Thursday, July 27, 2017

Week in Review: Santa Barbara Passes Resolution Against Drilling, UK Microbead Ban Strongest in World, Australia to Expand Commercial Fishing in Marine Sanctuaries and More...

1. Santa Barbara - First California City to Pass Resolution Against Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling


sunset oil platform, oil platform, sunsetSanta Barbara is the first California city to ban new drilling off the California coast and to ban fracking in existing offshore wells. There is a statewide campaign for local governments to pass such resolutions since Trump urged federal agencies to open up federal waters to new oil and gas leasing on April 28. "I'm thrilled to be part of this community effort to protect natural resources, the water supply, and community health," said Santa Barbara City Council member Jason Dominguez, who sponsored the resolution. "At the same time, we can improve our economy, develop green markets, and bring quality jobs and living wages to the area."
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2. U.K. Ban on Microbeads to be the ‘Strongest in the World’


microbeads in toothpaste, microbeads, toothpasteThe U.K. is planning to ban microbeads in rinse-off cosmetics and personal products like toothpaste.  “Microbeads are one of the most pervasive forms of marine pollution and prevention at source is far more effective than clean-up at sea. Action also needs to be taken by everyone in the supply chain to reduce, reuse and recycle, including (by) us consumers.”
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3. Australia Proposes to Expand Commercial Fishing in Marine Sanctuaries

great barrier reef, national geographic, david doubiletThe percent of Australia’s marine reserves open to commercial fishing is proposed to go up from 64 to 80.  Australia would be the first nation “to wind back its ocean protection measures.”  The proposal is open to public comments and could be implemented as early as 2018.  The Australian government is also considering cutting down funding for marine protected areas and “introducing blue zones to permit underwater oil and gas mining.”
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4. Whales Learn New Songs Like Humans


humpback whale, humpback whale breaching
“Humpback whales learn songs in segments – like the verses of a human song – and can remix them, a new study involving University of Queensland research has found.”  The humpback whales learn new songs through social learning, i.e. from other whales rather than through genetically from one generation to another.  "All the males in a population sing the same complex song, but the pattern of song changes with time, sometimes quite rapidly, across the population," Dr. Noad said.
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5. Rarely Seen Megamouth Shark Spotted

megamouth shark

Just in time for the Discovery Channel’s Shark Week, 2 divers caught a glimpse of the elusive megamouth shark off of Komodo Island of Indonesia.  Despite its size, the megamouth shark only feeds on microscopic plankton.  It was first discovered in 1976 and since it has only been seen 60 times.
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6. Alaskan Sponge Can Help Fight Cancer



green deep-sea sponge, NOAA

A small, deep-water Alaskan sponge “has molecules that selectively target and kill pancreatic tumor cells.”  The golf ball-sized green sponge, Latrunculia austini, was discovered in 2005 by a NOAA research mission.  “The structures of the (sponge) molecules are not related to anything you would find on land or even in tropical shallow-water marine environments.” Research is promising, but the sponge can live as deep as 720 feet so getting them could prove problematic.
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Be sure to "LIKE" http://facebook.com/SeaSave to ensure our "Week in Review" is delivered to your newsfeed every Friday. 

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.

Thursday, July 20, 2017

Week in Review: Sea Save at Animal CITES Meeting 2017, US Approves Oil Drilling in Alaskan Waters, Swimming Elephant Rescued 8 Miles Offshore and More...

1. Sea Save Joins International Community at Animal CITES Meeting


CITES, CITES Animal and Plant Committee, Lion, purple flower, hammerhead sharkSea Save Foundation is on site this week in Geneva, Switzerland to attend the animal committee CITES (Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna) meeting.  “The Animals and Plants Committees provide technical support, based on sound science, to support well-informed decision-making about the sustainable management and conservation of CITES listed species.”  Check out Sea Save’s social media for updates: Twitter.com/SeaSaveTweet
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2. US Approves Oil Drilling in Alaskan Waters, Prompting Fears for Marine Mammals


alaskan oil drilling, alaska, oil drillingAn Italian oil and gas company has been given permission to drill four exploration wells in federal waters off of Alaska. Scientists say that polar bears, bowhead whales and other marine mammals are in danger of potential oil spills.  The winter only drilling will start in December and conclude in May of 2019.  It doesn’t permit oil production, which would require “submission and approval of a development and production plan.”
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3. Hagfish Spill onto Highway


hagfish, slime eels, hagfish highway, slime eels highway
An Oregon highway was slimed when a container of hagfish was overturned from a truck.  The hagfish were to be exported to South Korea, where they are a delicacy.  Hagfish produce copious amounts of slime for protection, and when stressed.  A single slime eel can fill a five gallon bucket with slime almost instantly!
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4. Peru Stops Whale Shark Fishing

whale shark
The Peruvian Ministry of Production announced that whale shark fishing has been banned in Peruvian watersas well as the landing, transportation, retention, processing and commercialization of the species. In the case of an incidental catch of this species, it must be returned to its natural habitat immediately.”
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5. Researchers Create Algorithm to Help Stop Illegal Fishing


illegal fishing boat sinking, illegal fishing, fishing boatThe illegal fishing industry is valued at $23 billion dollars and contributes to the collapse of fisheries worldwide.  Stopping hundreds of thousands of fishing vessels seems an impossible task for enforcers.  Enter researchers, who came up with algorithms to flag vessels with “fishy” behavior.  This gives enforcers clues to which vessels to board at port in different countries.  1.5 billion people around the world rely on the oceans as their primary source of protein.


