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Wetstuff News 5 March 2008
IN THIS EDITION:
MARINE AND COASTAL LEGISLATION, POLICY AND PLANNING
1. Japan should effectively utilize marine resources (Japan)
2. Court holds Navy to rules safeguarding marine mammals (USA)
3. Ocean group advocates passage of Farr bill (USA)
NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
4. Study: Contaminant Levels High in Parks (USA)
MARINE PROTECTED AREAS
5. Campaigners oppose fish farm plan (Scotland)
6. Marine Parks information on the road (Australia)
FISHERIES
7. Unfavorable Ocean Conditions Likely Cause Of Low 2007 Salmon Returns Along West Coast (USA)
8. Nauru wants to be fishing trawler service centre (Nauru)
AQUACULTURE
9. Tuna firm breeds 'holy grail' (Australia)
10. Limit aquaculture to 5% of R.I. waters, experts say (USA)
11. Canada: Industry welcomes $70million funding announcement (Canada)
CLIMATE CHANGE
12. Global warming threatens island life (Australia)
13. Aust, NZ to join forces on climate change (Australia)
COASTAL DEVELOPMENT
14. Minister accuses Opposition of ignoring Kimberley concerns (Australia)
INVASIVE MARINE AND COASTAL SPECIES
15. Invader hitches ride on oil rig (New Zealand)
MARINE SPECIES
16. Six-legged octopus discovered (UK)
17. Hungry Sharks Take Strange Walks To Find Food (International)
18. NZ to pressure Whaling Commission (New Zealand)
19. IWC research could stop Japan (Australia)
20. Green Sawfish listed as Vulnerable in Seaweek (Australia)
21. Unveiling The Underwater Ways Of The White Shark (Pacific)
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS
22. Scotland’s seas and wildlife at risk from new fuel exploration (Scotland)
23. Alaska Town Sues 24 Energy Companies On Climate Change (Alaska)
POLLUTION
24. Exxon Mobil Appeals $2.5 Bln Valdez Oil Spill Award (USA)
25. Senseless, agonising death of a gentle giant (Australia)
RECREATION & TOURISM
26. Great white 'ate anti-shark device' (Australia)
27. Beach Fingerprinting (Australia)
28. Off The Hook: Stronger Soft-plastic Fishing Lures Less Damaging To Environment (USA)
RESEARCH
29. Tiny Polyps Need Two Kinds Of Carbon To Survive Coral Bleaching (USA)
30. Dissolved Organic Matter In Water Column May Influence Coral Health (USA)
31. Yabbies don't forget a face (Australia)
32. Seafloor Cores Show Tight Bond Between Dust And Past Climates (International)
33. Researchers discover new kelp species in Aleutians (Alaska)
34. The Southern Surveyor –The Power Of One (Australia)
35. Rats On Islands Disrupt Ecosystems From Land To Sea, Researchers Find (USA)
36. From Sharks To Microbes, Key Data At Central Pacific's Line Islands Archipelago Captured (USA)
37. Fossil Sea Monster Big Enough To "Bite A Car" (Norway)
38. Ocean Update - Vol. 13 No. 2 (International)
39. Marine Science Review – 249 Marine mammals (International)
40. Sea-wheat grass research: survey for MCCN participants (Australia)
PUBLICATIONS & WEBSITES
41. A new platform to start changing the world (International)
42. Introductory Guide to Marine Protected Areas on the High Seas (International)
OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
43. Draft Terms of Reference for strategic assessment of a plan for a common-user liquefied natural gas hub precinct in the Kimberley region (Australia)
44. Moreton Bay Marine Park draft zoning (Australia)
45. Have your say on the QLD State Coastal Management Plan review (Australia)
AWARDS
46. 2008 Sydney Harbour Week Award winners announced (Australia)
47. 2008 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes (Australia)
48. World Environment Day Awards 2008 (Australia)
WORKSHOPS, CONFERENCES AND EVENTS
49. Seaweek: "Extinction-a Saw point" (Australia)
50. Sea Grant Law and Policy Journal Inaugural Symposium (USA)
51. Wetlands.edu Course (Australia)
52. Solutions to Coastal Disasters Conference (Hawaii)
CALL FOR PAPERS & ABSTRACTS
53. Coastal Zone Asia-Pacific Conference (China)
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MARINE AND COASTAL LEGISLATION, POLICY AND PLANNING
1. Japan should effectively utilize marine resources (Japan)
Abridged from: Daily Yomiuri Shimbun
2 March 2008
Full text: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp
It is no easy task for Japan to achieve what it aspires to be as a maritime nation. The first version of the Basic Plan on Ocean Policy being compiled under the Basic Law on Ocean Policy is set to list a number of issues the nation must tackle with that goal in mind.
