New research is calling for a fundamental shift in how Australian universities and scientists publish research that draws on Indigenous Knowledges (sum of the understandings, skills, and philosophies developed by Indigenous societies with long histories of interaction with and custodianship of their natural surroundings), warning that current academic practices risk sidelining First Nations authority while benefiting from their expertise.

The study led by Flinders University and the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), published as a major perspective piece, argues that Indigenous groups must be treated as active partners in research publications — not just contributors acknowledged in footnotes or ‘personal communications’.

A new study published in Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria documents the rapid expansion of the non-indigenous Indo-Pacific crab Gonioinfradens giardi in the central Mediterranean. Working closely with local fishers, researchers collected a dozen crabs along the Ionian coast of Sicily within just two months. This marks the species' westernmost occurrence to date, indicating the rapid establishment of this species in the Mediterranean Sea and highlighting its potential invasiveness.

At a UN wildlife conference in Brazil, governments agreed to extend protections to 40 additional migratory species, including populations of cheetahs, snowy owls, and several shark species, bringing total coverage under the Convention on Migratory Species to 1,200+ species. The meeting highlighted accelerating declines driven by habitat loss, climate change, overexploitation, and pollution, prompting new action plans, regional initiatives, and calls for stronger international cooperation and integration of Indigenous knowledge. Leaders stressed that real conservation outcomes will depend on turning agreements into on-the-ground action before the next summit in Bonn in 2029.