Ocean News: Deep Sea Mining, Coral Discovery, and the Fate of France's Last Two Captive Orca Whales
- La Mer Luxe | Jaqueline Dean
- Jan 9, 2025
- 3 min read
Topics: Deep Sea Mining, The Largest Coral Colony, Help Save France's last two captive orcas
Our oceans are the lifeblood of our planet, covering more than 70% of Earth and providing vital resources for life. Yet, they face growing threats from pollution, overfishing, and climate change. In this post, we’ll explore some of the latest updates in ocean conservation and share actionable ways you can contribute to protecting these vital ecosystems. Whether you are new to ocean advocacy or a seasoned supporter, there’s always a way to make a difference. Let’s dive in!
Deep-Sea Mining: Opportunity or Environmental Catastrophe?
What is deep-sea mining?
Deep Sea Mining involves extracting valuable minerals like cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements from the ocean floor, often in fragile ecosystems thousands of meters below the surface.
What are the minerals used for?
The minerals are crucial for technologies like electric vehicles, smartphones, laptops, aerospace technology, military technology, renewable energy, and more.
What are the risks of deep-sea mining?
Harms Marine Life and Ecosystems - The largest biome on the planet.
Releases Stored Carbon - A large percentage of the carbon humans emit is absorbed by the ocean. The Oceans store about 38,000 gigatons of greenhouse gas and mining the sea floor could cause the gas to be released.
Releases Toxic Sediment Plumes - Deep-sea mining poses severe threats to marine life, primarily through sediment plumes that can suffocate seafloor organisms and disrupt entire ecosystems.
Light Pollution, Noise Pollution & More
What can you do to stop deep-sea mining? Raise Awareness Share information about the environmental risks. Support Ocean Conservation Organizations like Deep Sea Conservation Coalition, Greenpeace, or Ocean Conservancy, which actively campaign against deep-sea mining.
The World’s Largest Coral was Discovered in the South Pacific!
In October 2024, scientists discovered the world's largest known coral colony near Malaulalo Island in the Solomon Islands. This massive coral, identified as Pavona clavus, measures approximately 34 meters (112 feet) wide, 32 meters (105 feet) long, and 5.5 meters (18 feet) high—dimensions that make it visible from space.
What is the Fate of France's Last Two Captive Orca Whales?
In November 2021, France enacted to phase out the use of captive dolphins and killer whales in entertainment, including a ban on breeding these marine mammals. All performances are obligated to cease by December 2026, and in response, Marineland Antibes, France's largest marine park, announced its closure on January 5, 2025. Leaving the future of the park's last two captive orcas Wikie 23 and her 11-year-old son Keijo, uncertain.
A Cruel Fate: The French Ministry's Inspector General Report recommends relocating Wikie and Keijo, the two orcas at Marineland Antibes, to a whale sanctuary. If the Ministry does not mandate this relocation, Marineland Antibes has considered transferring the orcas to facilities in Japan or Spain. Concerns have been raised that such moves could result in the orcas being separated, confined to smaller tanks, and subjected to breeding programs.
What you can do to help: Remember Free Willy? It inspired a global movement to end orca captivity. Now, we have a chance to make history again by freeing Wikie and Keijo, France’s last captive orcas. Instead of being sent to cramped tanks in Japan or Spain, they could thrive in a whale sanctuary, just like Keiko, the real-life orca from Free Willy. Let’s honor this legacy and give them a life of dignity and freedom.
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