Week in Review: 20th C Slowdown in Ocean Circulation, Costa Rica is Running Only on Renewable Energy, and More!

1. 20th Century Slowdown in Ocean Circulation

According to a new study published in Nature Climate Change, we are now seeing a reduction in ocean circulation that is responsible for driving the Gulf Stream off of the US east coast.  This phenomenon is scientifically referred to as the "Atlantic meridional overturning circulation". What are the serious impacts of this change? Read more...

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2. Costa Rica is Running Only on Renewable Energy

For more than 75 days straight, Costa Rica has been able to run the country completely off of renewable energy. Most of the power has been generated from hydropower and a heavy rainy season. The nation has also implemented solar, wind, and geothermal power generation. Costa Rica is targeting to be totally carbon neutral by 2021. Read more...

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3. Sunscreens are Protecting Our Skin But Not Our Coral

According to a recent study, many of the personal care products that we use today are impacting our coral reefs. Chemicals in sunscreen have shown to actually promote a viral infection on coral which leads to coral bleaching. Researchers reviewed data in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans to prove this hypothesis. Many popular marine tourist locations have now banned the use of sunscreens.  Read more...

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4. Former Orca Trainer For SeaWorld Condemns Its Practices

This week on NPR, John Hargrove, an orca trainer, discussed the new book he published on the mistreatment of the SeaWorld whales. The book entitled Beneath the Surface, reveals some events and practices that Hargrove witnessed during his time at SeaWorld. This NPR interview also includes responses from SeaWorld employees. Hear the full interview and read more here...

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5. World Closes in on Consensus to Regulate Fishing on the High Seas

Over the last decade, our oceans have lost 90% of large predatory fish. This includes tuna, billfish and swordfish. The population demise had been heavily a result of overfishing and harmful fishing practices. This week the United Nations agreed that it was time to take action and begin to protect the high sea. 'The high seas' refer to the water beyond the coastal state and makes up 58% of Earth's oceans. It is possible that these intital discussions may lead to more marine protected areas in international waters. Read more...

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6. The Great Barrier Reef is Under Siege

As reported in previous Week in Review reports, the Great Barrier Reef is one marine area under extreme damage. In 1981 the reef was named a UNESCO World Heritage site due to it's large and diverse populations of marine species. Between 1985 and 2012, scientists report that half of the reef's coral died. Recently, the Australian government announced plans to expand a deep-water port that could create additional challenges for for conversation. It is also possible that UNESCO may have to put the reef on the list of "World Heritage Sites in Danger" due to coastal development. Read more...

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7. Turtle Extinction Event Bodes Ill for Our Water

Over 300  Bellinger River Snapping turtles have been found distressed or dead on the north coast of New South Wales over the last month. If this mortality rate continues, the species will become extinct. These deaths are evidence that there is something seriously wrong with the river ecosystem.  Read more...

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8. Lockheed Martin's Mobile Fish Pen Deployed Off Big Island

Lockheed Martin, one of the world's largest defense contractors, has taken on a project slightly out of their standard repertoire. This week the company released a technologically advanced fish pen. According to Lockheed Marting, the goal of the project is to create a "sustainable, environmentally sound methos of farming, which could have a lasting impact on our oceans and wildlife". The prototype fish net has been set up off the coast of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. Read more...

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9. Researcher Finds an Undiscovered Species

Not able to identify the species picture on the right? Neither was biologist Nancy Prentiss when she found this while snorkeling in St. John. This marine worm is not only a new species but a new genus. The scientific name that was given to this worm is Turbocavus secretus.    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.

Week in Review: UK to Designate the Largest Protected Ocean Area, U.S Pushes the Shift to Renewables, and More!

1. UK to Designate the Biggest Protected Ocean Area in the World

This week the British government announced that the Pitcairn Islands, a British territory in the South Pacific Ocean, will become the largest marine reserve in the world. The protected area will span 322,000 square miles and encompass the Oeno, Henderson, Ducie, and Pitcairn Islands. This sanctuary will protect over 1,200 species and the 40 Mile Reef. The waters will be off limits to commercial fishing as well as any undersea mining.   Read more...

