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Wetstuff News 30 April 2008
IN THIS EDITION:
MARINE AND COASTAL LEGISLATION, POLICY AND PLANNING
1. Ecosystem approach to fisheries management to be proposed at APEC Summit (Peru)
2. Australia's new Antarctic rights sparks exploitation fears (Australia)
3. Calls For Better Regional Management For Sustainable Tuna Production (International)
4. Lawmakers Reject Marine Sanctuary (Northern Mariana Islands)
5. Farr bill focuses sea policy (USA)
6. The Nature Conservancy Urges House to Pass Ballast Water Legislation (USA)
NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
7. Wong unveils $13b water scheme (Australia)
8. Desalination Raises Environmental, Cost Concerns (International)
9. Fertilizer Run-off From Agricultural Activities Blamed For Gulf Dead Zone In Gulf Of Mexico (USA)
MARINE PROTECTED AREAS
10. Fishing ban in protected areas possible (USA)
11. An 'oasis' of 20,000 intrigues under the sea (Canada)
FISHERIES
12. Greenpeace declares war on illegal tuna fishery (Australia)
13. Economic profit the key to sustainable fisheries (Australia)
14. Jumbo squid invade coast off Northwest (USA)
15. Fish industry wary of high-sea restrictions (New Zealand)
16. Can Certain Metals Repel Sharks From Fishing Gear? (USA)
AQUACULTURE
17. Norway: Number of escaped farmed fish cut in half (Norway)
18. New Fish Farms Move from Ocean to Warehouse (USA)
19. Breeding can reduce sea lice problems, say scientists (Norway)
20. Government outlines plans to expand Scottish aquaculture (Scotland)
21. WWF-Norway Teams Up With Marine Harvest: Partnership For Sustainable Aquaculture (Norway)
22. TV programme to feature Canadian aquaculture project (Canada)
CLIMATE CHANGE
23. Most at risk: Study reveals Sydney climate change 'hotspots' (Australia)
24. North Pole could be ice free in 2008 (Arctic)
25. Arctic currents may be warming the world (Arctic)
COASTAL DEVELOPMENT
26. Indian Villagers Protest Deep-Sea Port (India)
27. Cyberfight lays bare a seachange siege (Australia)
INVASIVE MARINE & COASTAL SPECIES
28. Threat from tiny pet fish (Australia)
29. Dog traps rat on 'pest-free' gulf island (New Zealand)
MARINE SPECIES
30. Anti-shark tests may save baby seals (Hawai’i)
31. Hunting towards oblivion (Australia)
32. Arctic Marine Mammals On Thin Ice (Arctic)
33. Narwhals more at risk to Arctic warming than polar bears (Arctic)
34. Critically Endangered seabird losing its pulling power (International)
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS
35. Algal farming - a new Agricultural Revolution? (Australia)
36. Natural gas: the future of fuel? (Australia)
37. Floating Turbines May Join Norway's Offshore Rigs (Norway)
38. Australia gets access to underwater bounty (Australia)
39. Marine mining for diamonds, precious and base metals...(International)
RECREATION & TOURISM
40. Australian ecotourism pioneer wins award (Australia)
41. Report: tourism blind to high climate risk (International)
RESEARCH
42. Tagged seals shed light on Antarctic deep (Australia)
43. New Zealand scientists thaw 1,000-pound squid corpse (New Zealand)
44. Will Corals Survive The Stormy Future? (Belize)
45. Formation Of Ice Sheets 34 Million Years Ago Changed Ocean Acidity (International)
46. New Fish Romping In The Southern Baltic Competes With Flounder, But Feeds Predatory Fish (Sweden)
47. Freshwater Herring Had Salty Origin (East Africa)
PUBLICATIONS & WEBSITES
48. Are you using the correct fish names? (Australia)
49. NGOS Join Forces to Protect Cetacean Populations in the Region (Europe)
50. Biodiversity linked to human health (International)
51. Australian Coastal Society (Australia)
52. Coastline Magazine, Volume 17: No. 1-2008 (Europe)
OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
53. Review of the zoning plans for Jervis Bay and Solitary Islands Marine Parks (Australia)
54. Inquiry into climate change and environmental impacts on coastal communities (Australia)
55. MCCN’s Coastal Survey 2008 – closes 18 May 2008 (Australia)
GRANTS
