Marine Conservation and Life in our Oceans
Marine Conservation and Ocean Life
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Image Courtesy Lizard10979 , Flickr
Someone just passed me this link from the Treehugger site to a stunning collection of 10 whale photos - some of the largest animals in the world right next to us little ol' humans. ... Read Full Post
Why wartime wrecks are slicking time bombs
New Scientist September 1, 2010 By Mick Hamer Thousands of ships sunk in the second world war are seeping oil - and with their rusty tanks disintegrating, "peak leak" is only a few years away THE battle for Guadalcanal was one of the pivotal moments of the second world war. The Japanese occupied Guadalcanal, the largest of the Solomon Islands, in August 1942. When the Americans landed a few months later, the Japanese set out to reinforce their troops by sea. The struggle for naval supremacy that followed was confused and bloody, but by February 1943 the battle was over and the Japanese had evacuated their remaining troops. ...
Winners at BLUE Ocean Film Festival
This past weekend I was proud to participate in the BLUE Ocean Film Festival in Monterey, California, where I was joined by my children, Céline and Fabien, to honor my father and their grandfather in our own special way ...
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The New York Times, August 29, 2010 Editorial If a country sinks beneath the sea, is it still a country? That is a question about which the Republic of the Marshall Islands -- a Micronesian nation of 29 low-lying coral atolls -- is now seeking expert legal advice. It is also a question the United States Senate might ask itself the next time it refuses to deal with climate change. According to the world's leading scientists, sea-level rise is one of the greatest dangers of global warming, threatening not only islands but coastal cities like New Orleans and even entire countries like Bangladesh. In 2007, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change conservatively predicted a 20-inch sea-level rise by the end of this century if current trends were not reversed. Becaus...
Care About Sea Turtles? Watch This Video
If you care about sea turtles and marine conservation issues, watch this 2-minute video about plastics and sea turtles posted by Wallace J. Nichols. Although it's brief it does a great job of making the point that plastics and sea turtles shouldn't mix. ... Read Full Post
Learn About the Florida Manatee
The Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) , also called the "sea cow," is an unusual looking marine mammal, with their whiskered face, round body and paddle-like tail. Manatees have ... Read Full Post
Training Same as Always, Navy is Insisting
The Maui News, August 29, 2010 By Chris Hamilton KAHULUI - U.S. Navy training exercises in waters around Hawaii and across the Pacific would be the same kinds of activities that have been under way for decades, including sonar training and the use of explosives under water, Navy officials said last week. The U.S. Navy brought its application to renew an environmental impact statement allowing its ships, submarines and planes to continue training in waters around Hawaii and Southern California to a lightly attended open house in Kahului on Friday. Opponents have objected to the Navy's use of sonar in its exercises within the 1.2 million-square-mile Hawaii testing range, saying the powerful sounds cause injuries to marine mammals including humpback whales. "We believe our eff...
Kindai bluefin tuna, farmed sustainably, available in Philadelphia
(Photo Credit: Laurence Kesterson) Joseph Lasprogota, director of purchasing at Samuels & Son Seafood in South Philly, moves a 196-pound Kindai bluefin tuna. By Aliza Green The Philadelphia Inquirer It's a chilly 35 degrees in the fish-cutting room at the new state-of-the-art headquarters of Samuels & Son Seafood in South Philadelphia's wholesale fish market. Two workers carefully lift the beautiful, shiny, silvery-blue, torpedo-shaped, 196-pound tuna from its coffin-shaped foam air-freight container onto the worktable. This ultra-luxury bluefin tuna called Kindai is flown in weekly from Japan for Samuels to sell to chefs who pay about $40 to $50 per pound to serve it, usually as sushi, ceviche, or crudo. One of the company's top cutters, Pham Mung, carefull...
A bivalve is an animal that has two hinged shells. Bivalves are in the Phylum Mollusca , Class Bivalvia.
Many people would simply describe bivalves as "tasty" - examples of bivalves are ... Read Full Post
Sea Witch Skin Care - a good reason to buy luscious bath products
A member contacted me recently, and her email name “Sea Witch of Maine” piqued my curiosity so I googled it. To my delight I discovered that she has a line of organic skin care and bath products and that part of the profits are donated to MarineBio! I didn’t need much convincing to pamper myself with some [...]
Arctic Ice: Less than Meets the Eye
NewScientist, August 25, 2010 By Chris Mooney The ice may not retreat as much as feared this year, but what remains may be more rotten than robust LAST September, David Barber was on board the Canadian icebreaker CCGS Amundsen (pictured below), heading into the Beaufort Sea, north of Alaska. He was part of a team investigating ice conditions in autumn, the time when Arctic sea ice shrinks to its smallest extent before starting to grow again as winter sets in. Barber, an environmental scientist at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada, went to sleep one night at midnight, just before the ship ...
Is It Important to Study Captive Marine Mammals?
Interested in the issues of whales in captivity or cetacean research? The International Society of Comparative Psychology published a special issue of its journal that has articles describing the importance of research using captive marine mammals. Unlike a lot of scientific journals, the articles are all free for download . ... Read Full Post
Gulf spill to blame for oily blobs in vital Gulf sea life?
Orange droplets that have tested positive for hydrocarbons are visible trapped inside the shell of an immature blue crab collected near Grand Isle, La. Researchers wondering how the Gulf of Mexico will affect the Gulf oil spill are paying close attention to the blue crab. (Photo Credit: USM Gulf Coast Research Laboratory/AP) Christian Science Monitor, August 24, 2010 By Bill Sasser New Orleans To find out how the food chain has been affected by the Gulf oil spill, marine scientists are closely monitoring this year's spawn of blue crab - a key kind of plankton - in the Gulf of Mexico. late May, marine biologist Erin Grey, a post-doctoral researcher at Tulane University, discovered oily orange droplets inside blue crab larvae she collected in areas affected by the BP oil spill. ...
I just came across this gorgeous photo on Flickr and had to share it. Do you know what this is?
Photo Courtesy Jerry Kirkhart , Flickr
SeaWorld Fined for Death of Trainer
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) fined SeaWorld $75,000 for its failure to prevent the death of trainer Dawn Brancheau as she worked with the orca Tilikum in February 2010. ... Read Full Post
Below are some quick facts about the green sea turtle, an interesting marine reptile with a carapace up to 3 feet long. Isn't that a beautiful image to the right?
Despite their name, the green turtle's carapace can be many colors, including shades of black, gray, green, brown or yellow.
When young, green sea turtles are carnivores , but as adults they eat seaweeds and seagrasses , making them the only herbivorous sea turtle. The green sea turtle's diet is thought to be responsible for its green-tinted fat, which is responsible for the turtle's name.