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2. Court holds Navy to rules safeguarding marine mammals (USA)
Abridged from: Los Angeles Times
2 March 2008
Full text: http://www.latimes.com
A federal appeals court has rejected the Bush administration effort to exempt Navy sonar training from key environmental laws, backing up a lower court that imposed extensive safeguards to protect whales and dolphins from harmful sonic blasts.
Related articles:
http://ap.google.com
http://www.abc.net.au
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3. Ocean group advocates passage of Farr bill (USA)
Abridged from: The Californian.com
27 February 2008
Full text: http://www.californianonline.com
The Joint Ocean Commission on Wednesday released its third annual report card on progress being made to implement recommendations of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy and the Pew Oceans Commission. The group gave the country a C, suggesting that state and regional successes on ocean policy have been offset by lack of federal action.
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Interested in this topic? View MCCN’s website for more: Marine and Coastal Legislation, Policy and Planning
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NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
4. Study: Contaminant Levels High in Parks (USA)
Abridged from: Environmental News Network
29 February 2008
Full text: http://www.enn.com
Pesticides, heavy metals and other airborne contaminants are raining down on national parks, turning up at sometimes dangerously high levels in lakes, plants and fish. A sweeping, six-year federal study released Tuesday found evidence of 70 contaminants in 20 national parks and monuments - from Denali in Alaska and Glacier in Montana, to Big Bend in Texas and Yosemite in California. The findings revealed that some of the Earth's most pristine wilderness is still within reach of the toxic byproducts of the industrial age.
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Interested in this topic? View MCCN’s website for more: Natural Resource Management
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MARINE PROTECTED AREAS
5. Campaigners oppose fish farm plan (Scotland)
Abridged from: BBC News
4 March 2008
Full text: http://news.bbc.co.uk
Plans to build a giant fish farm near a recently-created marine conservation zone are to be considered by North Ayrshire council. The local authority said it held a "favourable view" of the proposal by Norwegian-owned company Marine Harvest to develop the farm near Lamlash Bay. Local campaigners claim the plan would threaten a "no-take zone" agreed in principle earlier this year. A spokesman for the firm said the farm would not affect the marine reserve.
Related articles:
http://business.scotsman.com
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6. Marine Parks information on the road (Australia)
Abridged from: SA Department for Environment and Heritage, Media Release
29 February 2008
Yorke Peninsula and Port Wakefield residents will have a chance to find out the latest marine parks information when the marine parks tent travels around the peninsula in March and April.
Communities from Port Broughton to Yorketown will be able to learn about marine parks and ask questions at a series of information sessions when Department for Environment and Heritage staff visit nine communities on the coast.
Further information: contact DEH’s Coast and Marine Conservation Branch on (08) 8124 4900 or visit www.environment.sa.gov.au
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Interested in this topic? View MCCN’s website for more: Marine Protected Areas
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FISHERIES
7. Unfavourable Ocean Conditions Likely Cause Of Low 2007 Salmon Returns Along West Coast (USA)
Abridged from: Science Daily
4 March 2008
Full text: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080303145253.htm
NOAA scientists are reviewing unusual environmental conditions in the Pacific Ocean as the likely culprit for the dramatically low returns of Chinook and coho salmon to rivers and streams along the West Coast of the United States in 2007.
