Friday, March 30, 2018

Week in Review March 30, 2018: UK - Deposit on All Single Use Drink Containers, Sustainable Shark Trade Bill and More

1. UK Plans Plastic Bottle Charge to Tackle Pollution


plastic bottles, deposit plastic bottles, charge plastic bottlesThe British government has announced plans to put a “charge on plastic, glass and metal single use drinks containers sold in England.”  Britain uses 13 billion plastic containers a year, many of which end up in the oceans. "It is absolutely vital we act now to tackle this threat and curb the millions of plastic bottles a day that go unrecycled," said environment minister Michael Gove. The actual deposit scheme may resemble those already in place in Denmark, Sweden and Germany.
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2. Sustainable Shark Trade Bill Offers Science-Based Solutions for Overfishing and Finning

shark fin, shark trade bill“A new bipartisan bill,  Sustainable Shark Fisheries and Trade Act of 2018, introduced in U.S. Congress this month encourages a science-based approach to significantly reduce the overfishing and unsustainable trade of sharks, rays and skates around the world and prevent shark finning.  The Act would require that shark, ray and skate parts and products imported into the U.S. be permitted only from countries certified by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as having in place and enforcing management and conservation policies for these species comparable to the U.S.  A comparable prohibition on shark finning — the wasteful and inhumane practice of cutting off a shark’s fins and discarding the carcass at sea — would also be required.”
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3. Washington State Bans Atlantic Salmon Farms


atlantic salmon farming, atlantic salmon farm penAfter three decades of Atlantic salmon farming, Washington state signed into law “restrictions on non-native fish farms.”  This is in response to the accidental release of 250,000 Atlantic salmon into Puget Sound eight months ago. “The state's remaining Atlantic salmon farms, all owned by Cooke Aquaculture, could be gone by 2022, once their existing leases with the Washington Department of Natural Resources expire.”
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4. Great Pacific Garbage Patch Plastic Pollution is Larger Than Thought and ‘Growing Exponentially'


Great Pacific Garbage Patch, abandoned fishing gear, marine plastic pollutionA new study shows that the Great Pacific Garbage Patch has 16 times more trash than previously surveyed.  There is 78,000 tons of trash spread over an area of 1.6 million square kilometers. “Most of the mass was made up of pieces larger than 5 centimetres. While microplastics, which account for about 8 percent of the mass, made up a bulk of the estimated 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic floating in the patch.”  Previous sampling estimated the patch at 4,800 tons of trash. Half of the larger debris was made up of fishing gear.
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5. Prince Albert II of Monaco Visits Malpelo Island

Malpelo Island, Prince Albert II of MonacoThanks to Sea Save’s strategic partner, Columbia Dive Adventures, Prince Albert II of Monaco visited Malpelo Island, Colombia aboard the Ferox.  Research topics discussed with the Colombian Navy included oceanography, biology and the marine sciences. Malpelo Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  There are many species of shark present, including schools of hammerhead and silky sharks.
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6. Fisherman Lawsuit Against Atlantic Marine Monument Moves Ahead


Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National MonumentFishermen groups are suing to “challenge the creation of the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument created by President Barack Obama in 2016. It’s a 5,000-square-mile area off of New England that contains fragile deep sea corals and vulnerable species of marine life such as right whales.”  If won, the suit would open the marine monument to commercial fishing. Environmental organizations are concerned the fishing would interfere with “preservation efforts.”
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7. In Court, Big Oil Rejects Climate Denial


big 5 oil companiesThe cities of San Francisco and Oakland have sued the big 5 oil companies.  During the case, Chevron’s lawyer stated, “From Chevron’s perspective, there is no debate about the science of climate change.”  Chevron accepts the 97% expert consensus that climate change exists due to human influences. “If even Big Oil (with 40 years of research) accepts the reality of human-caused climate change when pressed in court, it’s difficult for anyone else to deny it from here forward.”
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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.

