Ferret Underground: Scotland's Seas

Take a look at some of the main stories from the week and an insight into The Ferret's work.

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Hi ,

This week in The Ferret, you might have seen we've returned to the murky waters around Scotland for the second part of our 'Scotland's Seas in Danger' series.

So far we've revealed that chronic North Sea oil spills are threatening the environment, explained how the licencing system for oil and gas works, and looked at how marine protection promised by the Scottish Government has yet to emerge.

And stay tuned to The Ferret as there's more to come this weekend.

Yours,
Ali

Story of the week

An in-depth look at a Ferret investigation

There have been more than 2,000 oil spills in the North Sea since 2011 including 215 in marine protection areas home to some of Scotland’s most threatened species and habitats, The Ferret can reveal.

Our analysis of official UK Government data on oil and gas spills found that 1,175 tonnes were spilled between January 2011 and December 2023 – 2,252 spills in total.

Some 308 tonnes of oil spilled into marine protected areas (MPAs) over the 13-year period. Green groups stressed that marine life is put at risk by spills, as well as toxic chemicals, microplastics, and seismic blasting noise pollution from oil and gas production.

Exposure to toxic oil fumes has been recognised to kill whales and dolphins years after exposure, according to the Centre for Biological Diversity.

Read the full story

What did we dig up this week?

A round up of our investigations in the last seven days

Scottish Government accused of “broken promises” over marine protection

The Scottish Government has been accused of “very serious political delays” over its promises to better protect the marine environment.

How do oil and gas licences work?

Oil and gas licences continue to be granted, despite arguments that further exploitation of fossil fuels will jeopardise efforts to mitigate climate change.

Claim more than 12,000 died before ambulance could reach hospital in 2023 is False

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar suggested that the number of people dying after ambulances were called had increased significantly.

Question of the Week

Is the North Sea oil industry doing enough to reduce spills?

Yes

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Best of the rest

Investigations we've enjoyed from around the world

Online gig work is feeding Russia’s surveillance machine

Technology used to repress dissent against Putin’s authoritarian regime is powered by unwitting gig workers in the global south. (Bureau)

Online conspiracies about the Baltimore bridge collapse are out of control

Conspiracy theorists are calling the Baltimore bridge collapse a “black swan event” and are blaming everything from Israel to DEI to Covid vaccines. (Wired)

Gaza war: is UN security council ‘demand’ for a ceasefire legally binding? Here’s what international law says

Despite the adoption of a UN security council resolution demanding a immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the war continues. (The Conversation)

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