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8. Nauru wants to be fishing trawler service centre (Nauru)
Abridged from: Marianas Variety
4 March 2008
Full text: http://www.mvariety.com
Nauru’s Foreign and Finance Minister Kieren Keke says Australia might help the island become a centre for fishing vessel maintenance and servicing. He said this was one of the ideas discussed in talks he had last week in Canberra with Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith, following the closure of the detention centre on the island.
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Interested in this topic? View MCCN’s website for more: Commercial and Recreational Fishing Impacts
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AQUACULTURE
9. Tuna firm breeds 'holy grail' (Australia)
Abridged from: The Australian
5 March 2008
Full text: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au
Australian company Clean Seas Tuna has become the first in the world to successfully breed southern bluefin tuna outside the wild, a move it believes will lead to a rapid expansion of Australia's aquaculture industry. The success means Clean Seas will be able to avoid strict Australian wild catch quotas and produce unlimited southern bluefin tuna for overseas markets, potentially doubling the value of the $230 million tuna industry.
Related articles:
http://www.abc.net.au
http://www.enn.com
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10. Limit aquaculture to 5% of R.I. waters, experts say (USA)
Abridged from: Fishfarmer
3 March 2008
Full text: http://www.fishfarmer-magazine.com
An expert group of scientists and fishermen is recommending that no more than 5% of any water body in Rhode Island be devoted to aquaculture operations. The recommendation was made to the Coastal Resources Management Council last week by the biological subcommittee of the CRMC’s Working Group on Aquaculture Regulations, according to the Providence Journal.
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11. Canada: Industry welcomes $70million funding announcement (Canada)
Abridged from: Fish Update.com
28 February 2008
Full text: http://www.fishupdate.com
The Canadian aquaculture industry has welcomed the Government's announcement that CAD$70million will be provided over five years for the continued development of the industry.
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Interested in this topic? View MCCN’s website for more: Aquaculture
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CLIMATE CHANGE
12. Global warming threatens island life (Australia)
Abridged from: Science Alerts
4 March 2008
Full text: http://www.sciencealert.com.au
Rising sea levels from global warming will threaten the livelihoods and homes of more than 200,000 people who live on coral atolls in coming generations. The warning comes from UQ archaeologist and expert on the prehistoric use of coral atolls, Dr Marshall Weisler, who says the Central Pacific islands of Kiribati, Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands as well as the Maldives in the Indian Ocean, are most at risk. Dr Weisler said the situation was more serious than people realised with agricultural land already being lost to rising seas in the Marshall Islands.
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13. Aust, NZ to join forces on climate change (Australia)
Abridged from: ABC News Online
27 February 2008
Full text: http://www.abc.net.au
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says the governments of Australia and New Zealand have decided to form a new partnership to work on the challenges of climate change. New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark has met Mr Rudd and senior members of Federal Cabinet in Canberra today.
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Interested in this topic? View MCCN’s website for more: Climate Change
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COASTAL DEVELOPMENT
14. Minister accuses Opposition of ignoring Kimberley concerns (Australia)
Abridged from: ABC News Online
28 February 2008
Full text: http://www.abc.net.au
The (WA) Minister for State Development Eric Ripper has accused the state opposition of supporting ad hoc industrial development along the Kimberley coast. The Japanese gas company Inpex has signed an agreement with the Northern Territory government that could allow it to build an LNG plant near Darwin to process WA gas, rather than at a site in the Kimberley.
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Interested in this topic? View MCCN’s website for more: Coastal Development
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INVASIVE MARINE AND COASTAL SPECIES
15. Invader hitches ride on oil rig (New Zealand)
Abridged from: tvnz.co.nz
2 March 2008
Full text: http://tvnz.co.nz
A three day dredging operation is about to begin off Nelson to track down and destroy an invasive South African mussel. And the fishing industry is furious an overseas oil rig was allowed to clean up in Tasman Bay, prompting the scare as the unwanted mussel ended up on the ocean floor. Biosecurity hopes the dredging operation in the affected area may stop the mussels taking hold.