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6. Elephant is Rescued From the Ocean

elephant rescued in ocean, elephant rescue, sri lankan navy
After being found swimming eight nautical miles from shore, an elephant has been rescued by the Sri Lankan Navy off their coast..  A rope was tied around the elephant, who was hauled to shore safely.  Elephants can swim up to 29 miles and use their trunk to breathe while swimming.
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Be sure to "LIKE" http://facebook.com/SeaSave to ensure our "Week in Review" is delivered to your newsfeed every Friday. 

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.

Saturday, July 15, 2017

Week in Review: How Should We Govern Open Ocean? Giant Iceberg Cleaves from Antarctica, Atlantic Ocean Oil Drilling - Green Light and More

1. Sea Save Foundation and Others at United Nations: Ocean Conference.  How Should We Govern the Open Ocean?


The open ocean is at risk from climate change, over-fishing, deep-sea mining, farm pollution, and plastics. This situation is even more dire since 60% of the ocean has no conservation rule as it's outside national jurisdiction. Representatives at a UN Ocean Conference are focusing discussions towards international agreement on how to protect and manage ocean biodiversity. Together they hope to set up legal framework for marine conservation, look more rigorously into environmental impact before industrial activities are undertaken, and develop rules around marine resources so all nations can share the wealth of the seas.
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2. A Continent Divided - Delaware Sized Iceberg Cleaves from Antarctica

A one trillion ton iceberg, the biggest on record, has broken off of Antarctica sometime between July 10 and 12.  It is the size of Delaware. The interesting thing is what happens next: Will the ice shelf weaken and collapse? Will the glaciers behind this iceberg accelerate and have a direct contribution to sea-level rising? Or is this just a normal calving event? Opinions in the scientific community are divided and it is too early to blame this event on human generated climate change. Currently, it only poses an added risk to ships.
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3. U.S. Executive Order Opens Door to Atlantic Ocean Oil Drilling

breaching humpback whale, humpback whale
The executive order to open up the Atlantic Ocean to oil drilling is being followed by The National Marine Fisheries Service permitting five companies to begin seismic airgun blasting, the controversial technique for detecting reserves of oil and gas. Many scientists say that it poses an unacceptable risk of serious harm to marine life from plankton all the way up to fish and whales. Bipartisan bills have been introduced with unpolarized support in both the House and Senate that would ban seismic testing.
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4. Susan Combs Once Stated that Endangered Species Act - "Threatens to Blow Up Texas Economy" Now in Charge of the Proverbial Henhouse



Susan Combs, TexasFormer Texan comptroller Susan Combs was appointed by the Trump administration to be assistant secretary for policy, management and budget in the Department of the Interior. This department overlooks the  U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and is therefore responsible for the Endangered Species Act, of which she has been a strong critic.  She has publicly vowed to protect Texas business interests and has “likened the endangered species listings to ‘incoming Scud missiles' that threaten to blow up the Texas...economy’.
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5. 
Stanford Study: We are Currently in Greatest Period of Extinction Since Dinosaur Eradication



Bornean Gibbon, gibbon, endangered speciesAccording to a 2015 study, earth has entered a period of mass extinction unparalleled since the dinosaurs, with 2 vertebrate species going extinct every year on average. A recent study done at Stanford found that more extreme to this 'seemingly' slow rate of extinction, 30 percent of vertebrates have declining populations and ranges, which tells the more dire story of "biological annihilation occurring globally". This loss of populations and biodiversity rob us of "crucial ecosystem services such as crop pollination, pest control, and wetlands' water purification". In addition, this reduction within intricate ecological networks leads to less resilient ecosystems. The authors of this study call for immediate action to curb the basic drivers of extinction: human overpopulation and overconsumption.