They are found in tropical and sub-tropical waters around the world.
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Let's Learn About Class Polyplacophora
It's almost back to school time... let's learn about Class Polyplacophora ! "Poly-huh?" What is that?
The term polyplacophora is a Latin word meaning "many plates." The organisms belonging in this taxonomic class are more simply called chitons - and all chitons have 8 plates, or valves, over their shell. Chitons are considered relatively primitive organisms, but they sure can be colorful, as the great photo here shows. ... Read Full Post
Massive Coral Mortality Following Bleaching in Indonesia
This is one of the most important reasons why we need to fight harder to stop climate change. The loss of these precious ecosystems is a tragedy. The Wildlife Conservation Society has released initial field observations that indicate that a dramatic rise in the surface temperature in Indonesian waters has resulted in a large-scale bleaching [...]
Congratulations to our Photo Contest Winner, Karen Barcellos!
Karen Barcellos sent us several beautiful images of Humpback whales she took in the Hawaiian Islands Humpack Whale National Marine Sanctuary in Maui, and this is the one we liked best. Her winning photo will be featured in our next newsletter and on our facebook page. Thank you very much to everyone who submitted photographs to our photo contest, we hope to hear from you all again next time we have a photo contest!
MCBI Movie to be shown at film festival
A film about MCBI and our work to establish National Marine Monuments in the Pacific will be shown at the Blue Ocean Film Festival in Monterey, California on Saturday, August 28th at the Maritime Museum. If you're in the area, you should come! For more information about the festival, click here .
The last full day of our epic 'Saga of Ice and Fire' cruise found us sailing south along the UK east coast, passing the Yorkshire promontory of Flamborough Head, before approaching the East Anglian coastline several hours later. The day provided a last chance to admire the seabirds that have become so familiar to us and marvel at their supreme power of flight in this harsh environment. Storm Petrel, Manx Shearwater, Puffin, Guillemot, Gannet, Fulmar, Kittiwake, Common Tern and a variety of gulls all graced us with a flypast at some stage during the day, giving our passengers a final opportunity to test out their improving identification skills. A couple of Harbour Porpoise popped up briefly, reminding us that despite the wind farms, the gas platforms and the busy shipping lanes, we still s...
After docking bow-to-bow with the retired royal yacht HMS Britannia in Leith, Edinburgh, the Minerva 'Swans' disembarked for a whole day of sightseeing around the Scottish capital city. Emma and I joined them to explore the Fringe Arts festival, but not before we'd spotted Common Terns, Grey Herons and Cormorants around the docks! The frequent courtesy buses ensured that we could return to the ship whenever our aching feet demanded it, so after a day of pacing the historic cobbles of the 'royal mile' amid the throngs of festival attendees, we headed back to update our blog and edit the photographs in preparation for our lecture tomorrow which will review the highs and lows of the trip. As dusk fell, we departed through the ingenious lock system of Leith docks and ventured back out to sea...
A very quiet day at sea today as the Minerva made her way steadily southwards past the Orkney Isles and on to sail down the east coast of mainland Scotland. The Captain brought us as close as he was allowed to the Old Man of Hoy (the bizarre rock column created by years of tidal erosion), and the sea began to calm a little, ensuring a smooth voyage. Old Man of Hoy The Bridge however became rather busy, as the Captain opened up access to all passengers, and we had a steady stream of intrigued and interested 'Swans' who were amazed by the fabulous view and myriad of console buttons. Emma and I are certainly very grateful to Swan Hellenic and Captain Biasutti for allowing us unlimited access to the Bridge throughout the voyage as it has made a huge difference to the effectiveness with ...
Having spent the majority of our lives observing cetaceans and seabirds in their natural, wild and free state all over the world, both Emma and I have found today extremely challenging indeed. Our passion for working with marine mammals has been clear for all to see whilst onboard the MV Minerva, as we are heavily involved in the protection (and rescue) of cetaceans, and take pride in being extremely enthusiastic when helping people to experience the thrill of seeing these majestic animals as free spirits in their natural environment. And so our emotions ran particularly high today, and at times we struggled to maintain our composure, as we had docked in Torshavn, the capital of the Faeroe Islands. This is the home of awesome towering sea cliffs, quaint fishing villages, and mist-shrouded ...
After four days of land-based excursions, Emma and I woke early, excited at the prospect of a whole day back out at sea, observing from the Bridge alongside the ever-optimistic Captain Biasutti. And despite long periods of scanning an endless horizon of emptiness, the passengers on the outer decks were treated to some thrilling moments of adrenalin-inducing sightings as the day progressed. Moreover, Emma's lecture on the History of Whaling was to become the focal point of discussion amongst the 'Swans' as it raised plenty of interesting questions about the nature and impact of whaling, both traditional and modern. Fulmar The day began with several passenger reports of small whales (which sounded like Minkes from their very accurate descriptions) but our primary focus was on the morn...
Whooshing whales and fiesty Fulmars
For many of the Swan Hellenic passengers, today was arguably the highlight of their 'Sagas of Ice and Fire' adventure. Having docked early this morning in Akureyri in northern Iceland, the excursions headed off in different directions: one to Lake Myvatn, one to Godafoss Falls and one to go whale watching from Husavik. Emma and I opted for the latter in the hope that it may provide a close encounter with cetaceans. The research we'd done indicated that sightings during the previous seven days had included Blue Whale, so we kept our fingers (and toes!) firmly crossed... Arriving at the little harbour, we saw an impressive number of tourists queuing for the flotilla of sturdy wooden boats, and immediately realised the potential of the whale-watching industry to triumph over the hunters. With ...
After a comfortable night, where darkness never quite managed to defeat the lingering embers of daylight at these northern latitudes, the 'Swans' aboard the MV Minerva awoke to find a dramatic and imposing arena of volcanic snow-dappled mountains leering above the harbour of Isafjordur in north western Iceland. A hastily eaten breakfast ensured that we were ready for our early boat ride towards the remote and rather insignificant Vigur Island, but the morning was to prove to be anything but insignificant... Vigur Island No sooner had our two boats departed the quayside than Emma and I spotted two Minke Whales from our separate vessels. Surfacing briefly a few times, they disappeared as usual beneath the calm fjord, and we were left wondering if they'd ever been there at all! The twen...