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Interested in this topic? View MCCN’s website for more: Invasive Marine and Coastal Species
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MARINE SPECIES
16. Six-legged octopus discovered (UK)
Abridged from: The Australian
4 March 2008
Full text: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au
British marine experts have found what they claim is a world first - a six-legged octopus, or "hexapus," whom they have christened Henry. The unique sea creature, which has two limbs fewer than a normal octopus, is believed to be the result of a birth defect rather than an accident, say his keepers at the Blackpool Sea Life Centre in northwest England.
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17. Hungry Sharks Take Strange Walks To Find Food (International)
Abridged from: Environmental News Network
3 March 2008
Full text: http://www.enn.com
The results of the international study shows that the animals’ behaviour seems to have evolved as a general ‘rule’ to search for sparsely distributed prey in the vast expanse of the ocean. This rule involves a special pattern of random movement known as a Levy Walk, where the predators use a series of small motions interspersed with large jumps to new foraging locations. This increases the chance of finding food, however widely scattered it might be.
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18. NZ to pressure Whaling Commission (New Zealand)
Abridged from: tvnz.co.nz
3 March 2008
Full text: http://tvnz.co.nz
New Zealand is putting pressure on the International Whaling Commission to reform the way it operates. A meeting is being held in London this week as Japan continues to hunt for whales in the Southern Ocean. (NZ) Conservation Minister Steve Chadwick says half of the 77 members of the commission are against whaling, while the other half are for it. He adds that this points to progress being limited and dysfunctional, and calls for urgent changes needed in the way it operates.
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19. IWC research could stop Japan (Australia)
Abridged from: Sydney Morning Herald
2 March 2008
Full text: http://www.smh.com.au
Australia will push an International Whaling Commission meeting in London this week to mount its own scientific research into whales to stop Japan from killing the mammals in the name of science, Environment Minister Peter Garrett said yesterday. Mr Garrett said Australia and other countries should collaborate with whaling nations to conduct scientific research on whales that involves preserving them, not killing them. "We believe it is time to bring the IWC into the 21st century, equipping the commission to tackle contemporary challenges in whale conservation and management," he said.
Related articles:
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au
http://www.abc.net.au
http://uk.reuters.com
http://www.abc.net.au
http://www.abc.net.au
http://www.abc.net.au
http://www.abc.net.au
http://www.abc.net.au
http://www.abc.net.au
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20. Green Sawfish listed as Vulnerable in Seaweek (Australia)
Abridged from: Media Release, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts
1 March 2008
On the eve of Seaweek, Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett announced today that the green sawfish (Pristis zijsron) has been listed as vulnerable under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. “This listing will make it illegal to kill, harm or take green sawfish in Commonwealth waters,’’ Mr Garrett said. “This year’s Seaweek is focussed on conserving the sawfish, and this listing will mean that the green sawfish receives added protection in habitats between three nautical miles from shore out to the 200 nautical mile limit.
Further information: download Seaweek Factsheet MCCN website: http://www.mccn.org.au
See events below Seaweek
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21. Unveiling The Underwater Ways Of The White Shark (Pacific)
Abridged from: Science Daily
26 February 2008
Full text: http://www.sciencedaily.com
Researchers from several institutions, including Stanford University, have joined their efforts in a Census of Marine Life project called Tagging of Pacific Predators. Since the project began in 1999, they have attached more than 3,000 tags to sharks, seals, whales, tunas, squids, turtles, albatross and more. For the first time, these TOPP researchers are getting a glimpse of a pelagic ecosystem from the California Current to the North Pacific at daily, seasonal and yearly time scales.
