The Bite Back: A dose of good news: October 20, 2025

Amid the major stories and buried leads, there is some good news (believe it or not). Here’s a taste of it.

1. Green sea turtles rescued from brink of extinction

Green sea turtles are recovering after decades of decline, leading the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to reclassify them from “endangered” to “least concern” on its Red List. This global success is largely due to long-term conservation efforts such as legal protections and fishing gear modifications, which have helped increase turtle populations by around 28% since the 1970s. However, experts caution that certain regional populations like those in the North Indian Ocean and East Pacific are still at risk. Ongoing threats like climate change, habitat loss, and pollution mean continued protection is essential. While the green sea turtle’s comeback is a hopeful story, the broader picture remains troubling, as nearly one-third of species worldwide remain threatened with extinction. Read more on Smithsonian Magazine.

2. Increased marine conservation in Spain

The government of Spain has approved six new marine-protected areas, five dedicated to marine habitats and one designated for seabirds, covering about 17,000 square kilometers and bringing Spain closer to its target of protecting 25% of its waters by the end of 2025. These zones include sensitive ecosystems such as the seamounts of the Mallorca Channel, banks of the Alboran Sea and the Central Catalan Coast. While the move is celebrated by environmental groups as a major step toward preserving biodiversity, they note that management and enforcement plans must now follow for the protection to be effective. Read more on Oceanographic Magazine.

Read the full blog on the Bite Back Substack.