Friday, December 26, 2014

Week in Review: Indonesia's War on Poaching, The Great Christmas Island Crab Migration, and More!

1. Indonesia Blows Up Illegal Fishing Boats



Foreign poachers might think twice before stealing fish from Indonesian waters now that the Indonesian navy has begun blowing up poachers' vessels. Two boats were destroyed and sunk this week after their owners were found guilty of illegal fishing. Six more foreign ships are currently facing destruction. Illegal fishing has already declined in the three months since the policy went into effect. Read more...

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2. Have a Crabby Christmas - Island, That Is!

Every year around December 25, millions of female red land crabs on Australia's Christmas Island begin their journey to the sea to lay eggs. The crabs leave their burrows high in the jungle and spend a week or more overcoming all obstacles in their path to deposit eggs in the outgoing high tide before returning home. The spectacle draws tourists and attention from locals, who do what they can to protect the migrating crabs from passing cars and other dangers. Read more...

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3. Sea Turtles Being Redirected North


This year, the Cape Cod Bay in Massachusetts has seen a record number of Kemp’s ridley sea turtles wash ashore. These sea turtles are born in the Gulf of Mexico and will migrate to Florida or occasionally get caught in the Gulf Stream and are transplanted north. Marine care centers around the United States are now nursing the sea turtles back to health. Read more...




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4. The World's Deepest Fish Filmed in the Mariana Trench

The Mariana Trench has been an area for ocean exploration since 1875. The trench is recorded as the deepest place on earth and the oldest section of the ocean floor. Recently, a group of scientists released unmanned equipment to explore the trench and recovered colonies of unique fish. The thin, transparent fish were found swimming at a depth of 8,145 meters. To see the footage released from Oceanlab and the University of Aberdeen Click here...

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5. Protecting the Beauties of the Biscayne National Park

 
Florida is home to one of the largest reef tracts in  the US, the Biscayne National Park. With the increase in boating and fishing, this national park has seen a deterioration of the coral and fish populations. Although plans have been made to improve the state of the reefs, no actions are improving the dwindling population of snapper and grouper. Debates continue between the National Park Service and the Florida state commission on how to resolve. Read more...

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6. It's a bird? It's a plane?...It's a drone tracking birds!

Photo Credit: COURTESY OF DREAMSTIME - A public forum on the civilian and military use of drones takes place at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 7, at the First Unitarian Church of Portlands Eliot Chapel at Southwest 12th Avenue and Salmon Street.

Traditionally, collecting data on fish and bird populations has been an expensive, risky, and manual process. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife plans to reinvent this procedure and use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Testing with the UAVs will begin with the surveying of the fall Chinook salmon and the double-crested cormorant. Read more...









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7. Looking to the Ocean for Renewable Energy

Marine Power Systems’ WaveSub has received funding from grant program, Supply Chain innovation for Offshore Renewable Energy (SCORE). The technology developed in this project could have a profound impact on renewable energy. Read more...






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8. Keys' Dolphins at Risk of Highly Contagious Disease

A morbillivirus outbreak is spreading among bottlenose dolphins in the Florida Keys and could kill up to 50 percent of the population, according to scientists. This measles-like illness makes marine mammals susceptible to a host of deadly diseases and has already killed more than 1500 dolphins since July 2013. Outbreaks like this one "suggest our environment is under stress," said Dr. Gregory Bossart, a veterinary pathologist, and so they are a concern for humans and marine mammals alike. Read more...




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9. First Penguin DNA Sequenced

Scientists have decoded and published the genomes of Adelie and emperor penguins, allowing us to better understand their evolution and history. Research on the birds shows how they have adapted in response to climate change in the past, and this data may help us determine how they will fare as the planet warms today. Read more...




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10. Mysterious Seal Strandings in Cornwall, England

Nearly twice as many seals as usual have been found dead on Cornish beaches in the past few months, baffling experts. Some of the stranded seals have been breeding adults in their prime, which could have a serious effect on future populations. Read more...








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11. A Climate Change Success Story?