Clowns, an Eagle, Moby Dick and Clouds
We awoke for breakfast this morning to be greeted by several passengers who had already seen dolphins riding the bows. What a way for our 'Swans' to start their day! The Minerva docked at Grundarfjordur; a very quiet and tranquil seaside village, nestled amongst dramatic volcanic mountains and lush green pastures. Swimming gracefully inside the small harbour were family parties of Eider and a handful of Black Guillemots, but it was the presence of the striking Glaucous Gulls which grabbed our attention. With their pearl grey mantle and wings contrasting with their pristine white wing-tips, even the most hardened 'gullaphobe' couldn't fail to be impressed. And as Arctic Terns flew overhead, and Purple Sandpipers crept over the seawall, we hopped onto a fleet of waiting coaches for our vari...
Geothermal Activity and the Birding Bug
Yet again, upon arrival in Reykjavik, the speed and efficiency of disembarkation by the Swan Hellenic team was impressive to say the least, especially as so many passengers were booked on coach excursions today. Emma and I decided to join the Volcanic Tour, visiting the still unpronounceable Eyjafjallajokull volcano (apparently the phonetic pronunciation is meant to sound something like "ayer - fyat - luh - yer - kootl"...but that's easy for you to say!). Setting off on the eight hour drive we almost immediately began to see some interesting birdlife. In particular, we were very excited to spot the endemic Barrow's Goldeneye, even though it was in eclipse plumage, actively diving on a roadside lake, before we'd even left the city limits! And as our fascinating geology/volcanology tour conti...
Difficult to see, Impossible to say!
With a force 7 blowing from the west, steady precipitation and a significant swell, dawn brought very little to excite our passengers this morning. The continuous drizzle persisted throughout the day, only breaking occasionally to give us our first glimpses of the land of ice and fire; we had finally arrived in Icelandic waters. As we progressed along the south coast of this imposing volcanic island, the Captain tried his best to position the ship along the top edge of an underwater slope in the hope that we may encounter some cetaceans, but unfortunately it was in vain and he was as disappointed as we were. Still, the seabirds continued to entertain, with the most noteworthy avian sightings being a flock of approximately eighty Fulmars which insisted on following the ship throughout the...
So I mosey on over to the Shark Week homepage and the first thing I see is the word ATTACK. Sigh. I guess to draw people into watching shark week they have to plaster the word ATTACK everywhere to get people’s attention. The good news is, they are making an effort toward shark conservation on [...]
'Fintastic' Fin Whales follow Faeroe Frustration
It was another very early start for us today as we both wanted to see what wildlife we could find in the waters off the Faeroe Islands, especially following the recent horrifying news that the Pilot Whale drive hunts continue in 2010, with a total exceeding 650 (including pregnant females) killed during the last four weeks. Unsurprisingly we didn't see any cetaceans all morning. With a mixture of relief (that any animals nearby may have left the area) and frustration (that so many have been killed resulting in no sightings for our Swan passengers) we cruised past the islands in a sombre mood, but were still able to marvel at the spectacular cliffs and the phenomenal numbers of seabirds. An hour after the Faeroes had been left in our wake two pair-trawlers appeared on the horizon, and as w...
Time to Return: Reflections from the Gulf
We all, as consumers, must take some responsibility for this disaster in the Gulf. And we must ask ourselves, how can we live more sustainability so this will never happen again ...
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Emma and I were a little surprised when we popped up to the Bridge early this morning to find that we were actually heading in a southerly direction! Apparently we'd arrived a little early into Shetland waters and were gently cruising down the rocky east coast. After several more 180 degree turns we finally headed into Lerwick and arrived on the berth at 0730. Several seals of both species bemusedly watched as the passengers were disembarked from the Minerva onto various coaches for a variety of excursions. With the usual efficiency and delightful ease that we've come to expect from Swan Hellenic, we were soon whisked away on our coach tour towards the small Shetland isle of Mousa with Derek, the very knowledgeable local guide. Emma and I escorted the 'Swans' as the Minerva passengers are...
Porpoises & Seals of the Orkney Islands
An early start on the Bridge today at 0600 produced tantalisingly brief and frustrating views of distant dorsal fins, one of which was probably a female Orca, but unfortunately nothing was close enough to point out to the early rising passengers who were stretching their legs on the Promenade deck. It was 0945 when we finally spotted a group of breaching Bottlenose Dolphins and several passengers managed to see them but even this sighting only lasted a short time as the animals stopped jumping all too soon. However, as we approached the Orkney Islands, we began to pick out both Atlantic Grey and Common (Harbour) Seals peering up at the ship and were pleased to see more Harbour Porpoise quickly slipping past us in their attempt to remain unseen! Atlantic Grey Seal A report from two p...
After a delightful evening meeting the passengers and swapping stories of previous pelagic voyages, we woke early today, full of anticipation of what might be seen. With steadily calming seas and a plethora of birds we weren't to be disappointed. As the MV Minerva made her way over Dogger Bank (a significant underwater topographical feature offshore from the English East coast) we found ourselves surrounded by flocks of seabirds, attracted to the area by the increased availability of food due to the upwelling created as the tidal currents surge over the raised seabed. Rafts of Manx Shearwaters, large flocks of Kittiwakes and good numbers of Razorbills and Guillemots revealed, upon closer scrutiny, a small number of recently-fledged juveniles, indicating a successful breeding sea...
From the moment we arrived at the terminal in Dover, Swan Hellenic treated us, as usual, to their exceptional levels of courtesy and support, ensuring that our exciting partnership continues to thrive and develop. The boarding and embarkation process onto the fabulous MV Minerva was effortless and efficient allowing us to settle into our cabins quickly. As soon as the engines started we made our way to the outer decks and our 'Sagas of Ice and Fire' adventure began. Leaving the evocative white cliffs of Dover in our wake we turned north and tracked up the East coast of Kent, passing the Thames estuary and East Anglian offshore wind farms, but it was the wildlife that immediately demanded our attention as we were treated to the first of our sightings. A stunning adult summer Mediterranean ...
A blueprint for blue planet protection
CNN, July 29, 2010 By Catriona Davies The oceans have become so depleted by over-fishing, pollution and climate change that they can only be saved by a large global network of reserves, according to a growing consensus among marine scientists. Campaigners say that sea life -- particularly at the top of the food chain -- is suffering to such an extent that there will eventually be no fish left if action drastic action is not taken to protect the oceans. More than 70 percent of the world is covered by oceans. There are currently more than 4,000 marine protected areas covering just over 1 percent of the oceans, but the vast majority of reserves have only limited protection. According to Professor Callum Roberts, of the University of York, one of the leading campaigners and author of The U...