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2. Obama Climate Change Order to Push Shift to Renewables

As a follow up to the State of the Union, President Obama signed an executive order to have the United States cut 40% of its greenhouse gas emissions over the next decade. Large US corporations like GE, HP, IBM Northrop Grumman, and Honeywell will follow suit and announce their own emission cuts. This is a promising precursor to the international goals that will be established at the global climate summit in Paris in December., Read more...

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3. Oxygen, Aerobic Life Found Deep Beneath The Ocean Floor On Texas A&M Drill Ship

Scientist unexpectedly came across evidence of oxygen-breathing microbial life which exploring 12,000 feet below sea level in the Pacific Ocean. The microbes were found all the way through the seafloor sediment to the igneous basement. This finding negated the conclusion made 60years ago that the depth limit of life was just below the sediment. The researchers believe that oxygen and aerobic microbes occur throughout the sediment in 37% of the world’s oceans. Read the complete report here...

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4. Florida and The Science Who Must Not Be Named

With Spring Break upon us here in the United States, hundreds of thousands people will make a pilgrimage to the Sunshine State to relax. Florida’s ocean and beaches have been a popular tourist attraction for families and college students alike. If you have frequented the Florida beaches, you may notice some drastic differences. Although the Florida Department of Environmental Protection won’t approve of this statement, climate change has had a tremendous impact on meteorology, coast lines, and marine life. Read more about the damages  here.... For more information on the unwritten ban that Florida has put on the term 'climate change' read  here...

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5. The City of San Diego vs. The Monsanto Company

The City of San Diego has revealed that the Monsanto Company has released polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) into the San Diego Bay. The Monsanto Company is well known for its production of genetically engineered seeds and herbicides and is responsible for 99% of the PCB production in the United States. San Diego has filed a law suit against Monsanto after finding evidence of PCBs in water samples and marine life. This pollution source has been banned from the Bay for over 30 years. Read more...

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6. Humpbacks Give A Show to Remember!

Unfortunately, we all may not have the opportunity to spend some time on a whale tour boat. Lucky for us, a group on a Pacific Whale Foundation boat in Maui took some pictures and video that make you feel like you’re there with them! Take a look at these amazing humpback whales here...

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7. Seal Pup Kiss Melts Hearts 

The picture on the right truly doesn’t require too many comments. It may be the sweetest thing we have seen all week. This photo of the baby Weddell seal nuzzling up to its mother was taken by a scientist from the U.S Geological Survey in Erebus Bay, Antarctica. The Weddell seal population has been studied at that location for over 40 years.  Read more...

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8. Riding the Waves: The Challenges of Harnessing Ocean Power

Over the last few months, the Week in Review reports have included stories on various prototypes and test of machines that can harness tidal or wave power. This BBC article breaks down some of the technologies that are in trial and the efficiency of the designs. With the aggressive targets to reduce in carbon pollution emissions, many countries may invest in the development of this form of power generation. Read more...

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9. New NASA Mission to Study Ocean Color, Airborne Particles and Clouds

In 2022, NASA will launch a mission to study the Earth’s ocean and the clouds and airborne particles that affect the climate. The project will be names the Pre-Aerosol Clouds and ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission and will be overseen by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. PACE will collect data on the color of the ocean and measure particles in the atmosphere. The overall goal of this project is to understand the current state of phytoplankton in the ocean and the roles of aerosols in the climate system.  Read more...

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10. A Tiny Fish On the Brink of Extinction!

This is a good example of being tiny but powerful. The California Delta smelt is a three-inch fish which is currently on the verge of extinction. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the smelt is an indicator species. The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta has now not only been depleted of smelt but also longfin smelt, salmon, steelhead trout, green sturgeon, and more. Both the drought and water pumping from the Delta have created colossal issues for this ecosystem. This year, California will propose a $1B emergency drought relief plan to attempt to relieve the stress on this area. Read more...

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11. Arctic Sea Ice Hits Record Low Winter Peak

On February 25th, the maximum level of sea ice was reached for the year. According to the National Snow and Ice Data Center, this maximum has occurred early and now marks the start of the summer thawing. This year the maximum was 14.5 million sq km which is the lowest since 1979, when satellite records began.  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.