Some species may be able to successfully adjust to climate change and its affect on their food, according to a study in the journal Freshwater Biology. The Dolly Varden, a species of char common in Alaska, have survived by following their food - salmon eggs. As climate change has altered the timing of salmon spawning, the Dolly Varden have in turn altered their migration pattern. Species like these char, who can handle more variability, will be most resilient in the face of climate change. Read more...

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Be sure to "LIKE" http://facebook.com/SeaSave to ensure our "Week in Review" is delivered to your newsfeed every Thursday. 

Sea Save Foundation is committed to raising awareness of marine conservation. The Week in Review is a team effort produced by the Sea Save staff to provide a weekly summary of the latest in marine research, policy, and news.

Friday, December 19, 2014

Week in Review: No Drilling in Bristol Bay, White House to Target Seafood Fraud, and More

1. Alaska's Bristol Bay Protected from Drilling


President Obama signed a Presidential Memorandum protecting the waters of Alaska's Bristol Bay from future oil and gas drilling. Bristol Bay provides 40 percent of America's seafood, hosts one of the world's largest salmon runs, and is home to many threatened species, including orcas, right whales, beluga whales, seals, and sea otters. Read more...

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2. High Arctic Polar Bears in Trouble

If greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, the pace of sea ice melt may threaten polar bear survival even in Canada's High Arctic, where researchers previously thought some polar bears would survive despite declining populations. The lead author of the study, published in the journal Plos One, said the situation could be improved if the world makes progress soon in reducing greenhouse gases. Read more...

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3. Cuban Waters Open to American Tourists and Businesses 

With diplomatic ties restored between the US and Cuba, the island's unspoiled coral reefs will now be available to American SCUBA divers and tours, although trade and tourism will continue to be limited unless Congress lifts the trade embargo. Read more...

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4. Oil Drilling Project in Canadian Arctic Canceled

Chevron has put a plan to drill for oil in Canada's Beaufort Sea on hold indefinitely due to falling oil prices. This is the largest drilling project canceled in the past six months since oil prices started to decline. The Beaufort Sea is a major habitat for beluga whales, polar bears, and cod. Read more...



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5. Deep Sea "Ultimate Resting Ground" for Disposable Plastic

The deep sea is carpeted with tiny plastic fragments, according to a recent analysis of sea floor sediment taken from wide-ranging sites. The results of the study are a "big step forward" in solving the mystery of the world's missing plastic. It's bad news for the ocean, however, because the deep sea is a biologically rich habitat. Read more...



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6. Million-Year-Old Mollusks Discovered in Arctic 

Shells found in deep sediment in the Arctic Ocean seafloor have been identified as a new species of bivalve mollusk. The discovery was made during geological surveys of the seafloor conducted to study trapped pockets of methane hydrates that could melt in warming waters and release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Read more...


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7. Robot Shines a Light on Arctic Food Web

A new robot called Nereid will cruise for miles at a time under Arctic ice, returning with data and video that will improve understanding about the little understood food web in these waters. Early results have revealed that these ecosystems are richer and more complex than previously thought. According to Antje Boetius, chief scientist of the Nereid expedition, says that ultimately, "learning more will tell us what ice loss means for life on earth." Read more...

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8. White House Targets Seafood Fraud


A White House task force aims to strengthen enforcement of US seafood regulations and block the import of illegally caught fish. The changes should make it easier for consumers to know if the fish they buy is contributing to the problem of overfishing and poaching. Read more...



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9. Sea Otters Keep Marshes Healthy 



Estuaries along the California coast are vulnerable to damage by farmland runoff filled with fertilizer, which encourages the overgrowth of algae. It turns out otters play an important role in restoring the health of these vital ecosystems. As otters have returned to estuaries in recent decades under government protection, they have reduced crab populations, which has increased the population of insects that eat algae. As a result, eelgrass, an essential habitat for many marine animals, is rebounding. Read more...



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Be sure to "LIKE" http://facebook.com/SeaSave to ensure our "Week in Review" is delivered to your newsfeed every Thursday. 

Sea Save Foundation is committed to raising awareness of marine conservation. The Week in Review is a team effort produced by the Sea Save staff to provide a weekly summary of the latest in marine research, policy, and news.