56. Community Coastcare Grants (Australia)
57. Nominations For Caring For Our Country Community Coastcare Small Grants Assessors (Australia)
AWARDS
58. The Department of Sustainability and Environment Excellence in Marine and Coastal Management Award (Australia)
59. 2008 Australian Museum Eureka Prize for Environmental Research (Australia)
60. World Environment Day Awards 2008 (Australia)
61. Call for Entries to Reuters-IUCN Environmental Media Awards (International)
WORKSHOPS, CONFERENCES AND EVENTS
62. World Ocean’s Day (Australia)
63. Effects of Climate Change on the World's Oceans - International Symposium (Spain)
64. International Ocean Stewardship Forum 2008 (International)
65. The 3rd Congress of the International Society for Applied Phycology and the 11th International Conf (Ireland)
66. Asian Wetland Symposium 2008- Wetlands -The Heart of Asia (Vietnam)
CALL FOR PAPERS & ABSTRACTS
67. Littoral 2008 A Changing Coast: Challenge the Environmental Policies (Europe)
68. 29th Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology & Conservation (International)
69. Australian Protected Areas Congress 2008 (Australia)
70. Coastal Zone Asia-Pacific Conference (China)
71. International Marine Conservation Congress: call for papers (International)
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MARINE AND COASTAL LEGISLATION, POLICY AND PLANNING
1. Ecosystem approach to fisheries management to be proposed at APEC Summit (Peru)
Abridged from: Andina website
28 April 2008
Full text: http://www.andina.com.pe
The implementation of the ecosystem approach which promotes both conservation and the sustainable use of marine resources in an equitable way will be proposed at the 16th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders' Meeting to take place in Lima in November. This was announced by the head of the Peruvian Sea Institute, Hector Soldi, who has recently chaired the 21º Marine Resource Conservation Working Group Meeting in Piura, attended by delegates and officials from the 21 APEC member economies.
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2. Australia's new Antarctic rights sparks exploitation fears (Australia)
Abridged from: ABC News Online
25 April 2008
Full text: http://www.abc.net.au
Australia has become the first country to be granted exclusive property rights in Antarctica, experts say, raising questions about the exploitation of biological resources in this sensitive and disputed territory. The expansion of Australia's seabed borders this week by the United Nations includes the Kerguelen Plateau around Heard and McDonald Islands, which extends southwards into Antarctica.
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3. Calls For Better Regional Management For Sustainable Tuna Production (International)
Abridged from: Pacific Magazine
24 April 2008
Full text: http://www.pacificmagazine.net
A Sustainable Tuna Roundtable concluded in Brussels with agreement by participants that substantial improvements to regional fisheries management organizations are needed to ensure global sustainability of commercial tuna fisheries, including the health of tuna stocks and the ecosystem effects of tuna fisheries (e.g.bycatch of sensitive species and of juvenile and undersized tunas). Assessment, certification and eco-labeling programs were recognized as important market-based incentives to promote fisheries sustainability and to address worker conditions and product safety.
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4. Lawmakers Reject Marine Sanctuary (Northern Mariana Islands)
Abridged from: Pacific Magazine
24 April 2008
Full text: http://www.pacificmagazine.net
Northern Marianas lawmakers have opposed a proposal to establish a marine national monument in three of the islands north of Saipan. The House of Representatives, by a vote of 17-3, yesterday adopted a resolution urging U.S. President George W. Bush against declaring the islands of Uracas, Maug, and Asuncion as a marine sanctuary. The Senate unanimously approved the same resolution earlier this week.