An Educational and Research Trip to Iceland
Marinelife is very pleased to announce a continuation of our exciting collaboration with Swan Hellenic which will see us on board the Minerva on her scheduled round trip from Dover, UK to Iceland via the Orkney Islands, Shetland Islands, clockwise round Iceland and Faroe Islands, which leaves on Wednesday 28th July 2010. Emma Webb and Mike Bailey from Marinelife will be carrying out an extensive passenger education programme as well as monitoring marine wildlife seen during the entire trip. MV Minerva We hope to be able to keep you updated with our progress and sightings on a daily basis from the ship. Please do keep visiting our blog to read the latest updates and to see the latest photographs. We do hope you enjoy reading about this exciting research trip.
By Andrew Pollock New York Times, July 26, 2010 In a laboratory where almost all the test tubes look green, the tools of modern biotechnology are being applied to lowly pond scum. Foreign genes are being spliced into algae and native genes are being tweaked. Different strains of algae are pitted against one another in survival-of-the-fittest contests in an effort to accelerate the evolution of fast-growing, hardy strains. The goal is nothing less than to create superalgae, highly efficient at converting sunlight and carbon dioxide into lipids and oils that can be sent to a refinery and made into diesel or jet fuel. "We've probably engineered over 4,000 strains," said Mike Mendez, a co-founder and vice president for technology at Sapphire Energy, the owner of the laboratory. "My ...
Ever since I was a little girl, I was always fascinated by "The Big Blue". I dreamt of being a marine biologist...training Shamu, swimming with dolphins, and diving with great white sharks. That's exactly what a marine biologist does on a daily basis, right!? Well, rather than following through with my underwater fantasies, my life took a much different path. I went to college in middle-of-nowhere Indiana, worked for a large corporate retailer, and ended up on a TV show called The Bachelor (some of that involved working with sharks, but a much different species than the ones from my childhood dreams). Even though my most recent years have been inundated with Excel spreadsheets and television cameras, my passion for the ocean has never gone astray. Recently, someone asked me, "What ...
'Coral Triangle' 10 Times as Biodiverse as Great Barrier Reef
The Hot Spring, July 17, 2010 By Joseph Robertson The great Coral Triangle, a region of coral-dense seas demarcated by Malaysia, Indonesia, Timor L'Este, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and the Philippines, is said to be 10 times as biodiverse as Australia's Great Barrier Reef. 76% of all known species of coral are found in the Coral Triangle, and warming ocean temperatures are causing advanced coral bleaching and endangering the entire regional ecosystem. Australia is a key supporter of conservation efforts in the Coral Triangle, through the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI), but at least one scientist says the Australian management system for retaining diversity in the Triangle will not work. Professor Terry Hughes, director of the Australian Research Council's Centre of Excellence...
From: CTV HALIFAX -- Researchers are getting a first-ever glimpse of the watery depths off Newfoundland and Labrador, seeing species that are likely new to science and collecting data that could unlock centuries-old mysteries of the sea. The team from three Canadian universities and a Spanish institute is looking at life three kilometres below the surface and have found sponges and other species clinging to steep cliffs never seen before. Ellen Kenchington of the Bedford Institute of Oceanography in Halifax said biologists are using a submersible robot to beam up images of tulip-shaped sponges, delicate pink stars and feathery organisms. "It's been really spectacular," she said from her office at the institute, as pictures from the robot streamed on her computer. "It's really...
The Japanese fishing industry's relentless assault on sharks
75 tons of blue shark laid out on the dock in the Japanese fishing port of Kesen-numa City, July 6th, 2010. The day before, 44 tons of blue shark, ten tons of salmon shark and three tons of short fin mako were seen here… this happens 6 days a week, all year long… Sharks take [...]
Deep-ocean cameras capture 'living fossils'
MSNBC, July 15, 2010 Remote-controlled cameras sent down to depths of more than 4,500 feet in the Coral Sea have brought back unprecedented views of six-gilled sharks, giant oil fish, swarms of crustaceans and nautiluses that have been compared to "living fossils." The images were captured at Osprey Reef, off the coast of northeast Australia, 220 miles (350 kilometers) from Cairns. The Deep Australia research team, led by Justin Marshall of the Queensland Brain Institute, said the findings will contribute to deep-sea conservation as well as neurobiology. "Osprey Reef is one of the many reefs in the Coral Sea Conservation Zone, which has been identified as an area of high conservation importance by the [Australian] federal government," Marshall said in a news release. "Therefore, i...
Scientists find 'alien' coral species off Fourchon's coast
The Daily Comet, July 14, 2010 By Robert Zullo Two Cocodrie-based scientists have found a hardy and voracious species of invasive coral clinging to an oil-and-gas platform off the coast of Port Fourchon, though it remains unclear whether the "alien" coral poses a threat to native varieties in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean. Paul Sammarco and Scott Porter, marine scientists at the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium research center in Cocodrie, identified the species of coral, called Tubastraea micranthus, after Porter found it on a platform about 20 miles southeast of Port Fourchon, near the mouth of the Mississippi River. Working together and separately, the two scientists have spent nearly 10 years surveying 83 platforms in the Gulf to document the types of coral growing...
Green firms uniting to flex political muscle
The Boston Globe, July 11, 2010 By Mark Arsenault Stonyfield Farm is slapping its familiar cow logo on more than just containers of yogurt these days. The New Hampshire-based organic food maker is one of more than 50 local companies to lend its corporate name to a political lobbying campaign aimed at persuading Congress to support climate and energy legislation on Capitol Hill. The green-friendly businesses -- including many young tech companies not yet household names -- are the regional face of a multimillion dollar lobbying effort aimed at key senators across the country. Their effort is backed by some of the world's most recognizable consumer brands and Fortune 500 companies, and guided by experienced political hands with deep connections to the Obama and Clinton administrations. The ...
Check out the TEDx Oil Spill conference
If you haven’t already, check out the TEDx Oil Spill conference. It was held/streamed live on June 28 from Washington DC and featured an impressive number of speakers including Sylvia Earle, Carl Safina, Philippe Cousteau, David Gallo (Woods Hole), Andrew Sharpless (Oceana) and many others on the oil spill, the future of energy, and what [...]
Gulf awash in 27,000 abandoned wells
Associated Press, July 7, 2010 By Jeff Donn & Mitch Weiss More than 27,000 abandoned oil and gas wells lurk in the hard rock beneath the Gulf of Mexico, an environmental minefield that has been ignored for decades. No one -- not industry, not government -- is checking to see if they are leaking, an Associated Press investigation shows. The oldest of these wells were abandoned in the late 1940s, raising the prospect that many deteriorating sealing jobs are already failing. The AP investigation uncovered particular concern with 3,500 of the neglected wells -- those characterized in federal government records as "temporarily abandoned." Regulations for temporarily abandoned wells require oil companies to present plans to reuse or permanently plug such wells within a year, but the AP found th...
