Australia's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act is being reformed to address protections of threatened marine species, including four species that are still being exported. Recommended reforms include, equal treatment for commercially harvested threatened species,  mandatory annual reviews of species' conservation status, and assessing species listed under global conservation conventions like CITES and IUCN. 

Return of the elephant seals: From a few to thousands
A new study reveals the genetic impact of hunting on northern elephant seals, which narrowly avoided extinction in the early 20th century, reducing their population to fewer than 25 individuals. Although the species has recovered to around 225,000 seals, the population experienced a significant loss of genetic diversity, which could impair their adaptability to future environmental changes. No major inbreeding health issues were detected, likely due to the elimination of harmful mutations during the population bottleneck. The study emphasises the need for species-specific conservation strategies based on unique population histories.

Scientists from 33 European countries join forces to generate reference genomes for the continent's rich biological diversity
The European Reference Genome Atlas (ERGA) pilot project united scientists from 33 countries to produce high-quality reference genomes for 98 species, a step toward creating a comprehensive genomic database for Europe's biodiversity. This collaborative effort is helping to advance biodiversity genomics while providing resources for conservation and scientific research. The project highlights the importance of genomic data for conservation, biodiversity management, and broader applications in fields like biosecurity and human health