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5. Farr bill focuses sea policy (USA)
Abridged from: The Californian
24 April 2008
Full text: http://thecalifornian.com
A comprehensive national ocean governance bill written by U.S. Rep. Sam Farr, D-Carmel, was approved Wednesday afternoon by a House subcommittee. The bill's next stop will be before the full Committee on Natural Resources, the final step before a vote by the full House of Representatives. "I'm excited that this bill has taken the first big step toward passage," Farr said following the vote. "We have the laws and agencies to safeguard our oceans, but we have no framework for them to function. That means our laws often intersect and our agencies are left with overlapping guidelines.
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6. The Nature Conservancy Urges House to Pass Ballast Water Legislation (USA)
Abridged from: The Nature Conservancy Website
24 April 2008
Full text: http://www.nature.org
The U.S. House of Representatives is poised to vote April 24 on legislation supported by The Nature Conservancy that will block one of the top pathways through which invasive species are introduced to our nation’s lakes, rivers and seas. If passed, the Ballast Water Treatment Act will go a long way toward halting further invasions which have already cost our economy billions in control efforts.
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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
7. Wong unveils $13b water scheme (Australia)
Abridged from: ABC News Online
29 April 2008
Full text: http://www.abc.net.au
Water Minister Penny Wong says the Government's new $13 billion plan for better water management will help to secure Australia's water supply....Announcing the details of the plan, Senator Wong said $3.1 billion would be spent on buying back water licences from irrigators in the Murray-Darling Basin.
Related articles:
http://www.smh.com.au
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8. Desalination Raises Environmental, Cost Concerns (International)
Abridged from: Environmental News Network
29 April 2008
Full text: http://www.enn.com
As global freshwater reserves dry up, desalination plants are receiving greater attention as an option for providing both drinking water supplies and agricultural irrigation. But a new study released on Thursday raises several concerns about the environmental impact and cost effectiveness of the widely touted technology to convert seawater to fresh water. Desalination plants pose a risk to marine species when the water is collected from ocean areas, as well as when the salty discharge is deposited into coastal estuaries, according to the report, which was released by the U.S. National Research Council.
Further information: Download report details http://www.nap.edu
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9. Fertilizer Run-off From Agricultural Activities Blamed For Gulf Dead Zone In Gulf Of Mexico (USA)
Abridged from: Science Daily
24 April 2008
Full text: http://www.sciencedaily.com
Improved management of crops and perennials could go a long way toward alleviating the problem of hypoxia, which claims thousands of fish, shrimp and shellfish in the Gulf of Mexico each spring. An assessment by a team led by Virginia Dale of Oak Ridge National Laboratory's Environmental Sciences Division concludes that low oxygen levels in water, or hypoxia, causes problems throughout the ecosystem.
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MARINE PROTECTED AREAS
10. Fishing ban in protected areas possible (USA)
Abridged from: The Mercury News
24 April 2008
Full text: http://origin.mercurynews.com
California may enact a fishing ban in a network of protected marine areas that cover 80 square miles of coastal waters from Half Moon Bay to Mendocino, following a recommendation this week from a state task force. The governor's Marine Life Protection Act Blue Ribbon Task Force released its plan urging the creation of 24 protected areas where fishing and seafood harvesting would be restricted or banned in state waters within 3 miles of shore. The aim is to protect diminishing populations of rock fish, sea lions, abalone, birds and other aquatic life.
Related articles:
http://www.sfgate.com
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11. An 'oasis' of 20,000 intrigues under the sea (Canada)
Abridged from: Globe and mail
22 April 2008
Full text: http://www.theglobeandmail.com
A jagged volcanic island that sank below the ocean off the West Coast around 15,000 years ago has been added to Canada's growing network of marine protected areas. The Bowie Seamount, which has been called an "oceanic oasis" because of its rich marine life, jutted above the surface during the last ice age, but now lies 24 metres below the surface of the Pacific, 180 kilometres west of the Queen Charlotte Islands....Greg Savard, director of ocean programs for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, said it took 10 years to designate the area because consensus had to be reached with provincial and federal governments, the Haida First Nation, environmental groups and commercial fishing interests.
