DEEP DIVE: Britain’s exit from the European Union presented both threats and promises to animal justice in the UK. But since coming into effect in 2020, what - if anything - has actually changed? Devon Docherty writes.

Did you know that octopuses build cities and form cultures? Following on with our coverage of World Aquatic Animal Day, we’re drawing attention to a fascinating article by Kristin Andrews, a professor of Philosophy at York University, Canada, whose research into subaquatic suburbias demonstrates the hidden sentience of octopuses.

SPECIAL REPORT: Why did Animal Rebellion paint the offices of the Marine Stewardship Council in red? Claire Hamlett reports on the destruction to our oceans and marine life endorsed by the MSC’s fisheries certification scheme.

THE STORY IN PICTURES: The world’s second-biggest fishing vessel, Dutch-owned trawler FV Margiris, dumped more than 100,000 dead fish into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of France on Thursday. Yet it is quite literally a drop in the ocean when compared to the scale of death, suffering and devastation inflicted by the world’s fishing industries. Marine conservation activists from Sea Shepherd were there to capture the shocking images.

GUEST ARTICLE: With millions of salmon and other marine species farmed and slaughtered every year in the UK and with relatively few protections as revealed by recent ground-breaking investigations, Abigail Penny, executive director of Animal Equality UK, talks us through their latest campaign to keep a closer eye on the industry.

The UK government and authorities responsible for monitoring animal welfare are allowing fish slaughter cruelty to go unnoticed and “without proper oversight”, according to The Humane League UK.

The UK’s new Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill formally recognises marine invertebrates, including crabs and lobsters, as sentient and with the capacity to feel pain, joy and comfort. While that is excellent news, sadly ministers predict it will have no bearing on the fishing industry as it is now.

Online travel company Expedia has stopped selling holidays that include performances from captive whales or dolphins. Campaign groups such as World Animal Protection have been calling for travel firms to stop selling captive marine mammal experiences as part of holiday packages for years and hope that other travel firms including TUI, Jet2holidays and Travel Republic will now follow suit.

GUEST ARTICLE: Gabriela Kubíková, EU farmed animal policy consultant and contributor to Živávlna, discusses a bold plan to end the support for shark finning within the European Union.

From bottle tops on beaches to microplastics in bodies, marine debris infiltrates the environment, animals and humans, posing an ever-growing threat to all life on our planet.