Woods Hole finds evidence of heavy fishing in “twilight zone”

Photo of a Moonfish
Researchers are studying the underreported species in the mesopelagic zone, known as the “twilight zone.” | Photo courtesy of NOAA

By Haley Jones, Seafood Source,

The Woods Hole, Massachusetts, U.S.A.-based Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) released a new study finding that industrial-scale fishing has removed “substantial biomass from the ocean’s twilight zone” for several decades, casting doubt on the claim that this ecosystem remains unexploited.  

The study, titled “Hidden in Plain Sight: Decades of Industrial-Scale Fishing in the Ocean’s Twilight Zone,” focuses on the “dark web” species, which WHOI refers to as “a poorly understood group of large midwater fishes” such as pomfrets and snake mackerels. These organisms that live in the mesopelagic zone, which is about 1,000-2,000 meters below the surface, remain largely uncovered in scientific studies and are regularly caught by commercial fisheries, according to the release.

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“Much of the discussion around the ocean twilight zone has assumed large-scale fishing there has not really begun,” Martin Arostegui, lead author of the study and research associate at WHOI, said. “Our study shows that for these larger midwater fishes, that is simply not the case.” 

In the release, the researchers suggest improved catch reporting and a better integration of these species into fisheries management frameworks. With improved data and coordinated policy action for mesopelagic zone fish, those working in fisheries could better understand these species beyond just commercial catch.  

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Panama Canal aims to avoid a repeat of 2023 El Niño drought

By Reuters

PANAMA CITY, May 15 (Reuters) – The Panama Canal is not planning vessel passage restrictions for the remainder of 2026 even if an El Niño weather pattern begins in the second half of the year as predicted, potentially leading to another drought in the Central American country, the waterway told Reuters.

The canal linking the Pacific and Atlantic oceans is currently allowing 38 ships to pass through each day and has seen demand increase in recent months mainly due to the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, which is affecting the use of other corridors like the Suez Canal.

The El Niño climate pattern, which occurs every two to seven years, leads to warm ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific, which typically means wetter, colder winters in portions of the U.S. and rainfall reduction in Central America, leading to droughts.

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Trump has hindered offshore wind while China invests heavily

A wind turbine base is visible at Sunrise Wind offshore wind farm that is under construction off the coast of Montauk Point, New York, April 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel, File)

By JENNIFER McDERMOTT, Associated Press, Updated 2:28 PM EDT, May 14, 2026

President Donald Trump is stopping offshore wind projects in the United States, just as the industry was poised to grow significantly.

Offshore wind energy has the potential to deliver large amounts of clean energy along U.S. coastlines. Three offshore wind farms are open in the United States, and three more have begun delivering power as they finish construction or final testing before fully opening.

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There are more than 40 federal offshore wind leases. The Trump administration is buying some leases back, giving payouts to energy companies to walk away from offshore wind. Trump has erected other roadblocks for the industry, while going all-in on fossil fuels.

His stance runs counter to many other countries that are embracing using wind turbines at sea to help meet a growing demand for electricity cleanly. China, where Trump is attending a summit this week, is the global leader in offshore wind. Unlike burning oil, coal and natural gas, wind turbines produce electricity without warming the planet.

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Will new fire-fighting system take the heat off Camden scrap yard?

By Eva Andersen, Scott Jacobson, CBS News

A Camden scrap metal recycling facility at the center of repeated fires and environmental concerns has unveiled a new multimillion-dollar fire suppression system designed to stop fires before they spread.

EMR, a metal recycling company with facilities in Camden, demonstrated the new system on Wednesday at its Camden property. The system includes infrared heat-detecting cameras, automated water cannons, and a 250,000-gallon water tank intended to quickly suppress fires linked to lithium-ion batteries hidden in scrap piles.

Company officials say the system is part of a broader effort to address fires that have plagued the facility in recent years and sparked backlash from nearby residents.

“What you’re looking at is a brand-new fire suppression system,” EMR CEO Joe Balzano said during a tour of the property.

Balzano said the company spent more than $4.5 million on the system, which took about seven months to install.

“We had a fire engineer sign off on everything to make sure it was something that would work,” Balzano said.

According to EMR, seven infrared cameras monitor piles around the clock. If temperatures rise above 225 degrees, automated water cannons activate and target the affected area.

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Lithuania’s Plan to Combat Global Warming (and Russian Tanks)

Peatlands in Canada

By Avril Silva, The New York Times, May 13, 2026

In a scrubby forest an hour outside the Lithuanian capital on a recent day this spring, excavators were digging ditches and tree harvesters were whirring in an effort to restore a waterlogged, mosquito-infested ecosystem that was drained in the Soviet era.

The reason is twofold: to help the climate and to defend the country from invasion.

The area was once a vast peat bog, and peat bogs are highly efficient at storing planet-warming carbon dioxide. They also happen to be very good at stopping tanks, because the spongy soil can’t support the weight of armored vehicles. The tanks get stuck and sink, often permanently.

Tomas Godliauskas, the Lithuanian vice minister of defense, said the bogs would form “an integral defensive line” when combined with other military tactics. The project also has the advantage of being relatively inexpensive compared with other measures such as tank ditches and minefields, he added.

Lithuania isn’t the only European Union country using bogs to deter a Russian invasion. Latvia and Finland, for example, are also seeking to restore bogs for both environmental and defense purposes. And Ukrainian bogs helped to delay Russian troops in a failed push toward Kyiv in 2022.

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