As consumers, we depend on the use of oil. Now is the time to take a look at alternatives. For whatever you can afford, there are ways to work toward using renewable energies ...
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Scientists Unveil "Honolulu Declaration" To Address Ocean Acidification
Life Style, July 5, 2010 By Misty Herrin The increase in global carbon dioxide emissions is not just damaging the Earth's climate, but also threatening the very fabric of our oceans. Today, The Nature Conservancy, along with the support of a dozen of the world's top marine scientists, presented key findings and recommendations to tackle ocean acidification in the "Honolulu Declaration on Ocean Acidification and Reef Management," which was first introduced to the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force meeting in Kona, Hawai'i in late August, and presented today to delegates attending the World Conservation Congress in Barcelona, Spain. The Nature Conservancy Logo"Coral reefs are at the heart of our tropics, and millions of people around the world depend on these systems for their livelihoods. Withou...
It is now time to interpret the Declaration of Independence as including the inalienable right to a healthy environment as part of the pursuit of Happiness ...
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Near-pristine coral reef ecosystem discovered
(Photo Credit PLoS One, Barrot et al 2010) Practical Fishkeeping, June 29, 2010 By Ben Clarke An expedition to Millennium Atoll, a remote coral atoll in the Central Pacific, has uncovered an almost completely undisturbed underwater ecosystem that could serve as an important reference for restoration projects throughout the Pacific Ocean. The survey findings, published recently in the journal PLoS One, describe an abundance of giant clams (Tridacna maxima) within the atoll lagoon, as well as large populations of blacktip reef sharks and Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus). The highly enclosed central lagoon measures 6 km by 0.5 km and is surrounded by a shallow perimeter reef, helping to protect the lagoon inhabitants from predation. It is likely that the lagoon and ...
NOAA-Supported Scientists Predict "Larger Than Average" Gulf Dead Zone
June 28, 2010 NOAA The northern Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone, an underwater area with little or no oxygen known commonly as the "dead zone," could be larger than the recent average, according to a forecast by a team of NOAA-supported scientists from the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium, Louisiana State University, and the University of Michigan. Scientists are predicting the area could measure between 6,500 and 7,800 square miles, or an area roughly the size of the state of New Jersey. The average of the past five years is approximately 6,000 square miles. It is the goal of a federal state task force to reduce it to 1,900 square miles. The largest dead zone on record, 8,484 square miles, occurred in 2002. This forecast is based on Mississippi River nutr...
On our initial expedition there, we were the first to film under water and our footage became evidence that masses of oil were moving beneath the surface and couldn't be ignored ...
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There's no such thing as too many volunteers...unless the cause is toxic.
I came across this image on Facebook and it really hit close to home. It was posted by one of my BFF’s from high school (hi Michelle!). A BFF whom I’d spent a week on this very coast during Spring Break ’84 in Panama City! I wish I could share fond memories from that trip, [...]
Deepwater reefs to get federal protection
(credit Star News) Star News, June 24, 2010 By Gareth McGrath 'Rain forests of the sea' providing scientists with new discoveries You might need a boat, some seasickness pills and a mini sub to get to them. But the region is about to get a several new sanctuaries to protect some of the most fragile and least understood habitats in the deep ocean. "These are the rain forests of the sea in structural and biodiversity terms." said Doug Rader, chief ocean scientist for Environmental Defense Fund, of the deepwater coral marine ecosystems. "They truly are world-class habitats." The federal government has signed off on a plan, designed and already approved by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, to designate nearly 23,000 square miles of deepwater coral habitat as C...
June 25th marks thirteen years since my father passed away. This month also marks his 100th birthday, so it has been a time of reflection for all of us who knew and adored him. It has also been a time of much activity ...
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Basking Sharks 'breaching'
Basking sharks breach in the water - leaping from the sea into the air. Very little is known about why they do this
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Basking shark from a kayak
Photographer Craig Whalley spots a basking shark and shoots underwater as the basker swims by - amazing!
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The whales are saved! From commercial whaling at least, for now...
From the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society WDCS Press Statement: Moratorium remains intact: Pro-whaling advocates fail to get commercial whaling condoned Agadir 23rd June 2010 – After two days of closed-door discussions delegates to the International Whaling Commission (IWC) were unable to reach consensus on a proposal (the ‘deal’) that would see the legitimization of [...]
Cold, Dark and Teeming With Life
By WILLIAM J. BROAD, The New York Times The deep seabed was once considered a biological desert. Life, the logic went, was synonymous with light and photosynthesis. The sun powered the planet's food chains, and only a few scavengers could ply the preternaturally dark abyss. Then, in 1977, oceanographers working in the deep Pacific stumbled on bizarre ecosystems lush with clams, mussels and big tube worms -- a cornucopia of abyssal life built on microbes that thrived in hot, mineral-rich waters welling up from volcanic cracks, feeding on the chemicals that leached into the seawater and serving as the basis for whole chains of life that got along just fine without sunlight. In 1984, scientists found that the heat was not necessary. In exploring the depths of the Gul...
By Kim Murphy, Los Angeles Times Reporting from the Gulf of Mexico -- Here on the open ocean, 12 miles from ground zero of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the gulf is hovering between life and death. The large strands of sargassum seaweed atop the ocean are normally noisy with birds and thick with crustaceans, small fish and sea turtles. But now this is a silent panorama, heavy with the smell of oil. There are no birds. The seaweed is soaked in rust-colored crude and chemical dispersant. It is devoid of life except for the occasional juvenile sea turtle, speckled with oil and clinging to the only habitat it knows. Thick ribbons of oil spread out through the sea like the strips in egg flower soup, gorgeous and deadly. Read more...
Stranded harbor-seal pup cute, but don't touch
By Erik Lacitis Seattle Times staff reporter The young couple, on an oceanside vacation at Westport, just couldn't leave the harbor-seal pup to fend for himself. He was so alone on that beach by the lighthouse. So helpless-looking, with no mom in sight. The big, cold ocean ready to engulf him. How would this bundle with the soulful eyes ever survive? So, of course, they took the pup to their motel room. Read more...
(Credit Linda Homewood) Before its News, June 20, 2010 By Alton Parrish In a race against time, University of Florida marine researchers are hurrying to collect underwater marine algae samples in the Florida Keys while an ever-growing Gulf oil spill steadily migrates toward Florida, already reaching the Emerald Coast in the Panhandle. Hendrik Luesch, an associate professor of medicinal chemistry at UF College of Pharmacy took his research team to Long Key last week in hopes of advancing early drug discoveries that may yield cancer-fighting properties hidden in marine algae. It's an expedition he has made annually for four years, but this year it seems there might be a limit on how long the ecosystem will yield its specimens. According to federal and independent scien...
