from estuary - Google News https://ift.tt/2ArxMto
via IFTTT
Tuesday, July 31, 2018
Outfitter offers kayak tours in Marco-area estuary 'free of algae and red tide'
California Regulators Consider Conservation Protections for the State's Largest Estuary
Can seagrass help fight ocean acidification?
Seagrass meadows could play a limited, localized role in alleviating ocean acidification in coastal ecosystems, according to new work.
from Oceanography News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2OwTqQ8
via IFTTT
from Oceanography News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2OwTqQ8
via IFTTT
Recreational fisheries pose threat to skittish sea turtles
When recreational scallopers flocked to Florida's Crystal River region, native sea turtles turned tail. Researchers say that sudden behavioral disruption could mean trouble the turtles overall health.
from Oceanography News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2AtrdXt
via IFTTT
from Oceanography News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2AtrdXt
via IFTTT
Monday, July 30, 2018
Mangrove logging ban to be lifted, say MPs
|
from mangroves - Google News https://ift.tt/2mVFQZW
via IFTTT
Nacula Villagers Plant Mangroves To Save Eroding Coastline
Why mangroves matter: Experts reply on International Mangrove Day
Greens write to CM to check mangrove destruction
Carbon 'leak' may have warmed the planet for 11,000 years, encouraging human civilization
The oceans lock away atmospheric carbon dioxide, but a 'leak' in the Southern Ocean brings the greenhouse gas back into the atmosphere. An international research team looked at minute nitrogen concentrations embedded in diatoms, forams and corals to identify an increase in Southern Ocean upwelling during the past 11,000 years, which could explain the otherwise mysterious warmth of the Holocene that allowed human populations to flourish.
from Oceanography News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2mVQWOF
via IFTTT
from Oceanography News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2mVQWOF
via IFTTT
Sunday, July 29, 2018
Man shot by agents after stealing Border Patrol ATV, San Diego police investigating
A shell of a trip, upstate South Carolina oysters getting recycled
|
from estuary - Google News https://ift.tt/2LzRRDa
via IFTTT
EU-US Trade Deal Means Shannon Estuary Gas Terminal 'Much More Likely'
Fencing in Courtenay River estuary expected to stay until winter
|
from estuary - Google News https://ift.tt/2v0lZgF
via IFTTT
Saturday, July 28, 2018
Sea Shepherd Works With Legal Fishermen to Protect the Vaquita
Sea Shepherd does not believe in punishing legal fishermen for the wrongdoings of poachers.
San Felipe July 28th, 2018 – On Thursday, July 26th, an international trade court judge ordered the Trump administration to ban all seafood harvested with gill nets in Mexico’s northern Gulf of California. The effort was spearheaded by a group of U.S. organizations and has been presented across Mexican and U.S. media outlets with photographs of Sea Shepherd ships and crew, not related to the ban.
Sea Shepherd has no involvement with this seafood ban, nor does the organization endorse it in any way. Sea Shepherd has never been part of a coalition to request the United States government for an embargo on Mexican seafood imports. Furthermore, Sea Shepherd is working in partnership with Mexican authorities to protect the vaquita porpoise.
Sea Shepherd’s founder, Captain Paul Watson, stated, “Sea Shepherd suffered no hostilities from fishermen for our continued conservation efforts in the Sea of Cortez until February 2017. That was the month when some 50 U.S. groups called for a boycott of Mexican shrimp. In retaliation, since Sea Shepherd is the only visible NGO physically operating in the area, the fishermen burned a skiff with the name “Sea Shepherd” on it and threatened to assault our crew and burn our ships.”
Since then, Sea Shepherd has had drones shot down and Molotov cocktails thrown at the organization’s vessels. Poachers have also shot directly at a Sea Shepherd ship, The M/V Sharpie, forcing Mexican Federal Enforcement Agents embedded on board to return fire, fortunately with no injuries on either side.
Captain Watson continued, “News outlets are using images copyrighted to Sea Shepherd as well as images of the organization’s ships operating in the area while announcing this ban. Sea Shepherd urges this practice to stop as we do not countersign this ban.”
Last Friday, a group of legal fishermen approached one of Sea Shepherd’s vessels stationed in Mexico, waving a newspaper with the headline “TRUMP IMPONE EMBARGO PESQUERO A MÉXICO! (Trump Imposes Seafood Embargo on Mexico!) to demand an explanation from the Sea Shepherd crew. The newspaper had used a Sea Shepherd copyrighted image of one of the Society’s former US Coast Guard cutters that operates in the area in partnership with the Government of Mexico to illustrate the article announcing the seafood ban.