Week in Review: Whaling Slaughter Tallied at 3M, New Deep-Water Exploration Vessel, and More!

1. World's Whaling Slaughter Tallied at 3 Million

Researchers made a conservative estimate  that between 1900 and 1999 around 2.9 million whales were killed by the whaling industry. The hunting was spread across sperm, fin, humpback, sei, blue, minke, and other whale species. The data shows that, before human influences,  oceans had the capacity to support a large number of whales. Although 2.9 million seems like a drastic number, the whaling industry was extremely efficient in the 20th century with the introduction of diesel engines and exploding harpoons. Scientist believe that there were even more whales that were captured or wounded that were not recorded. Read more...

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2. Cyclops Submersible Brings Deep-Water Exploration to the 21st Century

OceanGate recently unveiled a new manned submersible built for scientific exploration. The submersible, named Cyclops, has the capability to take 3 to 4 researchers to a depth of 20,000 feet. There is some debate on whether or not it is beneficial to send humans to those dangerous depths as opposed to drones. Erica Montague, Director of Science and Technology at OceanGate states, " the most powerful resource we have for ocean exploration is our brain".  Read more...

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3. Rare 475 Pound Sea Turtle Rescued 

Last weekend a leatherback sea turtle was found off of the coast of South Carolina. The turtle, named “Yawkey” by the associates at the SC Aquarium, did not see any signs of trauma and gave it antibiotics and vitamins to recover. Although this is an extremely large turtle, this species can actually grow up to 2,000 pounds. Yawkey is currently resting and gaining strength for his upcoming release back into the ocean. Read more...

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4. No, Cosmic Rays Aren't Causing Global Warming

According to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the amount of cosmic rays dose does not have long term impacts that would have lead to the 20th century climate change. Cosmic rays are the energized particles from outerspace that interact with our atmosphere. Scientists reviewed both short term and long term data on temperature vs. amount of cosmic rays to come to their overall conclusions.    Read more...

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5. Car-Size Stingray May Be World's Largest Freshwater Fish

Take one second and imagine a fish that is 6.5ft across and 15ft long. Not able to? A giant freshwater stingray was found in Thailand's Mae Klong River at those exact dimensions. This species is considered endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Although these massive fish are not getting caught in fishing gear, they have been threatened by water pollution and habitat damage. Read more...

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6. Think Man-Sized Swimming Centipede- And Be Glad It's A Fossil

After reviewing a fossil, paleontologists have discovered evidence of the largest arthropod recorded. This species lived 480 million years ago and resembled a 7-foot lobster without claws. Peter van Roy, a paleontologist from Yale, concluded that this anomalocaridid was a filter feeder, similar to whales today. His complete analysis and conclusions of the fossil can be found in the article in Nature here ...

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7. Nearly 200,000 'New' Marine Species Turn Out to be Duplicates

The World Register of Marine Species has determined that 190,400 new sea creatures that were discovered since 2008 are actually redundant. The actual count of new species is 228,445. To read more about the confusion take a look at the site  here...

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8. Italian Shipping Company Fined $2.75 Million

This week, the Italian company that owned the M/T Marigola was fined for the illegal disposal of waste into the ocean. The ship was caught at the Port of Tampa. Disregarding the APPS regulations, the ship discharged their oil-contaminated waste overboard without using the correct pollution prevention equipment.  Read more...

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9. Doubling Down on California's Marine Sanctuaries

This week the NOAA announced the expansion of Gulf of the Farallones and Cordell Bank national marine sanctuaries. This addition will incorporate and additional 2,770 square miles of water. These bodies of water are home to 25 endangered species, 36 marine mammals, great white sharks, and a number of seabirds.    Read more...

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10. Mystery of Male Swordfish Courtship Ritual Revealed

Can't say that I've really ever thought about this question but, how do swordfish mate? After years of mystery around this topic, scientist recently found the answer! Scientists Jaime Mejuto and Blanca Garcia-Cortes  were the first  able to capture the courting of these fish. To read the complete reproductive process and see the pictures  click 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.