Turtles and Dolphins in Danger
Although the exact cause of death is yet to be determined more and more of these beautiful creatures are dying. In my opinion it doesn't take much to work out why but I will leave you with this video.
Extreme Makeover - Pelican style. IBRRC doing a great job.
Before: After: The International Bird Rescue and Research Center (IBRRC) appears to be doing a great job cleaning up the pelicans coated by the BP (aka Big Polluters) oil spill. Sounds like they have plenty of volunteers, so please consider making a donation to support their good work. The organization is directed by Jay Holcomb, [...]
Troy Wetzel, charter boat captain of Venice, LA, takes marine
conservationist Rick Steiner out in his boat to see some of the first
impacts of the Deepwater disaster - the crude oil which is beginning to
emulsify on the ocean's surface. While Steiner talks about the
ecological fall-out the of the disaster and the "mythology" of oil
spill clean-up, Wetzel talks about the economic impacts on his beloved
landscape.
The BP Deepwater Disaster, one month later: Greenpeace oil
specialist and marine biologist Paul Horsman visits the Mississippi
Delta to see first hand the oil which is beginning to wash onto the
shores of delicate coastal ecosystem. Greenpeace is calling for an end
to oil exploration and an end to deep water oil drilling, so that the
industry is sent a clear message: that the age of oil is over and we
are moving into an age of clean, renewable energy.
From Oceana: Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Proves Deadly for Sea Turtles in Gulf of Mexico
Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Proves Deadly for Sea Turtles in Gulf of Mexico Oceana Releases New Report about Impacts of Oil on Sea Turtles and Threats to Populations June 10, 2010 Washington, D.C. Contact: Dustin Cranor ( dcranor@oceana.org ) Oceana, the world's largest international ocean conservation organization, released a new report today that finds the [...]
The moon snails are living, feeding, and breeding like crazy here on the coast of Maine. I just was out doing some beach collecting today when I found this fist sized snail half buried in a sandy stretch of clam flats. Moon Snails are molluscs that are predatory as opposed to being filter feeders, grazers, or scavengers. Their scientific name is Lunatia heros. At this time of year you will find the snails and not too far away in the mud will often lie their large 'sand - collar' egg cases. Just this one beach today had in my estimation as least 3 of these egg cases per square meter of exposed beach! One day we decided to see how many sand collars we could find and very easily filled two 5 gallon pails of them in an hour. It is easy to see what all these moon snai...
With heavy hearts, the OFS Gulf oil spill response team prepares to leave the area to return to Santa Barbara, California ...
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Gulf Oil Spill: More than a Sea Change
In the midst of desperate attempts to stem the flow of oil and the agony of waiting to understand its effects, we are left with simple questions like what exactly is happening to the waters of the Gulf? And how quickly can we move from dependence on oil to a sustainable, renewable energy policy ...
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Ocean Acidification... in a nutshell
Our emissions of carbon dioxide threaten to alter the very
chemistry of sea water and change life in our oceans within the span of
a single human lifetime. An animation by Leo Murray for Greenpeace.
Jean-Michel Cousteau dispatches team to Gulf oil spill
Today I am dispatching team members Matt Ferraro, Brian Hall, and Nathan Dembeck to join Gary Holland and myself at St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, to find and explain the realities of this unprecedented oil spill ...
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OFS in the Press: SOBeFit Magazine: June 2010
Ocean Drive: Connecting Humans to their Environment, Céline Cousteau is Nature's Ambassador
Céline Cousteau featured in SOBeFit Magazine.
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MARINElife is delighted to announce that we still have a few places remaining for our June 2010 Cetacean & Seabird Identification Workshops on the P&O cruiseferry 'Pride of Bilbao' travelling across the fantastic Bay of Biscay. Biscay Dolphin Research Programme (BDRP) has been conducting whale, dolphin and seabird surveys of the English Channel and Bay of Biscay each month, year-round continuously since 1995. BDRP is an award-winning project within the established charity MARINElife that aims to further the conservation of whales, dolphins, seabirds and other marine life through scientific study and educational activities. Because of the work we have undertaken, the English Channel and the Bay of Biscay is now recognised as one of the most important areas in the world for ...
Gulf Coast Oil Spill A tradgedy that should never have happened.
I am sure we have seen the news about the disastrous oils spills in the gulf coast USA. Funny how they were hoping that we would all keep calm as they are doing everything they can to get this under control. Buy now all of a sudden the 5,ooo barrels per day is a rather unlikely figure and it already 5 times more than that. Probably that's a conservative guess too! This is definitely going to be the worlds largest oil spill and we cannot even begin to comprehend the loss of marine life and the ongoing effects for many many years to come. This is a sad time for our world. I found this great post about the wonderful and diverse life in the gulf coast and how this spill will effect the ecosystem. "An ibis flies through the Tiger Ridge marsh near the Caernarvon...
seagull_final.wmv
This herring gull will starve to death as the plastic blocks its digestive system The average UK household uses 300 plastic bags a year Even responsibly disposed of they never bio-degrade Support MCS now the UK charity fighting marine litter www.mcsuk.org
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Danger to Marine Life, Humans and Environment - PBDEs Are Everywhere
Polybrominated Diphenylethers (also known as PBDEs) have been used for decades as fire retardants. While they may have served a useful purpose the chemicals are also hazardous to humans and to the environment - especially the ocean. PBDEs do not break down easily and are found EVERYWHERE - in 85 per cent of commercial plastics, foam and textiles in the US. They are in common household items such as computers, carpets, children's clothing, furniture, appliances, and insulation. It is an insidious problem. There are various classes and types of PBDEs and laws governing their use vary. The European Union banned two classes of PBDEs in 2004. In North America and Europe, there has been a gradual phasing out of PBDEs in different products. However, there are still many...
How Does Global Warming Affect Arctic Whales?
Global warming has an undeniable effect on Arctic whales. While the conservation status varies for Arctic whales, according to their specie, global warming could eventually threaten their survival with extinction. Let's discover how it affects Arctic whales. Global warming affects negatively the environment and everything in it. There are more than just humans that are affected by it. In fact, such a negative process has been hasted by the human race through pollution. While the Earth is trying its best to cool out its environment by using its natural resources such as volcanic eruptions, it cannot seem to be able to be as effective as needed. Several species are affected negatively by global warming, especially at the Poles. In fact, as these regions are the mo...
