Friday, April 24, 2015

Week in Review: Challenge From Climate Regulations, Reviving the $24T Ocean Economy, and More!

1. A Challenge From Climate Change Regulations

Penguin
As discussed in previous articles, the United States has established a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 30% over the next 15 years. In order to hit this target, the country will rely on natural gas, wind, and solar power sources. Utility companies are planning on increasing the power infrastructure but, the process will be a lengthy. Some officials are concerned that they may not be able to maintain reliable power during the transition. State and electric utility company are now asking the EPA to loosen the plan and extend the timeframe or allow some states to continue using coal fired power plants until the clean power sources are stable. Read more...

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2. Reviving the $24 Trillion Ocean Economy

WWF ocean report
The ocean economy is noted as the seventh-largest economy in the world and is valued at $24 trillion. Unfortunately, this economic powerhouse is on a rapid decline. This week, the World Wildlife Fund published the report entitled Reviving the Oceans Economy: The Case for Action-2015 to discuss how critical this economy is to the future of humanity. Seventy percent of the ocean's value relies on its continued health. The report discusses the ocean's assets, importance of the ocean to human well-being, and actions to help recover. To read the full WWF report  click here...

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3. Shark Week 2015 
A few months ago we heard the new CEO of the Discover Channel, Rick Ross, pledge to discontinue fake documentaries and shows on the channel. As the 2015 Shark Week approaches, we are interested to see what footage the channel selects to showcase real lives of sharks. Take a look at the promotions that were just released!  Watch here...

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4. Sea Lion Pup Abducted From Los Angeles Beach
Sea Lion Abduction
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has been investigating the abduction of a ten month old sea lion pup. On Sunday morning four people took the pup off of the Dockweiler State Beach after taunting the animal. The Los Angeles Police Department is offering a $5,000 reward for an information that leads to the arrest of the thieves. The sea lion is a protected species under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Read more...

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5. Rare Oarfish Washes Up on Marsh



oarfishThis week a 10- foot long oarfish was found at a salt marsh near Otago Harbor in New Zealand. Oarfish encompasses a group of fish that are known for their ability to self- amputate several times over the course of their lives. The fish are normally found in deep water in tropical temperatures which makes this particular sighting rare.    Read more...   


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6. Japanese Zoo Association Suspended
Fishermen drive dolphins into nets during the annual Taiji hunt.
The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) has suspended the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums (JAZA) after uncovering its involvement in dolphin hunts in Taiji. As told in the documentary The Cove, Japanese aquariums have taken dolphins from the hunts. Over the last five years more than 5,000 dolphins have been killed at Taiji and 750 captured for aquariums.  Read more...



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7. Sea Turtle Photobombs Picture in the Philippines


A Green Sea Turtles photobombed a group of people taking a picture off the Apo Island in the Philippines.
Surprise! Look at that "Shelfie" on the right. While on Apo Island in the Philippines, a group of snorkellers took a photo and had a surprising photobomb from a green sea turtle. The area is actually a community-managed marine protected area and serves as a feeding ground for these turtles. What an amazing and hilarious shot! Read more...







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8. Billions of Blue Jellyfish Wash Up on American Beaches

Picture of velella jellies on shore in Oregon
Over the last few weeks, around a billion Velella velella, purple jellyfish relatives, have been  found washed ashore on the West coast. These animals normally float in the open ocean and ride the wind and currents. As a result of the wind direction changes, the Velella have been sent to shore. For the last 6 weeks, scientists have been finding these animals all along the Oregon, Washington, and now California coasts. Read more...

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9. Thawing Permafrost Feeds Climate Change

Thawing permafrost feeds climate change
Robert Spencer, Assistant Professor of Oceanography at Florida State University, published a report in Geophysical Research Letters  that supported the hypothesis that carbon held in permafrost is being transferred to the atmosphere. As the permafrost soil thaws, carbon is released and utilized by microbes. The microbes then release it back to the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide. Spencer's team studied the thawing permafrost in Siberia for two years.   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, April 17, 2015

Week in Review: Is Overfishing Threatening the Food Chain?

