1. One Million Square Miles of Ocean Protected in 2015
This week, it was announced that the Pacific island of Palau will become a protected marine reserve. This nation covers 193,000 square miles of marine area and is home to thousands of unique fish and 700 species of coral. The country will protect 80% of the water and leave the remaining 20% as a zoned area only for local and non- industrial fishing. According to Pew Charitable Trusts, the world has announced plans to protect over 1 million square miles of ocean just in 2015. A fully protected marine reserve requires full ocean preservation and is off limits to fishing, drilling, and dumping. Although there is an increase is protection oceans, this area only covers 1.9% of the world's oceans. Read more...
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2. Cuba Launches Shark Protection Plan
Almost 20% of the world's 500 shark species swim in Cuban waters. Due to overfishing and shark finning, the shark populations in Cuba have declines. The Cuban government has already banned killing sharks just for their fins but, now they will enforce a long-term plan to protect the species. The US- based Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) has been working with the nation to preserve the shark population and continue to maintain the healthy coral reefs. Read more...
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3. Swimming to Clean the Oceans
This recent invention brings sustainable clothing to a whole different level! A team of engineers at the University of California, Riverside recently revealed the SpongeSuit. This bikini is made from a carbon-based material that repels water while absorbing harmful contaminants. The sponge material in this suit would be able to clean oil and chemical contamination in water. The SpongeSuite won first place at RESHAPE's 2015 Wearable Technology Competition and has just filed patents for the technology. Fashionable AND beneficial to the oceans?! Sign us up! Read more...
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4. Ocean Farming Model Reinvented
This week, a commercial fisherman won the 2015 Fuller Challenge with a 3D ocean farming model that has the potential to address a number of the world's concerns about fishing. Bren Smith, executive director of GreenWave, has created a company that considers issues like overfishing and climate change to design sustainable fishing practices and environments. Read more...
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Researchers at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science published an article in PLOS ONE revealing a new method to estimate fish movements. The method uses ocean heat content (OHC) images. The scientists compared data on fish movements obtained from satellite tags affixed to migratory Atlantic Tarpon against the heat stored in the upper ocean. The analysis revealed that fish commonly swim along the boundaries of water features in the ocean. Read more...
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6. Ancient 'Supershark' Unearthed in Texas
Well, this week everything really is bigger in Texas...sharks included! 300 million years ago, there were sharks that were over 8.5 meters long roaming the shallow oceans around what is now Texas. Recently, scientists found a fossil of a one of these supersharks that dated back to roughly 200 million years ago. Finding a fossil like this one is extremely rare and provided scientists with some new insight into this species. The head of this shark was roughly 85 cm long, that's around the height of a 2 year old child! Read more...
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7. SeaWorld Fights Ban on Breeding Killer Whales
A few weeks ago we included an article about the California Costal Commission's decision to ban the breeding of killer whales in the future tank expansion at San Diego SeaWorld. SeaWorld will now fight the decision that was made. This article is a follow up to the decision and includes facts and opinion from both sides. Read more...
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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.
