Many aquariums are unethical. Sometimes, they don’t care about where the animals they’re caring for come from or their well-being. Ucluelet Aquarium strives to be the opposite of this. They practise a catch-and-release system in a 10-kilometre radius around their aquarium. This way, they only catch local species that they know how to care for until they release them at the end of the season. It’s a win-win. The animals get care and freedom, while the local community gets to study the underwater friends in their backyard. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here