Sea Shepherd is actively working with the local authorities and communities in the Upper Gulf of California to protect the vaquita and does not agree with punishing legal fishermen – who are already under severe socio-economic pressure due to domestic bans on fishing in the area – for the actions of poachers.
The organization continues to work with legal fishermen to remove and recycle illegal fishing gear. “We believe in working with legal fishermen, not against them. The last thing they need is for foreigners to further oppress them into poverty. This will only discourage the local community from protecting the last remaining vaquitas.” said Captain Paul Watson.
Sea Shepherd understands the good will of the U.S. organizations trying to help the vaquita, but believes this effort is ill-advised due to the stress that vaquita conservation is already imposing on the local community. “We strongly encourage U.S. conservation groups to join Sea Shepherd´s critically important and direct work in the Vaquita Refuge.” said Captain Paul Watson.
With less than 30 vaquitas remaining, the need to continue this important work to protect the species is indisputable. Sea Shepherd just completed its most successful season of its vaquita defense campaign to-date. During Operation Milagro IV, crews removed more fishing gear than all previous Operation Milagro campaigns combined. 385 deadly pieces of illegal fishing gear were removed from the Upper Gulf of California and 854 animals were saved. The Sea of Cortez is one of the most biologically diverse bodies of water in the world and through direct action and the removal of illegal fishing gear from these waters, Sea Shepherd is protecting a wide variety of species that live in the region, including the critically endangered vaquita.
Since starting work in Upper Gulf of California in 2015, Sea Shepherd has removed 808 pieces of illegal fishing gear, saving over 3,000 animals.
SEA SHEPHERD TRABAJA CON PESCADORES LEGALES PARA PROTEGER A LA VAQUITA
Sea Shepherd no cree en castigar a los pescadores legales debido a lo que los cazadores furtivos hacen.
San Felipe, 28 de Julio, 2018 – El Jueves, 26 de Julio, un juez americano del tribunal internacional de comercio ordenó a la administración de Trump prohibir todos los mariscos provenientes de redes agalleras desde el Alto Golfo de California, este esfuerzo ha sido orquestado por organizaciones de EUA y ha sido presentado en diferentes áreas con fotografías de Sea Shepherd.
Sea Shepherd no está vinculado con esta prohibición, así como tampoco respalda dicha prohibición. Sea Shepherd nunca ha sido parte de una coalición para solicitar al gobierno de los Estados Unidos que prohíba cualquier exportación mexicana de alimentos marinos, Sea Shepherd jamas a apoyado este esfuerzo. Ademas Sea Shepherd trabaja con las autoridades mexicanas para proteger a la vaquita marina.
Fundador de Sea Shepherd Capitán Paul Watson declaró “Sea Shepherd no sufrió actos hostiles de parte de los pescadores por los esfuerzos en conservación en el Mar de Cortez desde el 2015 a Febrero 2017. Ese fue el mes en que 50 grupos de EUA llamaron a un Boicot contra el camarón Mexicano. En represalia, ya que Sea Shepherd es la única ONG visible físicamente en el área, los pescadores quemaron una panga con el nombre de Sea Shepherd, y amenazaron con asaltar y quemar nuestros barcos”
Desde que Sea Shepherd ha tenido drones derribados por disparos y cocktails molotov lanzados a los barcos de la organización. Cazadores furtivos también han disparado directamente en contra de los barcos, forzando a la Marina Mexicana a disparar en contra, afortunadamente sin heridos.
Capitán Watson continúa “Centros de noticias han estado utilizando imágenes no autorizadas de Sea Shepherd, que muestran nuestro trabajo, mientras publican el anuncio de esta prohibición. Sea Shepherd urge que esto se detenga ya que no apoyamos esta prohibición en lo absoluto, relacionando estos titulares lo cual provoca que pescadores se acerquen a nuestros barcos demandando explicaciones.
El pasado Viernes, pescadores se acercaron al barco de Sea Shepherd con un periódico en la mano con el Titular “TRUMP IMPONE EMBARGO PESQUERO A MÉXICO!.” Este Periódico no ha sido autorizado a utilizar imágenes de Sea Shepherd que muestra a embarcación trabajando en el área ilustrado en el artículo.
Sea Shepherd está activamente en San Felipe trabajando con las autoridades y comunidades locales para proteger a la Vaquita, y no apoya el castigo a pescadores legales – que ya se encuentran bajo presión socio-económica debido las prohibiciones locales y debido a las acciones de los cazadores furtivos.