Saturday, March 24, 2018

Week in Review March 23, 2018: Lawsuit alleges Humpback Whales not being protected, Easter Island Icons Eroding and More

1. Lawsuit alleges Humpback Whales not being protected

Pacific Humpback Whale, lawsuitAmerican Indian and conservation groups have sued the Trump administration for failing to protect Pacific humpback whales from fishing gear, ship strikes, and oil spills. Humpback whales continue to be caught in fishing gear near Monterey Bay and struck by ships near San Francisco's Golden Gate. The lawsuit contends that the National Marine Fisheries Service has failed to protect three Pacific Ocean humpback populations that were listed in 2016 as endangered and a third as threatened. The Endangered Species Act requires that the administration designate critical habitat within one year of listing and "not authorize actions that would damage that habitat.” Instead of protecting the whales, the lawsuit contends, the administration has proposed new oil and gas drilling along the West Coast, where the humpbacks migrate.
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2. Easter Island’s Cultural Heritage Eroding Away

Easter Island, Easter Island statuesThe coastline of 15-mile-wide Easter Island is eroding away due to sea-level rise. Easter Island is famous for its large statue heads, thought to represent the ancestors of the islanders. The island’s economy is fueled by tourism, and a 5-6-foot sea level rise, predicted by 2100, will destroy the mysterious statues that tourists come to see. Islanders built a seawall around one site, but it is unclear if this is enough to stop wave erosion.
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3. Damaging Fishing Practices in the Philippines Threaten Coral Reefs

philippines, philippine squid fishermenA new study finds that that about a quarter of the small-scale fisheries in the Philippines still use destructive fishing methods, including deploying explosives and dispensing poison, that was outlawed in 1932. "A growing number of fishers used crowbars to break apart corals so they could catch valuable but elusive animals such as abalone.” Says one researcher, "It is vital not to let damaging fishing practices become the norm."
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4. Creating Hardier Corals to Survive Warming Seas

coral reef, selective coral bleeding, cross coral breeding, coral genetic engineeringIt is estimated that half of the coral reefs in the world have died since the 1980s. Causes include pollution and sedimentation, but the main cause is the warming of the ocean due to climate change. Warming causes corals to die in a phenomenon known as coral bleaching. “Ocean heatwaves in 2015, 2016 and 2017 finished off an astonishing 20% of the coral on Earth.” Scientists are scrambling to find ways to improve coral’s chances of survival by trying selective breeding, cross-breeding, and genetic engineering of corals that are less sensitive to temperature changes.
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5. Marine Ecologists Study the Benefits of Kelp Forests

kelp forest, school of fishA study by scientists at the University of California at Santa Barbara has found that kelp forests are more valuable as structures than as food resources. "When British naturalist Charles Darwin traveled to the Galapagos Islands in 1835, he took notice of the giant kelp forests ringing the islands. He believed that if those forests were destroyed, a significant number of species would be lost." That prediction turns out to be true, but not for the reasons we thought. Says one researcher, "Our modeling suggests that the physical aspects of the kelp  its sheer size and its presence, the shade it casts, its effect on flow and the habitat it provides for predators  affect the reef ecosystem more than its productivity."
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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.

Friday, March 16, 2018

Week in Review March 16, 2018: Fisheries Production Could Decline 60%, Blacktip Sharks Skip Migration, North Atlantic is Getting Less Salty, , and More

1. Fisheries Production Could Decline by 60 Percent


Mexican fish marketA new study in Science finds that if climate change is allowed to continue at its current rate, fisheries production could plunge by 60 percent. This would be a threat to world food and economic security. Cold water from melting ice sheets would disrupt ocean circulation patterns. The study examined temperature change, and not other climate factors such as ocean acidification.
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2. Blacktip Sharks Skipping Migration South


shark, migration, shark migration, North Carolina, Florida, blacktip shark
Blacktip sharks usually travel in the tens of thousands from North Carolina to Florida. Recently, however, just one-third of this population is migrating south to warmer waters. Male sharks usually leave during the cooler winter months and return when it’s warmer in the spring to mate with females. But warming waters seem to be changing this behavior. This could have serious, negative effects upon Florida fisheries. “These traveling sharks keep Florida's coastal ecosystem healthy by weeding out weak and sick fish, and thereby helping to preserve coral reefs and seagrasses.”
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3. North Atlantic is Getting Less Salty


Over the past decade, the North Atlantic’s salinity has been decreasing. It is not known whether this phenomenon is due to an influx of freshwater from ice or land or whether it is the result of some other natural, long-term cycle. Researchers attribute the immediate cause to changes in ocean circulation. But they warn that further decline in salinityfrom Greenland's melting glaciers“could impact fish stocks and the ocean’s ability to absorb CO2.” 
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4. Antarctic Krill Break Down Microplastics into Nanoplastics

krill, Antarctic krill, microplastics, nanoplasticsMicroplastics, which are plastic fragments less than five millimeters in diameter, are being turned into nanoplastics (even smaller plastic fragments) by the digestion process of Antarctic krill. Microplastics can be directly released into the ocean environment or can be broken down from larger pieces of plastic. This finding "warrants significant attention to nanoparticle toxicology in the discussions surrounding global plastic pollution."
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5. Canada Announce $1.5B Plan to Protect Coasts

Orca, killer whale, Canada, Oceans Protection PlanThe Canadian government has released its $1.5 billion "Oceans Protection Plan", which includes measures to mitigate damage from oil spills and improve shipping. "The largest investment ever made to protect Canada's coasts and waterways," the plan will be implemented over the next 11 years. Among other things, the plan aims to reduce shipping noise, which impacts endangered killer whales and improve preparation for oil spills.
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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.