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Interested in this topic? View MCCN’s website for more: Marine Protected Areas
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FISHERIES
12. Greenpeace declares war on illegal tuna fishery (Australia)
Abridged from: ABC News Online
28 April 2008
Full text: http://www.abc.net.au
Another battle has broken out on the high seas, with the Greenpeace ship the Esperanza chasing tuna-fishing trawlers in the Pacific. The environment group says overfishing in the region is rapidly depleting stocks of bigeye and yellowfin tuna. Australia's tuna industry says it too is worried about stocks, and particularly the impact on them of illegal fishing. Greenpeace wants international waters in the Pacific declared marine reserves but the Australian industry does not want international waters shut off to commercial fisheries.
Related articles:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk
http://www.radioaustralia.net.au
http://www.voanews.com
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13. Economic profit the key to sustainable fisheries (Australia)
Abridged from: Science Alerts
28 April 2008
Full text: http://www.sciencealert.com.au
Exploiting a renewable resource for maximum economic profit is the antithesis of sustainable management, right? Not so, according to Australian economists. In a world first, researchers from the Crawford School of Economics and Government at the Australian National University have shown that if fisheries are managed for maximum economic return, rather than sustainable yield, fishers could actually make more money and better conserve dwindling fish stocks.
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14. Jumbo squid invade coast off Northwest (USA)
Abridged from: Bellingham Herald
27 April 2008
Full text: http://www.bellinghamherald.com
Jumbo squid off the Pacific Northwest coast could threaten salmon runs and signal another change in the oceans brought on by global warming....No one knows why they started appearing or how many there are, but scientists and commercial fishermen have found them in their nets every year since 2004 and their numbers are increasing.
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15. Fish industry wary of high-sea restrictions (New Zealand)
Abridged from: Scoop
26 April 2008
Full text: http://www.stuff.co.nz
More than 112,000 square kilometres of previously fished areas in the South Pacific will be closed to New Zealand deep-sea fishermen under new regulations...The measures, introduced by the Ministry of Fisheries as part of negotiations to form the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation, are designed to ensure trawling does not increase. The new rules will require that vessels carry fisheries observers, create a "move-on" area of more than 82,000sq km to protect marine ecosystems and limit fishing to areas trawled between 2002 and 2006.
Related articles:
http://www.scoop.co.nz
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16. Can Certain Metals Repel Sharks From Fishing Gear? (USA)
Abridged from: Science Daily
24 April 2008
Full text: http://www.sciencedaily.com
Sharks in captivity avoid metals that react with seawater to produce an electric field, a behaviour that may help fishery biologists develop a strategy to reduce the bycatch of sharks in longline gear. Shark bycatch is an increasing priority worldwide given diminished populations of many shark species, and because sharks compete with target species for baited lines, reducing fishing efficiency and increasing operating costs.
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Interested in this topic? View MCCN’s website for more: Commercial and Recreational Fishing Impacts
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AQUACULTURE
17. Norway: Number of escaped farmed fish cut in half (Norway)
Abridged from: Fishupdate.com
28 April 2008
Full text: http://www.fishupdate.com
The number of farmed fish escaping from Norwegian fish farms has more than halved in one year. Norwegian fisheries minister, Helga Pedersen said in a statement that she is very pleased to see that the "concerted efforts" from authorities and fish farmers to reduce the number of fish escapes has given such significant results.
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18. New Fish Farms Move from Ocean to Warehouse (USA)
Abridged from: Environmental News Network
25 April 2008
Full text: http://www.enn.com
Earlier this week, on a spring day in April, John Stubblefield walked past the blue tanks of striped bass, Atlantic sea bream, and cobia stored inside a Baltimore, Maryland, laboratory. "In this tank, it's spring in May. This tank it's spring in September," he said. At the University of Maryland's Center for Marine Biotechnology, Stubblefield and his fellow researchers are not only altering nature, they are creating what may be the next generation of seafood.