It was a beautiful April weekend in Eastern Maine. My kids and I spent time sowbugging. Sow bugs are quite common around homes and gardens, but most people do not know that they scavenge the upper intertidal as well. We find them under loose rocks - and I am sure that they are feeding on the decaying seaweed there. Sowbugging is a fun activity - my kids help. What kid doesn't like turning over stones to find critters? We were able to find thousands in a just a couple of hours. Here is what a upper intertidal beach borne sow bug looks like: We did decide by direct observation that there were different species or colorations mixed in with our collection. We observed light gray, dark gray, spotted, and even a burnt orange color on some. Large flat rocks in grassy areas just be...
Understanding the Aquatic Ecosystem
A type of aquatic ecosystem is one in which the water is mostly salt water instead of fresh water.
There are other types including rivers, fresh water lakes, and estuaries. An aquatic
ecosystem is made up of all the live plants and animals and all the
land in the area. The topography can consist of coral reefs, tidal
zones, estuaries, river mouths, and salt water reefs. Any plant or
animal life in salt water will have adapted to it's environment. The
tropical ecosystem and the river and estuaries actually have a lot in
common. In all of them, plants and animals have a symbiotic
relationship that allows them to survive and keeps the system healthy.
Experts who have studied have found that the food chain is determined by the
predators. The top o...
The Effect Plastic Bags Have on the Death of Wildlife
Doing something as simple as using reusable shopping bags can save the earth's wildlife. A devastating number of
turtles, birds, whales and other animals are killed yearly due to
plastic bags being mistaken for food like jellyfish. Once a plastic bag
is ingested by an animal, it cannot be digested so it sits in the
animal's gut, preventing other food digestion and resulting in an
extremely painful and slow death.
A plastic bag can literally take 1000 years before it breaks down so after one animal dies from
eating the plastic and its body decays, the plastic is left behind and
can be ingested by another animal.
Turtle Food
Approximately 40 percent of autopsies done on turtles confirm the death being due to
plastic bags stuck in their intestinal...
Three Key Causes of Ocean Pollution
Ocean Pollution is a major problem that directly affects wildlife, ocean habitats and human health. Oil spills, toxic
wastes and illegal dumping are some of the many sources. Environmental
awareness and education programs play a vital role by sharing knowledge
that helps changes behaviors that improve the health of the oceans.
Unfortunately, birds and marine mammals do not avoid oil spills. Oil sticks to the
fur, feathers and feet causing serious problems and some fish are
attracted to oil because it looks like food. Marine mammals, such as
seals and dolphins, swim and feed near oil spills because, like sea
birds, they are attracted to the schools of fish who gather below.
Oil poisons the food chain when predators eat large amounts of organisms
t...
UK first for Lundy Island
A video tour around the spectacular seas off Lundy Island, the UK's first marine conservation zone, with MCS's Your Seas Your Voice.
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Whale & Dolphin Watching Theme Cruises We are delighted to announce that in association with P&O Ferries, BDRP will be running four special Whale and Dolphin theme cruises this year, sailing over four days from Portsmouth to Bilbao and back, through one of the best localities in the world for whale watching. Prices are from £99, inclusive of cabin (based on 2 people sharing an inside ensuite 2 berth cabin) and the trips are running on the following dates: * 9-12 July 2010 * 12-15 July 2010 * 16-19 September 2010 * 19-22 September 2010 For further information and all booking details, please click here: http://www.marine-life.org.uk/blueoceansafaris/biscay.php#theme
Plenty of dolphins.... And a most unusual Humpback whale encounter!
Having spent another very enjoyable day in port, this time the city of Salvador de Bahia, we have set sail again for a two day journey to the wonderful city of Rio de Janeiro. Salvador beach And I have to say that these last two days have given us some of the most spectacular and unusual sightings of the trip so far! Friday 13th November saw us sailing through the deep water of the continental slope during the early part of the day, before heading up into the much shallower waters of the continental shelf. The day started exceptionally well, with a sighting of 100 Clymene Dolphin coming in to bowride. The black marking on the tip of the rostrum was clearly observed which is a key identification characteristic of this often elusive species. Bow-riding dolphins are always enjoyed b...
Brazil.... Recife and whales.....
Well, we've made it to Brazil.... Recife to be exact, where we have had a very enjoyable full day in port allowing the passengers plenty of time to explore the city known as the Venice of Brazil. Recife On disembarking the ship, we were greeted by a fantastic and colourful display by some local dancers who later came on the ship in the evening to perform a show for us, all which everyone enjoyed thoroughly. Dancers greeting the ship Both Clive and myself decided to spend the morning on a relaxing river cruise organised by Swan Hellenic as one of the excursions and after spending some time at an old maximum security prison which had been re-opened as a cultural centre, we embarked on a catamaran and had a very informative 1 ½ hour cruise along the river of Recife. We were ag...
Rocks in the middle of the Atlantic!
The last two days have seen us continuing our journey across the Atlantic towards Brazil where we aim to make landfall at Recife on Tuesday 10th November. Unlike last year when we crossed the Atlantic, we are recording few birds. However, we are making the journey two weeks earlier and it is possible that this is having an impact on sightings as the migration of many of these birds occurs over vast distances and is impacted by weather conditions, therefore doesn't run exactly to the same schedule every year. Last year, we observed many hundreds of Great Shearwater and Cory's Shearwater on their southward migration whereas this year, we are only recording sporadic sightings of Cory's Shearwater and are yet to record Great Shearwater at all. 7th November did see us recording our first Booby...
Thursday morning saw us arriving on the small island of Sao Vicente in Cape Verde where we had the morning ashore exploring the island. Unusually, there has been a lot of rain this year in Cape Verde and the islands are looking very lush. Sightings of the endemic sparrow, the Iago or Cape Verde Sparrow, were had by most passengers and several of us were treated to the spectacular sight of an Osprey actively fishing over Catfish Bay during the excursion. Catfish Bay, Sao Vicente We departed Sao Vicente in the early afternoon and headed south to start our long voyage across the Atlantic towards Recife in Brazil. It is going to take us 4.5 days to make this journey and we will be taking in St Peter & St Paul archipelago and Fernando de Noronha archipelago en r...
Days 3 and 4 of our voyage have seen us leaving the Canary Islands well behind us and continuing our southerly journey towards the Cape Verde islands, Sao Vicente in particular where we will dock in the port of Mindelo on Thursday morning. Thankfully the wind has eased back over these last two days to a force 4 and this has aided us for cetacean sightings. We had to be patient for our first cetacean sighting this trip which finally came at 16.50 on Tuesday. A large splash caught my eye about 500 metres ahead of the ship and I managed to get the binoculars up just in time to see a small Beaked whale breaching high out of the water. Unfortunately we were unable to be any more specific on the species as the animal did not show again and the small beaked whale species known to inh...
