LEO Network

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The LEO Network is a worldwide network of observers and experts that share their observations of environmental change.
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Observations

Benn asks fishermen to report jellyfish: “Terrible to see the fish suffer!”
A salmon farm manager in Finnmark urges fishermen to report pearl necklace siphonophore (jellyfish) sightings after blooms caused skin and eye injuries and breathing problems in farmed salmon near Øksfjord/Hammerfest.
Øksfjord, Troms og Finnmark, Norway
iFinnmark

Invasive carpet sea squirt spreading in Kosterhavet
The invasive carpet sea squirt (filtsjöpung), known as “sea vomit,” is rapidly spreading across the seafloor in Kosterhavet National Park, smothering organisms beneath it. Authorities say budget cuts have hampered monitoring and control, but they are now examining ways to slow the outbreak.
Kosterhavet, Bohuslän, Sweden
SVT Nyheter

‘All’ the cod is in the Loppa Sea: Took the entire quota in three days
Exceptionally large cod catches off Loppa and Hasvik, Finnmark, are allowing many small and mid-size boats to fill their quotas within days, and a record year in turnover is expected. Local leaders say boats from across Norway have flocked to the area, with landings markedly higher than last year.
Loppa and Hasvik, Finnmark, Norway
NRK

Whales flock to the herring
The vessel Beitir NK landed 700 tons of herring in Neskaupstaður, as skippers report many whales—especially orcas—converging on herring grounds and following the net to the ship. Recent catches suggest the herring has shifted north toward Bakkaflói.
Neskaupstaður, Austurland, Iceland
mbl.is

Oodles of bears caught on camera at JBER cemetery
A video captured an unusually large group of bears at Fort Richardson National Cemetery on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage on Friday evening. The filmer said he regularly sees bears there in summer and fall but never so many at once.
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (Fort Richardson National Cemetery), Anchorage, Alaska, United States
KTUU

Human Disturbance and Shorebird Decline in the Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary
Human disturbances, such as off-leash dogs and increased tourism, are causing a decline in shorebird populations at the Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary, disrupting their critical stopover habitat and reflecting broader global biodiversity challenges.
Oak Bay, British Columbia, Canada

Basking sharks captured on video off Nairn in rare sighting
Up to 10 basking sharks were filmed close to shore off Nairn in the Moray Firth, offering rare, close-up views to tour passengers and beachgoers. The late-summer sightings featured large sharks circling near idle boats in calm water.
Nairn, Highland, United Kingdom
Inverness Courier

Massive Iceberg Spotted Near Iceland Triggers Shipping Warning
A huge iceberg—about 300 m long, 300 m wide and 75 m high—was spotted in a key shipping route north of Iceland, prompting a warning to mariners. The Icelandic Coast Guard located it roughly 42 nautical miles north of Hornbjarg during an aerial patrol.
Hornbjarg, Westfjords, Iceland
Iceland Review

Found large amounts of cloudberries
Researchers report unusually abundant cloudberries in Svalbard this year, with monitoring at Colesbukta indicating the berries did well. The exact locations are being kept secret and picking is not allowed due to protections.
Colesbukta, Svalbard, Norway
Svalbardposten

Eel record in the Dalälven — highest count in 50 years
A record 3,000–4,000 European eels have been counted this year in the eel ladder at Älvkarleby on the lower Dalälven— the highest level in 50 years. Researchers at SLU call the surge remarkable but say it’s too early to know if the rebound will last.
Älvkarleby, Uppsala County, Sweden
SVT Nyheter

Rare recreational opening on Lower Fraser due to huge sockeye run
Fisheries and Oceans Canada authorized a rare recreational sockeye opening in the non-tidal Fraser River from Mission to Hope (Aug. 22–Sept. 1, 2025) after unexpectedly large sockeye returns; retention is two sockeye per day and four pinks per day, with restrictions to avoid impacts on non-target stocks.
Lower Fraser River (Mission to Hope), British Columbia, Canada
Lake Cowichan Gazette (Black Press Media)

Kittiwakes in Every Nook and Cranny: It Can't Be Easy to Sleep
A rooftop in Berlevåg is packed with common kittiwakes occupying every nook and cranny. The scene highlights seabirds’ increasing use of urban structures for roosting in coastal northern Norway.
Berlevåg, Troms og Finnmark, Norway
iFinnmark

Lake Mývatn Sees Largest Midge Swarm in Decades
Lake Mývatn experienced its largest midge swarm in decades, with calm, warm conditions triggering an unusually early emergence that blanketed the lake’s surface.
Mývatn, North Iceland, Iceland
Iceland Review

King salmon’s disappearance has changed the Kenai River, but a soaring sockeye run is keeping it in business
The traditional king salmon fishery on the Kenai River has collapsed for a third straight year, but unprecedented sockeye runs have buoyed local guides, processors and businesses—while also creating new infrastructure and sustainability challenges.
Kenai River, Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

