Category: Ocean & Beach

Israeli Study Discovers Fish in Absence of Humans Amid Prior Covid Lockdowns

Much like the reports of rarely seen mammals roaming city streets during lockdown periods, so too were uncommon fish species in the beach waters of Eilat.

Photo courtesy of Dr. Meir Abelson

Dead in the Water

Without a present plan in motion to stabilize the Dead Sea, the landscape will continue to deteriorate around it, endangering Israel’s tourism and the lives of its southern citizens. Can it be saved, or is it a lost cause?

Photo by Dr. Shai Oron

The Contamination Eilat’s Fish Farms Left Behind

Over a decade after they were removed from the Gulf of Eilat, the effects of the fish cages are still noticeable as Israeli researchers have detected pollutants in the area where they were once located more than a decade ago.

Photo by Amir Yurman

Sinking Into Ancient History

There are dozens of ancient shipwrecks sunk along the Mediterranean shores of Israel, which offer a glimpse into the past. Just how much has shipping changed since then?

Photo courtesy of Prof. Maoz Fine, Bar-Ilan University

The Perils of Cold-Induced Coral Bleaching

Despite the high temperature tolerance of northern Red Sea corals, a new Israeli study shows how susceptible they are to cold-shifted seawater conditions—a potential consequence of the climate crisis.

Photo by Brian Yurasits on Unsplash

From Waste to Paste

A new development makes it possible to convert discarded plastic bags left to pollute into strong, adhesive glue substances. Will this succeed in reducing the ongoing environmental damage perpetrated by disposable plastic?

Screenshot of Tar Detection Map on "Jellyfish Inc." website

Detecting Tar Contamination in Real-Time

A new initiative by marine scientists will make it possible for citizens to report tar contamination on Israeli coasts and keep up to date with the development of the severe oil spill that recently befell Israel’s marine environment.

Photo by Max Kaplan-Zantopp

Israel Oil Spill: It Was Only a Matter of Time

Israel is still reeling from an oil spill that has laced around 160 kilometers of Mediterranean coastline with tar. Will this event spark a cultural shift away from fossil fuels, or will our dependence on them continue to put marine ecosystems and public health at risk?

Photo by Elizaveta Ivanova

The Attractive Odors of Marine Plastic

It has been long assumed marine animals eat plastic because they visually mistake it for prey. However, a recent study suggests this ingestion may actually be the result of the aromas that marine plastic debris emit. Lethal consequences were seen along Tel Aviv’s coastline.

Photo by Prof. Maoz Fine, Bar-Ilan University

A Catastrophe in the Red Sea is Imminent

The Safer oil tanker has not been maintained in the five years since its takeover by Houthi rebels off the west coast of Yemen. Experts warn of a disastrous oil spill in the Red Sea as the vessel nears its final stages of decay. Can this be stopped before it’s too late?

Ocean & Beach