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National Geographic Pristine Seas


New peer-reviewed study: Bottom trawling in Europe’s waters costs society up to €16 billion annually — mostly due to climate impacts

A new peer-reviewed study finds that bottom trawling in European waters results in significant economic losses, with annual costs reaching up to €16 billion. The destructive fishing practice is also found to be a major contributor to climate change, with its impacts felt throughout the region's marine ecosystems.

SourceNational Geographic Pristine Seas·JournalOcean & Coastal Management·DateApr 27, 2026

Extensive survey of Eastern tropical Pacific finds remote protected areas harbor some of the highest concentrations of sharks

A comprehensive survey of the Eastern Tropical Pacific finds that remote Marine Protected Areas support abundant and diverse shark populations, including critically endangered species, whereas coastal areas display alarming declines in predator numbers. The study highlights the importance of strict protection for marine reserves to hel...

SourceNational Geographic Pristine Seas·JournalPLOS One·TypeObservational study·DateNov 26, 2025

New research: Satellite imagery detects illegal fishing activity, shows strict protections work

A new study reveals that fully and highly protected marine reserves successfully curb industrial fishing activity, offering a powerful new way to assess fishing compliance. The research combines satellite imagery and AI technology to detect previously untraceable vessels, finding that most MPAs are well-respected and effective in deter...

SourceNational Geographic Pristine Seas·JournalScience·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 24, 2025

Global study of 34 countries: ocean protection delivers massive overlooked economic benefits to fishing, tourism

A global study of 34 countries reveals that marine protected areas deliver significant economic benefits to the fishing and tourism industries. The study found that MPAs boost either fishing or tourism, with some profits in the billions, and that strictly protected areas are more profitable and cheaper to manage.

SourceNational Geographic Pristine Seas·JournalScientia Marina·TypeLiterature review·DateMar 27, 2024

Scientists uncover new marine source of carbon emissions into atmosphere, finding bottom trawling contributes to global warming

A landmark study by National Geographic Pristine Seas finds that bottom trawling releases up to 370 million metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere annually. The research also reveals high carbon emissions in areas such as East China Sea, Baltic, and North Seas.

SourceNational Geographic Pristine Seas·JournalFrontiers in Marine Science·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 18, 2024