Over the last few months we have reviewed a number of stories that discussed starved and washed ashore animals. This week, the first three articles we have selected showcase the impact that overfishing has on three species. The increase in the fishing markets has led many animals to search for food in areas outside of their natural habitats. One question to think about as you read through these articles- are our current fishing practices impacting the entire food web in the marine ecosystem?


1. Fifty- Foot Sperm Whale Washes Up on Shore South of San Francisco

Beach goers in San Francisco, CA stumbled upon a sad and shocking surprise this week. Early Wednesday morning a  50-ft sperm whale was found washed ashore. The adult male was emaciated and appeared to have been sick. Whales in that area have been at a high risk of colliding with the ships and boats as they begin to start traveling to shore to search for food.  Read more...





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2. U.S Sued to Curb Deaths of Sea Turtles by Shrimping Industry

A Green Sea turtle swims over a reef on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, in this file photo taken March 20, 2013. REUTERS/Hugh Gentry/Files

"If people know that their order of shrimp cocktail came with a side of government-authorized sea turtle, they would be horrified". This is a quotation from Oceana lawyer Eric Bilsky who is currently working on a lawsuit against the national marine Fisheries Service. The lawsuit asks the US to consider closer monitoring and limits on the number of sea turtles that are  caught in the shrimping industry. Last year 53,000 sea turtles were caught and killed in the commercial shrimp nets used in the southeastern United States.  Read more...


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3. West Coast Sardine Population Collapses

Elephant sealsOver the last 8 years, the sardine population has crashed 91%. This week federal regulators decided to take some action on this issue and close the sardine fishing season early. The rapid decline of sardines may give the fish an overfished status. Although fishermen are frustrated with the season shut down, this will give conservation groups an opportunity to rebuild the sardine population that is a critical species in the marine food chain.      Read more...


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4. Brave Robots Are Roaming the Oceans For Science
mbari-inline
When you hear the word 'drone' you may generally think of some sort of top secret military or intelligence device. Scientists have been working for decades to adapt this technology for ocean exploration purposes. This article describes the capabilities and design of the Paragon research vessel.  Read more...



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5. Shark Fin Ban Back on the House Menu

A bowl of shark fin soup with crab meat at Ho Ho Chinese BBQ in Austin.
Shark fin soup is not only a popular delicacy over seas but is still served in the United States today. Although the practice is prohibited by federal law, the Texas shark fin market has grown by 240% since 2010. Nine states have banned the trade leaving Texas as an import and export hot bed. The House Bill 1579 created by Rep. Eddie Lucio was tentatively passed to make the trade and practice illegal. If this becomes law, Texas will be the first Republican state to bad the shark fin trade.  Read more...



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6. Juvenile Sea Turtles Are No Slackers
According to a recent study published in Current Biology, sea turtles six to 18 months old are extremely active swimmers. Researchers were able to track 44 young turtles in the Gulf of Mexico. Before this study it was thought that juvenile sea turtles just drifted with ocean currents.  Read more...




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7. Latest SeaWorld Lawsuit Demands Park End 'False Statements' on Orca Welfare

shamu seaworld
Over the last few weeks you may have seen one of the many SeaWorld commercials addressing how their animals are treated. There have been a total of three law suits against SeaWorld. One law suit is unique because it seeks to have SeaWorld "cease making false statements about the health and welfare of the orcas and to make a factual public statement".  Read more...

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8. Rare Sperm Whale Encounter with Deep-Sea ROV


This week and ROV from the Nautilus ship shot some rare footage. While in the deep sea, the ROV Hercules was encountered by a curious sperm whale. This deep-diving species found the ROV at 1,962 ft below sea level. Take a look here to see the footage. To follow the six month expedition of the Nautilus, click here...





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9. How to Train Coral

Dr. Ruth Gates, of the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, has released a video describing the coral bleaching process. Dr. Gates that summarizes the research techniques that she has done on the coral in Hawaii. Her team has attempted to turn on traits that corals already possess within their own DNA to help withstand the impacts of warming oceans. Watch here...



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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, April 10, 2015

Week in Review: Climate Change and Public Health, Over 2,000 Sick Sea Lion Pups, and More!