Friday, December 12, 2014

Week in Review: Landmark Study on Plastic Pollution, Deep Sea "Treasure Trove" Discovered, and Much More

1. 270,000 Tons of Plastic Polluting Our Oceans 

The most comprehensive study to date on plastic in the oceans estimates that the oceans now contain more than 5 trillion pieces of plastic, collectively weighing nearly 270,000 tons. While large pieces like plastic bags and fishing lines can kill seabirds, seals, and turtles outright, most of these pieces are "micro plastics" measuring less than 5 mm, which are ingested by fish and move up the food chain. Chemicals in the plastics, along with the pollution they attract, cause damage to all species in the food chain - including humans. Read more...

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2. Deep Sea "Treasure Trove" Discovered 


Exploratory scientific cruises in Mid-Atlantic submarine canyons have revealed spectacular finds, including forests of unusual corals, endangered fin and sperm whales, sea butterflies and whiplash squid. The discoveries point to rich and vulnerable ecosystems that require further exploration and protection from damage by fishing trawlers. Read more...

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3. Ocean Temps Contributing to California Droughts 


It should come as no surprise that the ocean plays a role in weather on land. Researchers at NOAA have identified a pattern of ocean temperatures that may predict the formation of a high-pressure ridge off the California coast that blocks winter rainstorms from moving inland. Read more...



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4. Captivity Necessary for Orca Survival, Sea World Claims

Mother Jones has investigated claims on Sea World's website that by keeping orcas in captivity, Sea World "[creates] a controlled setting for science that is impossible to replicate in the wild." This talking point doesn't stand up to scrutiny. Sea World's contribution to scientific study of captive whales has been minimal, and study of orcas in the wild has made big strides. Read more...

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5. More Humpback Whales Sighted in NYC Waters

Humpback whales have recently been spotted within a mile of the Rockaway peninsula, part of New York's borough of Queens. In 2012 there were 15 sightings by whale-watching boats; in 2013, 33, and in 2014, 87, with 19 different humpbacks identified. Some think the whales' return is a result of cleaner waters. Read more...



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6. Fast-Warming Gulf of Maine a Climate Change "Laboratory"

In the waters off the coast of Maine, invasive green crabs are devastating critical seagrass meadows and the softshell clam harvest. The surge in green crabs in just one sign of changes in the Gulf of Maine, which is warming faster than most of the world's oceans, and marine scientists are watching closely. The gulf has become a "living laboratory" for how climate change could affect the rest of the world's marine ecosystems. Read more...




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7. Underwater City Proposed by Japanese Firm


A Japanese construction firm has unveiled a plan for a $25 billion deep-sea eco-city that it aims to build by 2030. The concept, called Ocean Spiral, is designed to house 5,000 people and would produce electricity through ocean thermal energy conversion. It would also have fish farms and produce desalinated water using hydraulic pressure. Read more...

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8. Sperm Whales Die in Mass Beaching


A pod of seven sperm whales became stranded in shallow waters and died on a South Australia beach this week. An eighth whale was saved after being ushered into deeper waters by officials. Sperm whales, which inhabit deep waters and live in large, tightly knit groups, are among the most susceptible to strandings. Theories for what causes whale strandings remain controversial. Read more...


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9. Humpback Calves a Plentiful Food Source for Orcas and Shark Scavengers


A study published in Marine Mammal Science reports that orcas in the waters off Western Australia may prey regularly on humpback whale calves, and that humpback "escorts" help mothers protect their calves from attacks.  Read more...



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10. Possible Ambergris Discovered in Wales


A man in Angelsey, Wales, has found what may be ambergris, a rare substance vomited by whales. This solid, waxy, flammable substance, produced in whales' intestines, acquires a sweet scent as it ages and was formerly highly sought after by perfumers. Now it has largely been replaced by synthetics, and its possession and trade is prohibited in the U.S. by the Endangered Species Act. Read more...

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11. Sea Ice Studies Give Glimpse of Our Future


A recent study on the historic emergence of ice in the Arctic Ocean offers new insight into urgent climate issues as today's sea ice shrinks. "We have not had an ice free period in the Arctic in 2.6 million years," says one of the study's authors, Jochen Knies. "However, we may see it in our lifetime." The knowledge will improve future climate models and help us understand what kind of climate to expect by the end of this century, when the Arctic is likely to be completely free of ice. Read more...