La organización ya se encuentra trabajando con pescadores legales para remover redes ilegales y reciclaje de las mismas. “Creemos en trabajar con pescadores legales, no en contra de ellos. Lo último que necesitan es que extranjeros los opriman aún más a la pobreza, esto solo desalentara a la comunidad local en la protección de las últimas vaquitas que quedan”, dijo el Capitán Paul Watson.
Sea Shepherd entiende las buenas intenciones de las organizaciones de EUA de tratar de ayudar a la Vaquita, pero cree que dicho esfuerzo no es recomendado, debido a la situación socio-económica y el estrés de la conservación de la Vaquita que ya afecta a las comunidades locales. “Recomendamos fuertemente que los grupos de conservación de EUA, se unan a Sea Shepherd y al trabajo directo que realizamos en la zona.” dijo el Capitán Paul Watson.
Con menos de 30 Vaquitas la necesidad de continuar con este importante trabajo de proteger a las especies es indiscutible. Sea Shepherd acaba de terminar su campaña más exitosa en la protección de la Vaquita Marina. Durante Operación Milagro IV la tripulación removió más artes de pesca ilegales que en todas las operaciones anteriores combinadas. 385 artes de pesca fueron removidos del Alto Golfo de California, 854 animales salvados. El Mar de Cortez es uno de los lugares con mayor biodiversidad en el mundo, Sea Shepherd está protegiendo una gran variedad de especies que viven ahí tanto como la Vaquita.
Desde el comienzo de nuestro trabajo en el Alto Golfo, Sea Shepherd ha removido 808 artes de pesca, salvando más de 3.000 animales.
from Sea Shepherd https://ift.tt/2v8Sl8a
via IFTTT
Navy plants Mangroves on International Day for Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem
|
from mangroves - Google News https://ift.tt/2AhadU5
via IFTTT
United Way spreads the word on mangroves and hepatitis to improve Mumbai's health
Mangroves grow slowly. In Miami, replacing them takes even longer
Apollo commemorates International Day for Conservation of Mangroves
Ocean acidification is having major impact on marine life
Carbon dioxide emissions are killing off coral reefs and kelp forests as heat waves and ocean acidification damage marine ecosystems, scientists have warned.
from Oceanography News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2LKSKb2
via IFTTT
from Oceanography News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2LKSKb2
via IFTTT
Deglacial changes in western Atlantic Ocean circulation
A new study carried out by an international team of researchers, using the chemistry of ocean sediments has highlighted a widespread picture of Atlantic circulation changes associated with rapid climate change in the past.
from Oceanography News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2AhKT0t
via IFTTT
from Oceanography News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2AhKT0t
via IFTTT
58 California groups unite to demand stronger Bay-Delta flow standards
|
from estuary - Google News https://ift.tt/2OqcH5t
via IFTTT
Chesapeake Bay: work in progress
|
from estuary - Google News https://ift.tt/2AgwYHJ
via IFTTT
Friday, July 27, 2018
Operation Jairo Concludes Extensive Study of Threatened Sea Turtle Nesting Sites on Barbuda
Sea Shepherd is partnering with researchers from the Antigua Sea Turtle Project (ASTP) to conduct surveys and conservation patrols of key sea turtle nesting sites on Antigua and Barbuda.
Antigua July 27th, 2018 – Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and Antigua Sea Turtle Project (ASTP) are now in the final week of Operation Jairo Caribbean, a three-week effort to protect and monitor endangered sea turtles nesting on the shores of Barbuda, from on board Sea Shepherd’s interceptor vessel the M/V Brigitte Bardot. The team of researchers and Sea Shepherd crew have been conducting night and day patrols along 11miles of beach, collecting critical baseline data on numbers of nesting Hawksbill, Green, and Leatherback sea turtles that use the coast.
Over sixty nests have been documented so far, 12 of those turtles were encountered and tagged by patrols, and three return nesters have been identified that were previously tagged in 2014 / 2015 surveys. The group has also observed hatching leatherback and hawksbill nests, recording hatchling success rates and standing by to ensure the newborn turtles make it safely into the ocean. The campaign also incorporated the use of a night vision drone to spot turtle tracks and nesting females, enabling wider coverage and helping to ensure that researchers identify every turtle in the patrol area.
Operation Jairo is working closely with the Barbuda community in this effort. Members of the Barbuda Council visited the team on board the Brigitte Bardot and joined in night patrols on Low Bay. Council members were lucky to witness a critically endangered hawksbill turtle laying her eggs in the sand. Chairman of Agriculture, Lands, Fisheries and Coastal Protection shared that it was an “experience of a lifetime” and emphasized the Barbuda Council’s support for conservation measures. The team have also been reaching out to youth in the community, hosting three local interns on board and interactive turtle talks with local children in the main town of Codrington.