1. The Correlation Between Climate Change and Public Health

This week the conversations about climate change got related to an issue that personally impacts all of us- your health. During the roundtable discussion at Howard University's College of Medicine, President Obama, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, and EPA Director Gina McCarthy discussed how the environment impacts public health. Over the last few years sea water temperatures, marine species, and weather patterns have been key topics in climate change discussions. Many people have forgotten the health problems that also result. The World Health Organization estimates that an additional 250,000 deaths per year between 2030 and 2050 will occur. So here's the real question- Will reframing climate change as a public health issue in addition to an environmental issue help gain support and action?  Read more...

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2. Over 2,000 Sick Sea Lion Pups Stranded 

Painted sea lion

According to the National Marine Fisheries Service, there have been over 2,000 sea lion pups stranded on California beaches this year. There were 350 pups stranded in January, 850 pups in February, and 1,050 pups in March. In the same time period last year, only 230 sea lions were reported abandoned. Researchers have reported that this increase is a result of decreasing food sources, increase in water temperature, and algae blooms.   Read more...

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3. Great White Sharks Use the Sun to Help Them Hunt


Image result for great white sharksAfter spending some time observing the eating patterns of great white sharks, researchers came to some interesting conclusions. It appears that these sharks attack frequently attach from a direction that puts the sun behind them. This habit may have be because the sunlight creates a contract that highlights the location of prey. The complete study was published in American Naturalist, Read here...


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4. Images of Algae Blooms Taken From Space

This week NASA announced a new project to observe algae blooms in the freshwaters of the United States. The project will compare recent and historic images from satellites to observe any trends. Algae blooms are dangerous to freshwater ecosystems. Essentially, these plants will increase the water oxygen levels to a dangerous level and produce toxins in the water supply. NASA hopes that this $3.6 Million project will provide environmental agencies with valuable information to predict and track the algae blooms. Read more...





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5. Evolution Continues in the Galapagos Islands


Galapagos TortoiseOver the years, tourism has greatly impacted the ecosystem of the Galapagos Islands. It is rare but, some species learn how to survive on different sources. The Galapagos Giant Tortoise now include more than half non-native flora in their diets. After observing the movements of this species, scientists determined that the tortoises have changed their migration patterns and habits as a result of these new food sources.      Read more...



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6. Robot Reveals Sea Life Thriving Beneath Antarctic Ice

Over the last decade, robotics and the technology around autonomous vehicles have made tremendous advances. Scientists have recently used this technology to explore the water beneath the ice in Antarctica. After cutting a hole through 20 meters of ice, they deployed a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) named the Icefin. The Ice fin has the capability to dive 1.5 km below sea level. The video collected from this exploration provided evidence of some active organisms on the seafloor. The Icefin technology will continue to research the oceans and is scheduled to explore the Artic in the summer of 2016.   Read more...



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7. NOAA to Explore Depths of Caribbean Sea

Image result for caribbean ocean underwater
Today NOAA will begin their expedition to explore the depths of the Carribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean.The team will sail the Okeanos Explorer for 20 days around the Puerto Rico Trench. During this time period the team will complete 20 ROV dives, continue mapping the sea floor, and routinely collect depth and ocean characteristic data.     Read more... 
Interested in following this expedition real-time? Follow here...

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8. Some Like it Fat

Researchers identify marine sponge strategies to survive in Antarctic and Tropical latitudes

If you have ever been diving or snorkling you've probably seen a number of sea sponges and haven't thought twice about them. A recent study by the University of Barcelona revealed that there may be more to these organisms than what meets the eye. The recently published report concludes that the marine sponge Mycale acerata, a common Antarctic water sponge, and Mycale laevis, from the Caribbean, produces a yolk that promotes survival possibilities. Researcher Ana Riesgo reports that " this is the first study that analyses embroyogenesis and yolk formation in two marine species inhabiting contrasting latitudinal areas".    Read more...