Saturday, March 10, 2018

Week in Review March 9, 2018: Hidden Penguin Colony Discovered, Rare Good News for Sharks and Rays and More

1. Hidden Penguin Colony Discovered

Adelie penguins, Antarctica mega-colonySatellite images have revealed the existence of hidden mega-colonies of Adelie penguins on Antarctica's Danger Islands. The discovery of another 1.5 million penguins boosts the population of Antarctic penguins by nearly 70 percent. Although warming oceans are melting the sea ice on the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula, the new colonies are safe for now on the eastern side, where the ice lasts longer and creates better conditions for chick production. The discovery strengthens the argument for creating a new marine protected area that would include a 30-km buffer around Antarctica’s penguin colonies. That’s a cool idea in a region where “sea ice-free seasons have lengthened by up to three months; nearly 600 of the region’s 674 glaciers are in retreat.”
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2. Rare Good News for Sharks and Rays


shark, blue shark, shark finning, shark fin soupMore than a third of the world’s sharks and rays are threatened with extinction, but this week brought rare good news. Hong Kong boosted its penalties for those convicted of illegally selling or buying products derived from CITES-listed endangered species. The maximum sentence was raised from 2 years to 10, and maximum fines soared from $6,400 to $1.3 million. According to the Pew Charitable Trusts, some 63 to 273 million sharks “are killed every year, mainly solely for their fins, which are used primarily to make shark fin soup.” Read More...

And in the Pacific islands, Samoa has created a shark and ray sanctuary within its Exclusive Economic Zone. It joins Micronesia, French Polynesia, Kiribati, New Caledonia, Palau, and the Marshall Islands in establishing shark protection areas. “We will not sit idly by while the demand for shark products robs our future generations of these culturally, ecologically and economically valuable species,” says Samoan prime minister Tuilaepa. “Let us together continue to safeguard these species for our future generations.” Read More...   
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3. Marine Sanctuaries Boost Fish Production


bristle tooth fish, coral reef, PhilippinesA recent study provides the latest evidence that marine protected areas can boost fish stocks and size. The study of three fish species around coral reefs in the Philippines found that “fish born in marine reserves where fishing is prohibited grow to be larger, healthier and more successful at reproduction.” Although many MPAs are closed to fishing, the larger fish replenish stock in areas where fishing is permitted. “The more robust fish naturally migrate from the MPAs to the fished areas, where they can be harvested by fishermen.”
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4. “Alarming” Collapse of Pacific Sardine Stocks


pacific sardines, sardines, MontereyWest Coast sardine fishing has been closed for the fourth year in a row. “The northern Pacific sardine population, stretching from Mexico to British Columbia, has plummeted 97% since 2006, according to an assessment released this week by the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Pacific Fishery Management Council.” John Steinbeck's classic novel Cannery Row is set against the backdrop of Monterey's sardine canning plants.
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5. Mass Starfish Strandings Along the English Coast


starfish strandings, EnglandThousands of starfish washed up dead along the English coastlines of Kent and East Yorkshire. The “Beast from the East” polar vortex, which brought below-freezing temperatures and high winds, is being blamed for the strandings. Behavior known as “starballing,” in which starfish roll up in a ball to travel farther along the seafloor, may have helped them to be carried to shore by high winds and waves. The die-off isn’t a threat to the species, though. According to marine biology lecturer Coleen Suckling, "starfish are resilient, abundant, and widespread in the Atlantic.”
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6. Florida “Super Corals”


coral reef restoration, coral reef nurseryScientists at a Miami laboratory have bred corals that they hope will be more resilient to warming seas. In the coming months, they will plant them on reefs off Key Biscayne and Miami Beach, where 90 percent of staghorn coral has died off. Hardier, more heat-tolerant algae was bred into the lab corals from specimens that recovered after a bleaching event. This is one of several coral restoration projects underway worldwide. “In the [Florida] Keys, Mote Marine Lab has 20,000 corals, and in 2016 it struck a 15-year deal with the Nature Conservancy to build gene banks and begin transplanting more than 1 million in the Keys in the Caribbean.”
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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.