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Be sure to "LIKE" http://facebook.com/SeaSave to ensure our "Week in Review" is delivered to your newsfeed every Thursday. 

Sea Save Foundation is committed to raising awareness of marine conservation. The Week in Review is a team effort produced by the Sea Save staff to provide a weekly summary of the latest in marine research, policy, and news.

Friday, December 5, 2014

Week in Review: Warm Water Speeds Antarctic Melting, New Protections for Seals and Bluefin, and More

1. Warm Water Speeds Antarctic Melting


Antarctic glaciers are melting faster than expected because of warm water washing up against the Antarctic ice sheet, which contains about 70% of the world's fresh water. The result of this process could be the release of a vast quantity of water, triggering a significant jump in global sea levels and endangering coastal populations. If the ice sheet were to melt completely, sea level is estimated to rise 16 feet. Read more...

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2. 2014 a Bad Year for Coral Reefs - and 2015 Could Be Worse


Coral bleaching was particularly severe in the Pacific and Caribbean this past summer, possibly due to a brewing El Nino. The Hawaiian Islands experienced their worst bleaching on record. Bleaching occurs when corals lose their food-producing algae due to extended heat stress. The corals' vibrant colors fade, and they become vulnerable to disease and starvation. With El Nino expected next year, many corals could be facing a significant threat. Read more...

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3. No Prosecution Over Grand Cayman Coral Reef Damage By Cruise Ship


No one will be held accountable for an incident that led to severe damage of an untouched coral reef by a Carnival cruise ship anchor in Grand Cayman earlier this year. The damage occurred when a Carnival Magic cruise ship was directed by a shipping agency to anchor outside the public port anchorage. Although it's impossible to put a value on the reef, damage is estimated at between $1.3 million and $14 million. Environment officials "hope" the entities involves will help support the recovery effort that is underway.  Read more...

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4. Conflict at UN Climate Talks in Lima


U.N. climate talks achieved little this week, with developing nations demanding that rich nations do more to cut emissions, while developed nations, led by the U.S., claimed they were doing enough. The lack of consensus and progress comes as crucial evidence continues to pile up on the increase in global warming. Read more...

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5. Arctic Ringed Seals Could Get New Protected Habitat


The National Marine Fisheries Service has proposed new rules that would provide endangered Arctic ringed seals with critical habitat more than twice the size of California. These seals are threatened by the loss of sea ice, which they need for molting and raising their pups. Read more...


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6. Federal Rule Will Extend Protection of Bluefin Tuna


Atlantic bluefin tuna, threatened by overfishing, gained additional federal protections that restrict the use of longline fishing gear in the Gulf of Mexico. The long lines, set to catch swordfish, fatally snare high numbers of bluefin, which are then dumped overboard.  Read more...



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7. Suez Canal Expansion Threatens Mediterranean Ecosystem


Egypt's development of a second "lane" in the Suez Canal and widening of the existing channel could cause an influx of invasive species, resulting in serious harm to the marine ecosystem. About 350 non-indigenous species have entered the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal already, including the destructive silver-cheeked pufferfish. Read more...

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8. Record Number of Dead Endangered Sea Turtles Seized


Vietnamese police have seized more than 1,000 dead sea turtles that were being illegally exported to China. Hunting, trading, and storing of any marine turtle is illegal under Vietnamese law. Whether the raid will be followed by legal penalties remains to be seen. Vietnam is considered one of the world's worst countries for trade in endangered species. Read more...

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9. Soaps and Sunscreens Found in Antarctic Waters and Wildlife


Traces of personal care products have been detected in the waters around two Antarctic research stations, as well as in clams, fish, and sea urchins in the area. The study by New Zealand scientists suggested that predatory species like seals could be affected if they eat the contaminated fish. Waste from these research stations is released directly into Antarctic waters, some of it untreated. Read more...

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Be sure to "LIKE" http://facebook.com/SeaSave to ensure our "Week in Review" is delivered to your newsfeed every Thursday. 

Sea Save Foundation is committed to raising awareness of marine conservation. The Week in Review is a team effort produced by the Sea Save staff to provide a weekly summary of the latest in marine research, policy, and news.