers.

The Conversation · Sep 1

Western Australia’s humpback sightings fell 60%; days later, weakened Southern Ocean seabirds appeared thousands of kilometres away on the country’s east coast

Unusual whale and seabird sightings in the Southern Ocean suggest changing ocean conditions. Marine heat waves are affecting waters around Australia and Antarctica. These warming events disrupt food webs and push marine life off course. Limited monitoring hinders understanding of these significant ecosystem shifts. Better long-term data is urgently needed…

The Times of India · Aug 3

Antarctica’s sudden sea ice loss is one of the most extreme and confusing events in the modern climate record. Scientists now know why it's happening.

In 2015, after decades of relative stability, Antarctica's sea ice suddenly began to disappear. Sea ice extent reached a record low in 2023, and scientists have now figured out what happened in that period.

LiveScience · May 15

Scientists finally know how old the Twelve Apostles are – and they’re much younger than anyone thought

Every year, millions of visitors stand at the clifftop lookouts along Victoria’s Great Ocean Road and gaze out at the Twelve Apostles. These towering limestone stacks, rising up to 70 metres above the Southern Ocean, are some of Australia’s most recognisable landmarks.

The Conversation · Apr 23

Antarctic whales’ remarkable comeback is threatened by krill fishing

Huge industrial trawlers are competing for krill – the main food source for whales – in the Southern Ocean, removing vital nutrients from the ecosystem

The Guardian - UK · Mar 27

Southern right whales are having babies less often, but why?

For decades, southern right whales have been celebrated as one of conservation’s success stories.

The Conversation · Feb 11

Is NZ defence and intelligence policy aligning with AUKUS in all but name?

Across the Pacific and the Southern Ocean, New Zealand has been trying to strike a careful balance in its defence and surveillance approach.

The Conversation · Feb 3

Storms in the Southern Ocean are producing more rain – and the consequences could be global

If you ever find yourself on Macquarie Island – a narrow, wind-lashed ridge halfway between Tasmania and Antarctica – the first thing you’ll notice is the wildlife. Elephant seals sprawl across dark beaches. King penguins march up mossy slopes. Albatrosses circle over vast, treeless uplands.

The Conversation · Dec 4, 2025

Southern right whales are having fewer calves: what this says about ocean health

Most people are lucky to simply get a glimpse of some fragment of a whale. A subtle puff of mist over the horizon, the curve of a dark smooth back sliding beneath the surface, or for the fortunate, the flash of a tail or the explosive splash of 40 tons…

The Conversation · Oct 9, 2025