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19. Breeding can reduce sea lice problems, say scientists (Norway)
Abridged from: Fishupdate.com
25 April 2008
Full text: http://www.fishupdate.com
Some salmon are more easily infested with sea lice than others. Utilising this in the breeding of farmed salmon can save millions and reduce the infestation pressure of sea lice among wild salmonids, according to Norwegian researchers.
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20. Government outlines plans to expand Scottish aquaculture (Scotland)
Abridged from: Fishupdae.com
24 April 2008
Full text: http://www.fishupdate.com
An international audience at the largest seafood event in the world has heard that the Scottish Government wants to “unlock the potential” for its aquaculture industry to grow.
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21. WWF-Norway Teams Up With Marine Harvest: Partnership For Sustainable Aquaculture (Norway)
Abridged from: ABN Newswire
23 April 2008
Full text: http://www.abnnewswire.net
WWF-Norway and Marine Harvest announced their new partnership working to reduce the environmental impacts and ecological footprint of aquaculture.
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22. TV programme to feature Canadian aquaculture project (Canada)
Abridged from: Fish Farmer
23 April 2008
Full text: http://www.fishfarmer-magazine.com
An innovative Canadian Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture project is due to feature as part of a National Geographic television series. Dr Chopin and Dr Robinson are working with the salmon industry in New Brunswick to encourage the creation of 'whole ecosystem' farms. These farms involve multiple marketable species instead of single-species farms — an idea that stems back to ancient Chinese aquaculture techniques.
Further information: http://www.pbs.org/strangedays
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Interested in this topic? View MCCN’s website for more: Aquaculture
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CLIMATE CHANGE
23. Most at risk: Study reveals Sydney climate change 'hotspots' (Australia)
Abridged from: ABC News Online
29 April 2008
Full text: http://www.abc.net.au
A new study by the CSIRO, the University of the Sunshine Coast, and WWF Australia, looked at the effect of rising sea levels, extreme rainfall, and storm surges across 15 areas either on the ocean front or on major estuaries. The Sydney Coastal Councils Group will use the information to improve their planning and development on low-lying level areas and adapt to a changing landscape.
Further information: http://www.csiro.au
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24. North Pole could be ice free in 2008 (Arctic)
Abridged from: New Scientist
25 April 2008
Full text: http://environment.newscientist.com
You know when climate change is biting hard when instead of a vast expanse of snow the North Pole is a vast expanse of water. This year, for the first time, Arctic scientists are preparing for that possibility. "The set-up for this summer is disturbing," says Mark Serreze, of the US National Snow and Ice Data Center. A number of factors have this year led to most of the Arctic ice being thin and vulnerable as it enters its summer melting season.
Related articles:
Full text: http://www.enn.com
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25. Arctic currents may be warming the world (Arctic)
Abridged from: New Scientist
24 April 2008
Full text: http://environment.newscientist.com
There may be more to global warming than we thought. On top of the effect of human-made carbon emissions, natural changes in the warm ocean currents travelling to the icy north may be helping to heat up the entire northern hemisphere. Temperatures in the Arctic are rising far faster than in other parts of the world.
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Interested in this topic? View MCCN’s website for more: Climate Change
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COASTAL DEVELOPMENT
26. Indian Villagers Protest Deep-Sea Port (India)
Abridged from: Planet Ark
29 April 2008
Full text: http://www.planetark.com
Authorities in eastern India arrested at least 100 villagers and deployed a huge police force to quell a protest against a proposed deep-sea port, officials said on Monday. The proposed port on the eastern coast will handle 83 million tonnes of cargo per year, said Santosh Mohapatra, chief executive of Dhamra Port Company Ltd. The Dhamra port project has been mired in controversy with international conservation group Greenpeace saying the project would kill thousands of rare Olive Ridley turtles.