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Interested in this topic? View MCCN’s website for more: Marine Species
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PETROLEUM AND MINERALS
22. Scotland’s seas and wildlife at risk from new fuel exploration (Scotland)
Abridged from: The Sunday Herald
3 March 2008
Full text: http://www.sundayherald.com
A massive new search for oil and gas launched by the UK government will put whales, dolphins and other marine life at risk... Plans to open up virtually all of the seas around Scotland to multinationals seeking to find oil and gas have been greeted with widespread horror by experts and environmentalists.
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23. Alaska Town Sues 24 Energy Companies On Climate Change (Alaska)
Abridged from: Planet Ark
28 February 2008
Full text: http://www.planetark.com
An Alaskan village north of the Arctic Circle has filed suit in a US District Court against 24 energy companies, in an attempt to link erosion damage from global warming to the defendants' actions. Residents of Kivalina, a village of about 400 native Inupiat located on the tip of a barrier reef between the Chukchi Sea and two rivers, filed suit on Tuesday against the companies in US District Court in San Francisco. The suit is one of many global warming cases that have been filed after the UN's climate change panel last year squarely placed the blame for global warming on human actions.
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POLLUTION
24. Exxon Mobil Appeals $2.5 Bln Valdez Oil Spill Award (USA)
Abridged from: Planet Ark
28 February 2008
Full text: http://www.planetark.com
Exxon Mobil Corp urged the US Supreme Court on Wednesday to overturn the $2.5 billion in punitive damages for the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill off Alaska, arguing it should not be punished for the mistakes of the ship's captain. But the lawyer for about 33,000 commercial fishermen and others harmed by the nation's worst tanker spill replied that Exxon Mobil for three years had overlooked numerous reports that Captain Joseph Hazelwood had a drinking problem.
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25. Senseless, agonising death of a gentle giant (Australia)
Abridged from: Northern Territory News
27 February 2008
Full text: http://www.ntnews.com.au
Authorities have lashed out at irresponsible litterers after a giant green turtle was found choking to death off a Darwin beach yesterday. The adult female, believed to be about 40 years old, was spotted in distress floating about 200m offshore in Fannie Bay. It is believed she had swallowed a plastic bag.
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Interested in this topic? View MCCN’s website for more: Water Pollution
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RECREATION AND TOURISM
26. Great white 'ate anti-shark device' (Australia)
Abridged from: The Australian
1 March 2008
Full text: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au
An electronic device designed to ward sharks away from surfers failed so spectacularly during a trial off South Africa that it was eaten by a great white. An inquest heard yesterday the Shark Shield surf model was activated on a float carrying bait when the 3.6m female shark approached. Rather than being deterred by the device, the shark, under the gaze of the Natal Sharks Board, bit into it.
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27. Beach Fingerprinting (Australia)
Abridged from: ABC Catalyst
28 February 2008
Full text: http://www.abc.net.au
One day it's a millpond, the next it's full of violent rips and dumpers - the character of your local beach can change in an instant. But predicting a beach’s nature means studying its fingerprint.
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28. Off The Hook: Stronger Soft-plastic Fishing Lures Less Damaging To Environment (USA)
Abridged from: Science Daily
26 February 2008
Full text: http://www.sciencedaily.com
Working with University of Wisconsin-Madison engineering and business school faculty and students, an entrepreneur has perfected a fibre-reinforced fishing lure that may prevent millions of pounds of toxic plastics from polluting waters nationwide.
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RESEARCH
29. Tiny Polyps Need Two Kinds Of Carbon To Survive Coral Bleaching (USA)
Abridged from: Science Daily
4 March 2008
Full text: http://www.sciencedaily.com
How well ocean reefs recover from the growing damage caused by warming sea temperatures depends both on how much the tiny coral polyps can eat, and how healthy they can keep the microscopic algae that live inside their bodies.
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30. Dissolved Organic Matter In Water Column May Influence Coral Health (USA)
Abridged from: Science Daily
4 March 2008
Full text: http://www.sciencedaily.com
Bacterial communities endemic to healthy corals could change depending on the amount and type of natural and man-made dissolved organic matter in seawater, report researchers from The University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institute and Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, Florida.