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6. USPS Celebrates "Sharks Forever" Stamps


The U.S. Postal Service will issue 'Sharks Forever' stamps on July 26, 2017.  Five species (mako, thresher, great white, hammerhead and whale shark) will be featured. A first day of issue ceremony will take place at Newport Aquarium in Newport, Kentucky. Use #SharksStamps on social media.
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7. Deep Sea Corals Use Fluorescence to Create  "Sunlight" Required for Survival


coral fluorescent
Corals living near the sunlit surface need protection from the UV light. UV light damages their surface algae thereby interfering with the symbiotic relationship that must be maintained for their sustenance. These shallow water corals fluoresce to protect their little algae buddies from the damaging UV rays. Scientists always wondered why deep sea corals, hidden from sunlight, also fluoresce. A recent study showed that these deep sea corals have taken this trick of fluorescing and turned it to their advantage of producing their own sunlight in the deep sea darkness. This sunlight production aids their surface algae in the photosynthetic process thereby continuing to foster the symbiotic relationship between coral and algae that is observed in shallow waters.  
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8. Rising Sea Temperatures Will Have Greatest Impact on Small, Poor Developing Nations With Smallest Carbon Footprint

In contrast to their small carbon footprint, small island developing states and the world's least developed countries are facing the largest consequence of climate change's impacts on marine life. This disparity confirms the importance of the UN's Sustainable Development Goal #14 which includes a "target of increasing the economic benefits to least-developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources". The outcome of the UN Oceans Conference similarly emphasized the importance of supporting these vulnerable places.
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9. G20 Attendees Rebuke Recent Decision for US to Leave Paris Accord


At the G20 summit, participants agreed that the Paris climate accord was irreversible and they remained committed to it. Even Mr. Putin called climate change a "major issue" and commended Germany's Angela Merkel on having reached a "good compromise". The G20 summit, hosted in Germany, which was expected to focus on many global issues, conclued with Merkel announcing her sadness of the US's intention of leaving the climate agreement.
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Be sure to "LIKE" http://facebook.com/SeaSave to ensure our "Week in Review" is delivered to your newsfeed every Friday. 

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.

Saturday, July 8, 2017

California Breaks with National Policy, will host Climate Summit, Pruitt Systematically Dismantles EPA, Navy Dolphin Deployed and More:

1. In a Break with US National Policy, California Governor Jerry Brown Announced an independent Climate Action Summit in San Francisco, September 2018 


California Governor Jerry Brown has one-upped Trump by announcing that he will host a Climate Action Summit in San Francisco in September of 2018.  He says Trump "doesn't speak for the rest of America," when it comes to climate change.
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2. Pruitt Systematically Dismantles EPA. Onerous.


"In the four months since he took office as the Environmental Protection Agency’s administrator, Scott Pruitt has moved to undo, delay or otherwise block more than 30 environmental rules, a regulatory rollback larger in scope than any other over so short a time in the agency’s 47-year history, according to experts in environmental law. Mr. Pruitt’s supporters, including President Trump, have hailed his moves as an uprooting of the administrative state and a clearing of onerous regulations that have stymied American business."  
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3. Navy Dolphin Deployed to Save Endangered Vaquita Porpoise


The US Navy will deploy its trained dolphins to search for the last of the endangered vaquita porpoise.  Once found, the dolphins will herd the vaquita into a marine refuge. Less than 30 vaquita are estimated to be left in the wild. The project will begin in September. The Mexican government is looking into a permanent ban on the gillnets that accidentally catch the vaquita.
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4. 
Trump Receives Icy Reception -  Intends to Drill Oil  in Arctic and Atlantic


arcticEnvironmentalists have condemned Trump as a “threat to every ocean and coastline in the country” due to his willingness to open up the Arctic and Atlantic to oil drilling.  A five-year plan put into place by the Obama administration will be rewritten by the Trump administration.  A 45 day public comment period is now open here 




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5. Whales Shrinking Over Time

humpback whale, humpback whale breaching, humpback whale jumping
Whales have been shrinking in size due to the commercial whaling of the 20th century.  The decrease in weight and length was noticeable 40 years before the populations crashed.  The decrease in “body size could be an early marker of when animal communities are about to collapse.”
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6. Public Comments Open For Review of National Marine Sanctuaries and Marine National Monuments
National Marine Sanctuaries logo 
This is your chance to weigh in.  National Marine Sanctuaries and Marine National Monuments are soliciting public input regarding the future of our National Marine Sanctuaries and Marine National Monuments and make comments of your own.

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7. EPA to Create “Red Team-Blue Team” for Climate Change

coal power plant
The EPA plans to create a “red team - blue team” model to debate climate change.  The red team will consist of climate change deniers, and the blue team of those who believe in climate change.  Many climate change advocates are saying that this is a waste of time, while others welcome the chance to debate climate change in the public eye.
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8. Killer Whale Pregnancies Down Due to Scarce Food


orcas, orca pod, Puget Sound orcas, killer whales
Endangered killer whales in Puget Sound, Washington state, are not finding enough food to eat and this is affecting their pregnancies.  The females are stressed over not finding enough salmon to eat and having pregnancy problems as a result.  Scientists found that two-thirds of the pregnancies failed from their study of 6 years.
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Be sure to "LIKE" http://facebook.com/SeaSave to ensure our "Week in Review" is delivered to your newsfeed every Friday. 

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.