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9. Climate Change Continues to Impact Whales



Climate change affects whalesOver the last few months we have showcased a number of articles that rreiterate the impact that climate change has had on the whale species. This particular article highlights the impact on fin and humpback whales. A long term study was published in PLoS ONE and describes the adjustments in the whale migration patterns as a result of ocean temperature changes. Over the 27 year period of time reviewed, the fin and humpback whales arrived at their feeding grounds one day earlier each year to align with the arrival time of their prey. Although these species have shown that they are particularly adaptable, it is a concern if the pattern will continue with additional ocean temperature increase.    Read more...

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10. Arctic Research Vessel Set Adrift to Study Sea Ice Decline

Scientists from Norwegian Polar Institute in front  of the RV Lance Finally collect zooplankton, March 2015As the world prepares to put an action plan in place to manage climate change, may scientists are working to build a better understanding of the decline of sea ice. On January 11th, the Norwegian Polar Institute set out on an expedition in the Arctic Sea. The group on the RV Lance, the name of the research vessel, observed how snow, sea water, wind, and ocean currents impact the sea 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, April 3, 2015

Week in Review: Navy Underestimates Threat to Marine Mammals, Overfishing of Atlantic by EU Nations Continues, and More!

1. Judge Rules Navy Underestimated Threat to Marine Mammals from Sonar

Humpback whale
This week a US District Judge Susan Oki Mollway in Hawaii ruled that the Navy was underestimating the number of marine species it was impacting during sonar and explosive training. This training is done in both Hawaii and California. The Navy approximated that over the next 5 years 155 whales would be killed as a result of the training. Environmentalist negated that hypothesis and expect more whales to be killed and crippled from the training procedures.  Read more...

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2. Overfishing of Atlantic by EU Nations Continues

New studies from The New Economics Foundations shows that there is extensive overfishing in the northern European waters. Every year fisheries ministers establish Total Allowable Catch (TAC) levels for commercial fishing stock. Cod was fished 38% above the TAC, blue whiting was 51%, and pollack was 231%. Read more...

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3. U.S. West’s Marine Life is Literally in Hot Water

Horrified by the picture to the right? So are we! During January and February, almost 1,800 young sea lions were found stranded on California beaches. One of the causes for this drastic increase is the unusually warm water temperatures in the Pacific Northwest. This temperature change has adjusted the entire food chain and lead the hundreds of hungry pups ashore.  Read more...


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4. California First State to Generate More Than 5% of Electricity from Utility-Scale Solar


In 2014 the state of California was able to generate 9.9 million megawatthours of electricity from solar plants. That was the largest amount of solar generation in the country, according to Electric Power Monthly. The state added almost 1,900 MW of new solar plants in 2014. California’s renewable portfolio standard requires that by 2020, 33% of the power they sell will be from renewable sources. Read more...


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5. Pilot Whale Killed by Over 4kg of Plastic Items it Mistook for Food


This week a pilot whale was found dead on the beach of Teluk Dayang. After inspecting the whale, scientists found 21 small plastic bags, 11 plastic sheets, a detergent container, and a caution tape in the stomach of the whale. This is a good example of one of the many cases where animals have been severely impacted by marine pollution.  Read more...




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6. How Zoos Acquire Endangered Species
orangutan bob oregon zoo
Have you ever gone to a zoo and wondered how and why those animals ended up out of their natural habitats? This article reviews how the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) manages the transportation of endangered species.  Read more...





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7. As Sea Stars Die, New Worries About Urchins

Picture of red and purple sea urchins
The California coast currently has a drastic difference in sea urchin population. The north coast of California has more urchins coming out of their protective crevices while the southern urchins are sparse and in poor health. This article describes the ecological phenomenon and the impact on the food chains in both areas. Scientists relate sea star, otter, and kelp populations to this urchin activity. Read more...


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8. Endangered Dolphin Hot-Spot Discovered at Great Barrier Island

Photo / Thinkstock

Massy University marine biologist, Sarah Dwyer, discovered a new hot-spot for a species of endangered dolphins. The Hauraki Gulf in the Great Barrier Island is home to approximately 170 dolphins which is a significant decline from past observations. Miss Dwyer is now working on a plan to help protect the dolphin population from the negative impacts of tourism and other reasons for the decline.   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.