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31. Yabbies don't forget a face (Australia)
Abridged from: Science Alerts
29 February 2008
Full text: http://www.sciencealert.com.au
The fighting Australian yabby does not forget the face of its foes says new research from University of Melbourne zoologists. The research by the University’s Department of Zoology was published in the PLoS ONE journal. The two year study involving over 100 pairs of yabbies revealed that the species Cherax destructor is capable of facial recognition of individuals, particularly its opponents.
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32. Seafloor Cores Show Tight Bond Between Dust And Past Climates (International)
Abridged from: Science Daily
29 February 2008
Full text: http://www.sciencedaily.com
Each year, long-distance winds drop up to 900 million tons of dust from deserts and other parts of the land into the oceans. Scientists suspect this phenomenon connects to global climate--but exactly how, remains a question. Now a big piece of the puzzle has fallen into place, with a study showing that the amount of dust entering the equatorial Pacific peaks sharply during repeated ice ages, then declines when climate warms.
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33. Researchers discover new kelp species in Aleutians (Alaska)
Abridged from: Alaska Report
29 February 2008
Full text: http://alaskareport.com
Researchers from NOAA Fisheries, Kobe University and the University of British Columbia have recently announced the discovery of a new species of kelp - and a new genus altogether. They have named it the 'Golden V' kelp because of its distinctive shape and colour, with the scientific name of Aureophycus alueticus.
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34. The Southern Surveyor –The Power Of One (Australia)
Abridged from: ABC Catalyst
28 February 2008
Full text: http://www.abc.net.au
For two decades, the CSIRO's Research Vessel, The Southern Surveyor, has been helping Australian scientists learn more about the oceans surrounding our island nation. She's Australia's only national marine research vessel and Paul Willis staves off sea sickness to get a rare glimpse into life on board the ship. Along the way he catches up with some of the country’s leading deep-ocean scientists. Climb aboard the Southern Surveyor, and see what they get up to.
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35. Rats On Islands Disrupt Ecosystems From Land To Sea, Researchers Find (USA)
Abridged from: Science Daily
28 February 2008
Full text: http://www.sciencedaily.com
Seabird colonies on islands are highly vulnerable to introduced rats, which find the ground-nesting birds to be easy prey. But the ecological impacts of rats on islands extend far beyond seabird nesting colonies, according to a new study by researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
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36. From Sharks To Microbes, Key Data At Central Pacific's Line Islands Archipelago Captured (USA)
Abridged from: Science Daily
28 February 2008
Full text: http://www.sciencedaily.com
An ambitious expedition led by scientists at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego to a chain of little-known islands in the central Pacific Ocean has yielded an unprecedented wealth of information about coral reefs and threats from human activities. The exploration of four atolls in the Line Islands, part of a chain approximately a thousand miles south of Hawaii, has produced the first study of coral reefs comprehensively spanning organisms from microbes to sharks.
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37. Fossil Sea Monster Big Enough To "Bite A Car" (Norway)
Abridged from: Planet Ark
28 February 2008
Full text: http://www.planetark.com
The fossil of a 15 metre long "sea monster" found in Arctic Norway was the biggest of its kind known to science with dagger-like teeth in a mouth large enough to bite a small car, researchers said. The 150-million year old dinosaur-era pliosaur, a fierce marine reptile, was about five metres longer than the previous pliosaur record holder found in Australia.
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38. Ocean Update - Vol. 13 No. 2 (International)
February 2008
Full text: http://www.seaweb.org
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39. Marine Science Review – 249 Marine mammals (International)
February 2008
Full text: http://64.130.1.197
Seaweb presents a 10 page review of the latest scientific papers on marine mammals.