Well, what a difference 3 hours makes! We left Gatwick on an extremely wet and windy Sunday morning and 3 hours later had our first glimpse of the beautiful island of Madeira where we would be joining our home for the next 3 weeks, MV Minerva. A very smooth journey escorted through arrivals by Swan Hellenic saw us being met by coaches to ferry us to the Port of Funchal where we embarked onto the ship. As always a very smooth and stress-free process so many thanks to the Swan Hellenic team! The first leg of our journey takes us down the eastern side of the Atlantic to Sao Vicente, one of the western-most islands in the Cape Verde chain. Taking 3 sea days to arrive, this will give us plenty of time to hopefully sight some of the wildlife which make this area of the Atla...
Follow Marinelife on an exciting transatlantic survey trip in November
Marinelife/Biscay Dolphin Research Programme is very pleased to announce a continuation of our exciting collaboration with Swan Hellenic which will see us on board the Minerva on her scheduled trip from Funchal, Madeira to Buenos Aires, Argentina which leaves on Sunday 1st November 2009. Clive Martin and Emma Webb from Marinelife will again be carrying out monitoring of marine wildlife seen during the trip and completeing an extensive passenger education programme. MV Minerva We hope to be able to keep you updated with our progress and sightings on a daily basis from the ship. Please do keep visiting our blog to read the latest updates and to see the latest photographs. We do hope you enjoy reading about this exciting research trip.
September has begun! Where did the summer go? I was on the beach this morning watching a large flock of sandpipers feeding at the tideline. There must have been perhaps 200 birds there. Not sure what species, but I think at least Piping Plovers. Seeing those birds feeding like crazy in preparation for their migration to South America really made it obvious - summer is over now. This morning I kind of overslept and missed the low tide. I had come down to collect some Porphra - which is a very thin papery type seaweed like Sea Lettuce. This type of seaweed seems to have several forms - maybe subspecies. Some grows at the mid-tide line and is attached to small rocks in a sandy/ gravelly area. Another type is found only in areas of high current, this one is much darker and tougher ...
Your Seas Your Voice!
Kate Humble on why Marine Protected Areas are important in providing a long term solution to managing our seas. The Your Seas Your Voice campaign is run by the Marine Conservation Society and gives you a chance to nominate an area of sea you think is important to protect.
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Wow - pouring rain here in Maine today! Nice to be inside, but I need to go dig some sandworms - guess I will be getting wet. Haven't blogged in a long time - had a 2 week trip to Peru compliments of my son winning a National Geographic Kids contest. What a trip it was! 15 kids from across the nation were chosen based on their essays and a photo they submitted. Dewey took his of some Brachiopod fossils in the shale on the beach in front of our house. They look like the picture below. We can talk more about these sometime. The kids and I, cousins, friends, etc. love finding fossils on the beaches in our area. A neighbor just gave Dewey a fossilized coral they found locally. We are still waiting to learn where they found those! I wanted to share my collecting notes from ...
MCS SIXTY SECONDS
Kate Humble on why Marine Protected Areas are important in providing a long term solution to managing our seas. The Your Seas Your Voice campaign is run by the Marine Conservation Society and gives you a chance to nominate an area of sea you think is important to protect.
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Hermits, hermits, hermits! Yesterday a local fisherman Mike brought us in a pile of goodies fresh off his sea urchin drag boat. The weather had finally warmed up and the seas subsided enough for him to go out safely and try and make his living. Besides the sea stars he brought in, I had asked him to keep an eye out for some hermit crabs and other small invertebrates. The hermits were HUGE - mostly Flat - Clawed variety, but there were some Hairy Hermits as well. Some of them were a bit stressed due to the anoxic conditions in the small pail and they had exited their shells. This was a bit concering, at first - I wondered how they would do outside their shells. I placed them into my tank 'naked' for the evening and when I returned in the morning, th...
Marine Conservation Society - Cool Seas Roadshow
Marine Conservation Society - Cool Seas Roadshow
The Cool Seas Roadshow is the MCSs own spectacular educational initiative, which raises awareness about the importance of our fantastic marine wildlife throughout the UK. Presenter Andy Starbuck thrills pupils and teachers alike when he tours primary schools with his lifesize, inflatable whales, dolphins, sharks, turtles, seals and porpoises explaining how we can all act to protect them.
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Starfish or sea stars are probably the most celebrated of all tidepool life. It does not matter what shore, dock, rocky ledge or beach you find yourself upon, you can usually find sea stars. They are easy to find, easy to keep and no matter how many you find you always have to pick up another to give it a good close look. They are fascinating! The Northern Sea Star is the name of our most common star here in Maine. They come in all sizes and colors. A good challenge for classes at the beach is to see who can find the smallest star of all. It is surprising - once you look in the right places very small stars can be found. The smallest ones we have located are usually in the pouches of another species - the brood star. This particular species actually spawns and '...
Blog birth - Tidepool Tim - Winter clamming
Hello there - This is my first attempt at a blog. I've heard about them and read a few to date. Feels a little weird writing, but for a guy who has kept umpteen journals over the years and written a column for a teeny little paper - I'm sure I will get up to speed fast. January cold! Tucker and I headed to Kelly Point yesterday at dusk to see if we could scare up a feed of clams. Temps were in the single digits, but the snow had stopped and we thought that the flats would still be diggable. Had to snowplow our way down the road as the drifts were massive in some places. We did manage to blast our way through and right to the high tide mark. The flats were white with snow towards the upper intertidal but we could see that further down the mud still held the oceans r...
Marine Reverses Now - Demonstration
Marine Reverses Now - Demonstration
Peaceful demonstration in London to the Houses of Parliment for the establishment of marine protected areas.
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Plastic Bags and the marine environment
Plastic Bags and the marine environment
Plastic bags and litter are a serious threat to our seas and oceans and the wildlife within it. This video highlights the problems faced. Please support the Marine Conservation Society
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HRH Prince Charles' speech
HRH Prince Charles speech at the Marine Conservation Society's 25th anniversary reception.
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Sea&Me
Share you photographs and memories of the sea with the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) at www.mcsuk.org
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Turtles in Trouble
Planning a holiday? Want to know how you can be more turtle-friendly abroad. Watch Turtles in Trouble and go to www.mcsuk.org to see how you can help.
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Silent Seas
Too many fish are being taken from our seas, too much litter is being dumped in our seas and we are doing little to protect our seas. To find out more about how you can help go to www.mcsuk.org
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