Week in Review: Costa Rica Blocks Shark Fin Exports, Arctic Ice is Getting Thinner, and More!

1. Costa Rica Blocks Shark Fin Exports

On Tuesday, Costa Rica’s Environment Ministry suspended the export of hammerhead shark fins for six months. Over the years, the Asian demand for shark fin soup has greatly increased finning in the country. Costa Rica has been a popular location for the practice because of the longliner fleet and the international vessels for shark exploration and trade. The temporary law is a meaningful, significant, and progressive move for the Costa Rican government.   Read more...

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2. Arctic Sea Ice Getting Thinner, Faster

Based off of data collected in a study published in The Cryosphere, ice is not only covering less of the planet but also getting thinner. Scientists compiled data from multiple sources to determine that the ice thickness has decreased 85 percent as of September 2014. Based off of the depth measurements from satellites and submarines, the Arctic basin has decreased 18 inches per decade since 2000. So the real question remains, when will there no longer be ice in the Arctic?. Read more...

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3. Slurpee Waves Hit Nantucket

Take a look at these pictures that were taken on Nantucket, MA. Photographer, Jonathan Nimerfroh, captured a rare occurrence this week- frozen waves! The extremely cold winter weather in New England turned the waves into a slushy consistency. Read more...

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4. Mexico Rolls Out Plan to Save Endangered Vaquita

The Vaquita, averaging a length of 4.5 feet, has been recorded as the world’s smallest porpoise. On February 27^th, Mexico banned the use of gillnets to help preserve the 100 remaining vaquitas. Oftentimes fishermen will unintentionally drown these porpoises with the nets while attempting to catch the highly prized totoaba fish. The Mexican government may try to use drones to monitor the fishing practices in the area.  Read more...

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5. World’s First Grid-Connected Wave Power Station Switched On

In past Week in Review reports we discussed a source of wave power that was able to withstand storm conditions. This week Carnegie Wave Energy, an Australian company, has launched wave-generated electricity. The power, that is currently powering the Australian Department of Defense’s naval base, is being generated by three buoys. These buoys float at 25-50m below sea level and push pressurized seawater through a pipeline and to an hydroelectric power station.  Read more...

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6. Secret Hideout Helped Penguins Survive the Ice Age

Climate change has had a profound impact on many different species but, how have the emperor penguins been affected? A study recently published in Global Change Biology examines the evolution of the penguin populations through the last ice age. Scientists reviewed the genetic diversity of modern and ancient populations of emperor penguins to see how they changed over time. Year ago, the penguin population was seven times smaller than it is today. One of the ancient groups was isolated within the Ross Sea. It is believed that penguins were able to survive the ice age in a polynya in the Ross Sea. Read more...

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7. Why Shark Finning Bans Aren't Keeping Sharks Off The Plate (Yet)

Throughout the years Sea Save members have worked to eradicate international shark finning. Although we have been successful with many different campaigns, sharks are still being overfished. This fishing is now not only for the shark fins but the shark meat. The import of shark meat has increased 42% from 2000 to 2011.Read  more...

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8. Dim Lights for Sea Turtle Nesting Season

As winter comes to a close, sea-turtle nesting season begins! The coastal towns of Florida have already developed some ordinances to protect the leatherback, green, and loggerhead sea turtles. From March until the end of October, no artificial lights will be allowed to be visible from the beach. The artificial lighting confuses the sea turtle hatchlings and they will not be able to find their way to the ocean.  Read more...

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9. Mass Fish Deaths Off Singapore Coast Spark Concern

Fisherman in Singapore have recently been shocked with the massive deaths of fish, invertebrates, sea horses, eels, and many more marine species. It is believed that these deaths are a result of plankton bloom. This affect could have been a result of drastic temperature changes, nutrient levels in the water, or poor water circulation. Read more...

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10. Why Seashells’ Mineral Forms Differently in Seawater

Have you ever walked on the beach, found a shell and wondered how it was formed? The scientists at MIT and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have reviewed the atomic process. This study explains the science behind the formation of two types of calcium carbonate- calcite and aragonite. 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.