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40. Sea-wheat grass research: survey for MCCN participants (Australia)
February 2008
Kris James is a PhD research candidate at the University of Adelaide researching the distribution and potential impact of Thinopyrum junceiforme or Sea-wheat grass, an introduced coastal coloniser of the upper beach and foredunes. There is little information in the literature regarding Sea-wheat grass but Kris believes knowledge on the plant exists within the broader coastal community. Consequently, Kris is seeking involvement of MCCN participants to undertake a short online survey to ascertain their knowledge and perceptions of Thinopyrum junceiforme to complete her studies.
Participant in the survey: If MCCN participants are willing to assist this research, the online survey can be found at: http://www.surveymonkey.com. Further information: kris.james@adelaide.edu.au
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Interested in this topic? View MCCN’s website for more: Marine and Coastal Research
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PUBLICATIONS & WEBSITES
41. A new platform to start changing the world (International)
Abridged from: Environmental News Network
4 March 2008
Full text: http://www.enn.com/top_stories/article/32203
Forget Facebook, MySpace or You Tube: here comes connect2earth, a new online community where young people can upload videos, pictures and comments about the environment. On www.connect2earth.org users and visitors will be able to write, speak, illustrate and video present their concerns on subjects important to them, and share environmental ideas and solutions.
View website: http://www.connect2earth.org/
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42. Introductory Guide to Marine Protected Areas on the High Seas (International)
Abridged from: Foundation for International Environmental Law and Development (FIELD) Website
February 2008
Full text: http://www.field.org.uk
To assist international policy makers and other relevant stakeholders tasked with addressing the complex questions around establishing marine protected areas on the high seas, FIELD has developed a practical Introductory Guide geared to appeal to a diverse range of policymakers and other stakeholders.
Download guide (43 pages PDF; approx 463KB download): http://www.field.org.uk
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OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
43. Draft Terms of Reference for strategic assessment of a plan for a common-user liquefied natural gas hub precinct in the Kimberley region (Australia)
Abridged from: Australian Government, Department of the Environment, Heritage and the Arts Website
23 February 2008
Full text: http://www.environment.gov.au
Strategic assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. On 6 February 2008, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts signed an agreement with the Western Australian Government to undertake a strategic assessment under the EPBC Act of the impacts of actions under a plan for a proposed common-user liquefied natural gas Hub precinct in the West Kimberley Region. A copy of the draft terms of reference for the strategic assessment is available for public comment at the link below. Public comments must be submitted to the Western Australian Department of Industry and Resources and will be accepted until close of business on 21 March 2008.To submit a comment, please go to www.doir.wa.gov.au/ndt.
Further information: http://www.environment.gov.au
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44. Moreton Bay Marine Park draft zoning (Australia)
Abridged from: Qld Environmental Protection Agency website
Full text: http://www.epa.qld.gov.au
The Moreton Bay Marine Park (Qld) draft zoning plan has now been released for public comment. A series of public display sessions are being held in January to provide information about the draft zoning plan and how submissions can be made. The closing date for providing submissions is 5pm on 7 March 2008. Submissions must be made in writing.
Further information: Qld Environmental Protection Agency’s website http://www.epa.qld.gov.au Tel: 1800 105 789 or E:Moreton.bay@epa.qld.gov.au
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45. Have your say on the QLD State Coastal Management Plan review (Australia)
Abridged from: Queensland Government EPA
The (QLD) Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation, invites all interested parties to voice their concerns and offer suggestions regarding coastal management, planning and development issues during the review of the State Coastal Management Plan (the Coastal plan). The Coastal plan is a statutory planning tool under the Coastal Protection and Management Act 1995 (Coastal Act) and provides the laws and policies for all spheres of government and the community to manage Queensland’s coastal zone and its resources. All uses of coastal resources and activities undertaken within the coastal zone are subject to the planning and management objectives outlined in the Coastal Act and reflected in the Coastal plan. Further information: http://www.epa.qld.gov.au
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Interested in this topic? View MCCN’s website for more: Act Now
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AWARDS
46. 2008 Sydney Harbour Week Award winners announced (Australia)
Abridged from: Yachte.com.au
27 February 2008
Full text: http://yachte.com.au
Professor Frank Talbot won the most prestigious Sydney Harbour Week Award - for Lifetime Achievement. The awards, hosted and supported by NSW Maritime, recognise those who encourage the caring and sharing of Sydney Harbour by informing, educating or engaging the community. “Professor Talbot worked tirelessly to establish the Sydney Institute of Marine Science at Chowder Bay,” Mr Oxenbould said.