Kate Levasseur, PhD researcher with the ASTP who has been collecting data on Barbuda since 2009 said it was “fantastic to watch to the nesting process with the Barbudan kids. Some had never seen a turtle laying eggs before, they had lots of great questions and were excited to see how we tag and collect data”.
In the final week, the campaign will be completing survey efforts and compiling data which will be shared with local management agencies and regional bodies to strengthen sea turtle protection measures and conservation of the important coastal areas upon which these endangered species depend.
The Antigua Sea Turtle Project (ASTP) of the Environmental Awareness Group has been working since 2007 to protect Antigua and Barbuda’s endangered sea turtle populations through nesting surveys, education, and advocacy for turtle friendly practices.
from Sea Shepherd https://ift.tt/2K0TJPN
via IFTTT
Sun Stars: Rulers of the Reef
Back in the day, I ran some experiments looking at different California kelp forest predators and their effects on trophic cascades. It was a fun time, doing things like banding Cancer crab claws and then watching how they still pinned down kelp crabs like a boss, making them run away in fear. But there was one predator I tested that stunned me, and, welp, made me a little fearful.
The sun star, Pycnopodia heliantoides.
I thought these big multi-armed beasts were pretty neat, but, then I watched one engulf a softball-sized red urchin (and that’s softball before the big spiky spines), and a day or so later, spit out all of the hard parts. Not sated, it then ate all of the purple urchin in the tank. Basically, it was a remorseless eating machine.
Couple this with a few old-marine-biologist’s tales of giant man-sized Pycnos and tales of their wandering off into the deep, with no ability to track them, and you can see why it took me a bit to conquer my fear of them for my usual profile picture.
Now, shows me that, um, I might have been right.
Sure, we know that they can hoover up reefs of tiny sea cucumbers, or affect smaller purple urchin barrens, but Burt et al. show that Pycnos have an impact that is even stronger than otters! Even cooler, they discovered this due to two simultaneous natural experiments – otters moving back into a historic part of their range (which they’d been hunted out of, so, natural?) combined with sea star wasting disease wiping out Pycnos a few years after. I’ll let their video explain even better.
For me, this work was deeply personal. My own early work tried to think about how a post-otter California was able to avoid the devestating consequences of their loss seen in the Aleutians. I always viewed Pycnos and the other predators as mere redundant species, with many of those predators being necessary to equal the raw force of otters. Burt et al. are really breaking the paradigm here, showing that while otters are absolutely key, that diversity still matters. Because the real urchin horf-master of the deep is Pycnopodia. All hail!
Also, as an added reward from the dive team, everybody dance now!
References
Burt, J.M., Tinker, M.T., Okamoto, D.K., Demes, K.W., Holmes, K., Salomon, A.K., 2018. Sudden collapse of a mesopredator reveals its complementary role in mediating rocky reef regime shifts. P Roy Soc Lond B Bio. 285, 20180553. doi:10.1098/rspb.2018.0553
Byrnes, J., Stachowicz, J.J., Hultgren, K.M., Randall Hughes, A., Olyarnik, S.V., Thornber, C.S., 2006. Predator diversity strengthens trophic cascades in kelp forests by modifying herbivore behaviour. Ecol. Lett. 9, 61–71. doi:10.1111/j.1461-0248.2005.00842.x (aw, my first dissertation chapter! wudda!)
from Deep Sea News https://ift.tt/2uUSlcK
via IFTTT
Thursday, July 26, 2018
Thane Municipal Corporation to stop dumping of debris at waterfronts
|
from mangroves - Google News https://ift.tt/2OkmmdS
via IFTTT
Gujarat: Experts for better conservation of mangroves
|
from mangroves - Google News https://ift.tt/2AeyHx9
via IFTTT
Saltwater fishing: The summer time mangrove snapper bite is excellent right now for Tampa Bay area anglers.
