Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Taxpayers to fund clear-up of illegal dumps in West Yorkshire, Surrey and Kent

admin — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 21:30:33 +0000

Andy Burnham promises drive to tackle toxic waste, raise fines and use AI-powered drones to detect illegal activity

Illegal dumps in West Yorkshire, Surrey and Kent will be cleared up using taxpayer money, Andy Burnham has announced, as the prime minister promises a new drive to tackle toxic waste.

Ministers have identified dumps in Bradford, Runnymede and the Isle of Sheppey, which collectively contain about 22,000 tonnes of illegal waste, to be cleared in the next phase of the government’s national clear-up effort.

Human remains again found at Lake Mead as water levels drop amid drought

admin — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 17:30:28 +0000

Discovery marks latest grim finding in lake as water levels in crucial reservoir outside Las Vegas continue to decline

Human remains have once again been discovered at Lake Mead outside Las Vegas, Nevada, marking the latest in a line of gruesome discoveries as water levels in the crucial reservoir continue to drop, authorities said.

Otter spotted for first time in 100 years in New York City’s Bronx River

admin — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 17:27:55 +0000

Image captured in early June shows animal foraging in the waterway in first since early 1900s, signaling its recovery

An otter has been spotted in the Bronx River for the first time in more than 100 years, in a further sign that New York’s previously befouled waterways are recovering some of their ecological health.

The North American river otter was photographed by a motion-activated camera foraging near some vegetation in the Bronx River, a waterway that flows through New York’s Bronx and empties into the East River.

‘Success story’ hailed as bluefin tunas caught off Yorkshire for first time since 1960s

admin — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 16:36:55 +0000

Researchers laud return of giant tuna to North Sea after being fished almost to point of extinction

Researchers have lauded two giant bluefin tunas being caught off the coast of Yorkshire for the first time in more than six decades as a “success story” for marine conservation.

The tunas, which were caught a day apart off the coast of Whitby earlier this week, have mostly been absent along the north-east coast of Britain since the 1960s.

Swimmers warned of toxic algae at newly designated Thames bathing site

admin — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 16:32:47 +0000

People told they and their pets should keep out of river at Ham amid anger over Thames Water’s treated sewage plan

Swimmers are being warned not to enter the water at the first official bathing site on the River Thames, in south-west London, because of toxic blue-green algae in the water.

The blue-green algal blooms are rare in moving water but are likely to be caused by the extreme heat, low river flow, and nutrient pollution from sewage waste.

Tice should apologise to firefighters for ‘enjoy it’ remark on extreme heat, says Labour

admin — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 16:19:41 +0000

Exclusive: Bridget Phillipson’s comments show her party feels voters have been alienated by Reform net zero attacks

Richard Tice should apologise to firefighters for his comments this week urging British people to “enjoy” this summer’s extreme heat, according to the Labour party chair.

Bridget Phillipson has called on Reform’s deputy leader to say sorry to those who, over the last few weeks, have battled wildfires across the country that have forced evacuations and destroyed homes.

Reform says we need to choose between climate and economy. It's wrong | Larry Elliott

admin — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 15:10:12 +0000

The party’s deputy leader Richard Tice says we should stop worrying about extreme heat and enjoy it. This dangerous nonsense will wreck our finances and the planet

So now we know: the smart response to the UK’s summer of record temperatures is to do precisely nothing. According to Richard Tice, Reform UK’s deputy leader, the climate crisis is just one of those things. Nothing can be done about it, so we should simply bask in the sunshine.

Calls for urgent law change as UK’s largest water reuse system cannot be switched on

admin — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 14:00:14 +0000

Recycling system in Cambridgeshire that could save thousands of litres a day is deemed not in line with rules

The largest water reuse system in the UK, which could save thousands of litres of water a day for people living in one of the driest regions of the country, is not allowed to be switched on because of drinking water regulations.

As water supplies in England reach critical levels, the Guardian can reveal that a model water recycling system within an urban housing development in Cambridgeshire has not been switched on since it was made ready in 2021.

Firefighters sound alarm as US faces critical staffing shortage: ‘We don’t have enough people’

admin — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 14:00:13 +0000

Firefighters describe being pushed to limit by a brutal wildfire season, with key leadership roles going unfilled

The US has faced a critical shortage of firefighters at the US Forest Service (USFS) this summer as thousands of fires erupted across the country.

Hawaii crews work to restore power to thousands after Lala outages

admin — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 13:18:21 +0000

Storm also caused destructive flooding and damage to homes and infrastructure with one woman dead

Tropical storm Lala wreaks ‘devastation’ to some areas of Hawaii’s Big Island