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47. 2008 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes (Australia)
Presented annually by the Australian Museum, the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes are Australia's most comprehensive science awards and the largest award scheme for research into critical environmental sustainability issues facing the country. Entries and nominations are now invited for $50,000 in prizes in the categories of Research & Innovation and Leadership. Entries close: 2 May, 2008.
Further information: http://www.australianmuseum.net.au; E: eureka@austmus.gov.au
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48. World Environment Day Awards 2008 (Australia)
Nominations for the United Nations Association of Australia World Environment Day Awards 2008 opened 1 February 2008. The World Environment Day Awards is a national awards program which recognises businesses, local governments, organisations, community groups, individuals, schools and the media whose work serves to protect, manage or restore the environment. More information: http://www.unaavictoria.org.au. Nominations Close Friday 2 May 2008.
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WORKSHOPS, CONFERENCES AND EVENTS
COMING UP (March - April 2008)
49. Seaweek: "Extinction-a Saw point" (Australia)
2-8 March 2008
Seaweek is the Marine Education Society of Australasia’s (MESA) major national public awareness campaign. It is conducted annually to focus community awareness, provide information and encourage an appreciation of the sea. The theme for Sea Week 2008 is "Extinction - a Saw point".
Further information: http://www.mesa.edu.au . Download Seaweek factsheet from MCCN website: http://www.mccn.org.au.
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50. Sea Grant Law and Policy Journal Inaugural Symposium (USA)
25-26 March 2008
Hosted by the National Sea Grant Law Center, this conference will be held at The University of Mississippi, Oxford (USA). The theme of the Symposium will be Coastal Resiliency. Coastal resiliency refers to the ability of coastal cities, towns, and communities to adapt and recover from natural hazards, including hurricanes, tsunamis, floods, and disease epidemics. Relevant topics might include land use planning, insurance, emergency management, risk analysis, and mitigation.
Further information: http://www.olemiss.edu
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51. Wetlands.edu Course (Australia)
8 - 9 April 2008
Held in Launceston Tasmania. This course has been designed to introduce wetland managers to a range of tools and strategies to build appreciation of wetlands among those stakeholders who have an impact on wetlands.
Further information: www.wetlandsedu.org.au
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52. Solutions to Coastal Disasters Conference (Hawaii)
13-16 April 2008
Hosted by the Coasts, Oceans, Ports and Rivers Institute (COPRI) of the American Society of Civil Engineers, this conference will be held in Oahu, Hawaii. The conference will encourage greater examination of the ecosystem dynamics, vulnerability and ways to incorporate social and ecological solutions into the discussion of coastal disasters.
Further information: http://content.asce.org/conferences
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CALL FOR PAPERS & ABSTRACTS
53. Coastal Zone Asia-Pacific Conference (China)
Held in Qingdao, China, 19-22 October, 2008. The conference theme is 'Sustainable Coasts and Better Life,' with a focus on how to manage coasts to cope with climate change and expanding populations. The conference will be hosted by Professor Guifang (Julia) Xue at Ocean University of China, Qingdao. Further information http://www.czapa.org and now open for on-line abstract submission. The deadline for submission is 15 June 2008.
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View full calendar of events on MCCN website:Workshops, Conferences and Events
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Wetstuff-News is compiled by Anne Briggs for Marine Coastal Community Network.
Anne Briggs
Marine Coastal Community Network
PO Box 709
Spit Junction NSW 2088
Australia
E: anne@mccn.org.au
W: http://www.mccn.org.au
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