Why mangroves matter: Experts respond on International Mangrove Day
|
from mangroves - Google News https://ift.tt/2NIRvGO
via IFTTT
Protecting mangroves in Kenya
|
from mangroves - Google News https://ift.tt/2JWMgRq
via IFTTT
Mangroves: 'the Earth and humanity simply cannot afford to lose these vital ecosystems'
The Carbon Consulting Company launches FIRST “Blue Carbon” Mangrove Project
OUT&ABOUT: Skywalk over Mida Creek in Watamu
Mass tourism hurts mangroves
|
from mangroves - Google News https://ift.tt/2AdNatn
via IFTTT
Save the mangroves! Environment Minister Thérèse Coffey writes for Express.co.uk
Glaciers in East Antarctica also 'imperiled' by climate change
Scientists have found evidence of significant mass loss in East Antarctica's Totten and Moscow University glaciers, which, if they fully collapsed, could add 5 meters (16.4 feet) to the global sea level.
from Oceanography News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2LRmK25
via IFTTT
from Oceanography News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2LRmK25
via IFTTT
First mapping of global marine wilderness shows just how little remains
reporting in Current Biology on July 26 have completed the first systematic analysis of marine wilderness around the world. And what they found is not encouraging; only a small fraction -- about 13 percent -- of the world's ocean can still be classified as wilderness.
from Oceanography News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2LB0tZv
via IFTTT
from Oceanography News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2LB0tZv
via IFTTT
Brigitte Bardot Crew in Codrington Educating the Youth About Turtles
While field teams in Barbuda have continued to keep up night and day patrols on the 11-mile survey site, the involvement of local youth and communities is also an important priority for Operation Jairo campaign. Three local college students were invited to join the expert team of turtle researchers as interns, learning hands on conservation research methods and experiencing ship life aboard the Brigitte Bardot. The team have also been reaching out to youth in the Barbuda community, providing interactive turtle talks to children in the main town of Codrington. Chris Holt, Captain of the Brigitte Bardot said that “It is a privilege to provide a vessel and home base for this research. I really support the idea of getting the youth involved, they are the future of ecological protection”. The Barbuda Council has welcomed the campaign’s efforts, recognizing the importance of marine conservation in rebuilding a resilient community. With the commitment of the local community, we are hoping that the future of marine conservation in Barbuda will be bright!
from Sea Shepherd https://ift.tt/2OkohiQ
via IFTTT
Baby Orca Death Could be Linked to Salmon Farm Virus
A new study has identified that Piscine Reovirus, a Norwegian virus introduced in BC by salmon farms is reported to cause Chinook salmon cells to explode and could be a missing link to explain why resident whales are starving to extinction.
July 25th, 2018 [Vancouver, BC] – On July 23rd an orca born into the critically endangered Southern Resident orca population died within hours of birth. Despite the decline of Orcas due to the loss of Chinook salmon, their primary food source, the Canadian Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Jonathan Wilkinson, refuses to screen farmed salmon for a virus that causes Chinook salmon blood cells to rupture “en masse”.
Research published in 2017 in the prestigious scientific journal, PloS One, reports that saving the southern resident orca from extinction may depend on restoring Chinook salmon populations in the Fraser River.
Despite this, 80% of the farmed salmon sighted in pens along the Fraser River salmon migration route along eastern Vancouver Island are infected with piscine orthoreovirus (PRV), a virus recently reported by DFO to affect Chinook salmon. The paper published in the journal FACETS2 earlier this year describes how PRV invades the blood cells of Chinook salmon, replicates rapidly in the cells until the cells burst causing organ failure, severe jaundice and release of the virus into marine habitats.
For the third consecutive year, Sea Shepherd’s research vessel, the Martin Sheen is conducting audits into the damaging effects open-net salmon farms have in British Columbian waters.
Independent Biologist Alexandra Morton won a lawsuit against the Ministry of Fisheries in 2015 prohibiting the Minister of Fisheries from allowing farmed salmon to be transferred into marine pens without screening for PRV.
Canadian Fisheries Regulations prohibit the transfer of fish infected with a disease into Canadian waters. Because the majority of BC farmed salmon is infected, the salmon farming industry admits it would be severely impacted if this law was applied to their operations.
For reasons not fully understood, the Minister of Fisheries refuses to acknowledge this 2016 Federal court ruling and continues to refuse to screen for PRV. As a result, most farm salmon sold in markets is infected with PRV as per research also published in PloS One, on December 3rd 2017.
“I am terribly saddened by the loss of this young whale and the suffering her mother is enduring,” says Alexandra Morton. “Here in Canada we are guilty of allowing our government to ignore the very laws that would prevent this. The Trudeau government is protecting millions of introduced Atlantic salmon infected with a virus that causes wild Chinook salmon cells to explode as whales go extinct for lack of Chinook salmon. Canada is giving up so much for the benefit and profit of three salmon farming companies that dominate the BC salmon farming industry.”
References
1. http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0179824
2. http://www.facetsjournal.com/doi/10.1139/facets-2018-0008
3. http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0188793
from Sea Shepherd https://ift.tt/2A92Z4u
via IFTTT
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)