Fish

• Filipino coast guard vessels and Chinese maritime militia engaged in a tense standoff Friday near Scarborough Shoal, with both nations claiming territorial waters; no shots were fired, but vessels came within 500 meters of each other, Filipino officials reported. • The incident involved disputed fishing rights and resource access; the Philippines detained three Chinese fishing boats accused of illegal harvesting in Manila-claimed waters, while China demanded their immediate release. • The US State Department reiterated commitment to the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines and called for peaceful resolution, warning that any military escalation in the strategic waterway threatens global trade and stability.

• Researchers from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution reported that Atlantic cod and other commercial fish populations have rebounded 34% over the past four years following strict catch quotas and marine protected areas implemented in 2022. • Population surveys conducted across 850,000 square kilometers of Atlantic waters show biomass increases in previously depleted stocks, with detailed findings presented at the American Fisheries Society conference on April 19. • The recovery demonstrates that science-based fisheries management can restore ecosystems within a decade, providing a model for international ocean conservation efforts.

An Ecuadorian fishing crew describe their ordeal as victims of Trump’s purported war on ‘narcoterrorists’By 4pm, the light was softening over the Pacific, and the crew of the Don Maca were finishing a long day hauling in lines of swordfish and albacore. Down in the hold, the mood had settled into the familiar rhythm of a fishing day drawing to a close.“We were just working, waiting for the last trawler to return,” Jhonny Sebastián Palacios, one of the fishers, told the Guardian. “Everything was perfectly fine.” Continue reading...

• Philippine coast guard vessels confronted Chinese fishing fleets in the Scarborough Shoal area Saturday, with Manila accusing Beijing of illegal harvesting in disputed waters and demanding immediate withdrawal. • The incident involved three Chinese ships ramming a Philippine patrol boat, injuring two officers, prompting Manila to lodge a formal diplomatic protest through the US State Department. • Analysts view the confrontation as part of China's broader strategy to consolidate control over contested maritime zones, with the US signaling support for Philippine sovereignty claims.

Prime minister touches down and says two countries ‘strategically aligned’. Follow updates liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA search for a fisherman who disappeared in waters off Coffs Harbour has been suspended, police said last night.Emergency services were called to Emerald Beach, Coffs Harbour, on Monday following reports that a 32-year-old man had been washed off rocks while fishing.There’s been substantial damage in the Gulf and that will have consequences for a period of at least months ahead. Continue reading...

Brittlestars, sea anemones and a catshark among new-to-science species collected during expedition off the Queensland coastGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastMarine scientists have discovered more than 110 new fish and invertebrate species in the Coral Sea – a figure they believe could exceed 200 as more are identified.The species were found in waters between 200 metres and 3km deep in the Coral Sea marine park, Australia’s largest marine protected area, which spans nearly 1m sq km to the east of the Great Barrier Reef. Continue reading...

• Stanford University researchers led by Claire Bedbrook and Ravi Nath published findings in Science on March 12, 2026, showing that midlife behaviors like movement and sleep in killifish predict lifespan. • The study, from Anne Brunet and Karl Deisseroth's labs, revealed animals maintain stable behaviors for long periods before rapid transitions into new stages. • This behavioral perspective on aging stages emerged from continuous monitoring, offering insights into predicting longevity without genetic analysis.