For every wild salmon in the trap, there have been 30 pink salmon – Frightening
In Kvænangen river traps caught a 30:1 ratio of invasive pink salmon to wild Atlantic salmon, requiring up to three emptyings per day.
Kvænangen, Troms og Finnmark, Norway
Nordlys

Alarm: Barnacles Are Growing – Environmentally Friendly Tips for Boat Owners
Barnacle larvae are proliferating in the Baltic Sea, prompting the Swedish Boat Union to warn owners to wash hulls in time to prevent hard barnacle mats and reduce environmental and fuel impacts.
Baltic Sea, Sweden
SVT Nyheter

Small Rodent Crash Triggers Crisis for Ptarmigan: Almost All Nests Plundered
On Varanger Peninsula, record low rodent numbers this summer forced predators like crows, gulls, foxes, and jaegers to raid nearly every ground nest, with only 6 of 94 nests surviving, and models predict a further 30% drop in willow ptarmigan in Finnmark.
Varanger Peninsula, Troms og Finnmark, Norway
NRK

Tick found on visitor after trip to Hornøya – High occurrence of a particular species
A 13-year-old boy discovered a tick on his leg after visiting Hornøya near Vardø, highlighting an unexpectedly high occurrence of ticks on the island.
Vardø, Finnmark, Norway
iFinnmark

Reindeer-herding enterprise in Anadyr District renews herd for first time in 37 years
More than 860 young reindeer were driven from the Chaunskoye breeding farm to the municipal enterprise 'Named after the First Revkom of Chukotka'; the 200+ km trek to the Ust-Bel tundra took two weeks and marks the enterprise's first herd renewal in 37 years after a long brucellosis quarantine was lifted.
Anadyrsky District, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Russia
ProChukotku

Venomous jellyfish invading west Swedish beaches
A venomous lion’s mane jellyfish has been sighted on several west Swedish beaches between Strömstad and Malmö, delivering powerful stings that can cause breathing problems.
West Coast, Sweden

Caught 2000 pink salmon in a single seine cast
Fisherman Edgar Olsen hauled in over 2,000 invasive pink salmon in one seine cast during trial fishing at the Vesterelva estuary in Nesseby, distributing about half to locals and sending the rest to Lerøy.
Nesseby, Troms og Finnmark, Norway
NRK Troms og Finnmark

What's with the white stuff? Why the N.W.T. has so much tree fluff this summer | CBC News
The increase in tree "fluff" is likely a stress response from poplars, aspen and willows reacting to the dry conditions from the past few years, according to the N.W.T.'s department of Environment and Climate Change.
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada
CBC

Abundant and tall cow parsnip
Observers report an increase in the abundance and height of cow parsnip, also know as pushki or wild celery. These conditions may be a signal of warming and wetter climate trends.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Kendra Zamzow, Wilson Justin, Gino Graziano, Katie Spellman, Richard L Thoman Jr, Lars Flora

Spotted in Anchorage: Invasive European Starlings
European Starlings, an invasive species, have been observed in Anchorage, Alaska, where they compete with native birds for resources. Their presence is concerning due to their aggressive behavior and potential to form large flocks, prompting local monitoring and reporting efforts.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Nora, 9, got over 50 ticks on her legs in her grandmother’s garden
Nine-year-old Nora found over 50 ticks attached to her legs while playing barefoot in her grandmother’s garden in the Kålltorp district of Gothenburg.
Gothenburg, Västra Götaland, Sweden

A Total of 12 Wildfires Extinguished Nationwide
Over the past five days, Mongolia’s National Emergency Management Agency reports that 12 of 22 recorded forest and steppe wildfires across multiple aimags have been fully extinguished, with four fires still active.
Nationwide, Mongolia
MONTSAME News Agency

Ninilchik River closed to sport fishing
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has closed the Ninilchik River to all sport fishing from June 23 through July 15 to help meet king salmon escapement and broodstock collection goals.
Ninilchik, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, United States
Homer News

Tree pollen counts in Anchorage are the highest they’ve been in almost a decade
Anchorage is experiencing the highest tree pollen counts in nearly a decade, with counts reaching thousands of grains per cubic meter from birch, poplar, cottonwood, aspen, willow, and alder, triggering widespread allergy symptoms.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

Red-headed woodpecker
The red-headed woodpecker has been observed for the past week.
Aliceville, Alabama, United States

Non-toxic red tide blooming in Saanich Inlet
A bloom of non-toxic Noctiluca algae is lining Saanich Inlet’s shoreline; safe for swimmers and shellfish consumption so far. Scientists say the bloom is not producing toxins yet, but could as the water gets warmer. “This one is a bit early!” said Galbraith.
Saanich Inlet, British Columbia, Canada
CHEK

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