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27. Cyberfight lays bare a seachange siege (Australia)
Abridged from: The Australian
26 April 2008
Full text: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au
The people of Hastings Point don't want their little coastal hamlet to become a village. And they certainly don't want it to become a town...It is a situation that is far from unique. All along Australia's east coast in particular, and to a lesser extent the Tasmanian, South Australian and West Australian coasts, previously sleepy hamlets are being transformed into seachange communities ready for baby boomers as they slip into retirement.
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INVASIVE MARINE & COASTAL SPECIES
28. Threat from tiny pet fish (Australia)
Abridged from: The Sydney Morning Herald
28 April 2008
Full text: http://www.smh.com.au
A tiny tropical fish is about to become a household name alongside the cane toad, the Indian myna bird and the rabbit as native ecosystems battle yet another foreign invader. A small feral population of the exotic aquarium fish called platys has been found near Newcastle, NSW sparking fears that they may be beyond eradication. The platys is aggressive, eats frog and fish spawn, and breeds rapidly. It could overwhelm native species in areas where it survives.
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29. Dog traps rat on 'pest-free' gulf island (New Zealand)
Abridged from: The New Zealand Herald
24 April 2008
Full text: http://www.nzherald.co.nz
A detection dog has caught a rat on the usually predator-free Motuihe Island in the Hauraki Gulf...."Everyone has a responsibility to check their boats and gear before leaving the mainland, so we don't end up with this type of situation." ...Rats on the island could eat eggs and attack shore nesting birds, including the protected variable oyster catcher and the critically endangered New Zealand dotterel.
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MARINE SPECIES
30. Anti-shark tests may save baby seals (Hawai’i)
Abridged from: Honolulu Advertiser
28 April 2008
Full text: http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com
Federal marine biologists yesterday received approval to begin testing magnets, boat engine recordings and other nonlethal deterrents to protect Hawaiian monk seal pups from sharks in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. That's because Galapagos sharks prowling the nearshore waters of the monument's French Frigate Shoals have foiled attempts to reduce their numbers under a controversial culling program.
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31. Hunting towards oblivion (Australia)
Abridged from: The Australian
26 April 2008
Full text: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au
Peter Guivarra recalls how the sky would thicken at this time of the year with vast numbers of magpie geese that nested in swamps near his home settlement, Mapoon, on Cape York Peninsula's western side. With thousands of geese being shot annually by indigenous hunters, Guivarra, chairman of the Mapoon Aboriginal Shire Council, says the bird population is a fraction of what it was 10 or 15 years ago. Says Guivarra: "There were hundreds of thousands, but now it's thousands and the numbers get smaller every season. I want my sons and grandsons to be able to hunt, but at this rate they won't be able to."
Related articles:
http://www.theaustralian.news
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32. Arctic Marine Mammals On Thin Ice (Arctic)
Abridged from: Science Daily
26 April 2008
Full text: http://www.sciencedaily.com
The loss of sea ice due to climate change could spell disaster for polar bears and other Arctic marine mammals. Sea ice is the common habitat feature uniting these unique and diverse Arctic inhabitants. Sea ice serves as a platform for resting and reproduction, influences the distribution of food sources, and provides a refuge from predators. The loss of sea ice poses a particularly severe threat to Arctic species, such as the hooded seal, whose natural history is closely tied to, and depends on, sea ice.
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33. Narwhals more at risk to Arctic warming than polar bears (Arctic)
Abridged from: abc News
25 April 2008
Full text: http://abcnews.go.com
The polar bear has become an icon of global warming vulnerability, but a new study found an Arctic mammal that may be even more at risk to climate change: the narwhal. They thrive in ice-choked seas where humans can rarely venture. Biologist Kristin Laidre and her colleagues at the Polar Science Center have tagged three of the creatures with satellite transmitters that track the animals' movements and measure water temperatures in a region where researchers believe rapid warming is taking place.
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34. Critically Endangered seabird losing its pulling power (International)
Abridged from: Bird Life International Website
23 April 2008
Full text: http://www.birdlife.org
A study into one of the world’s rarest seabirds provides knowledge that could help avoid extinction. Molecular analysis of the Critically Endangered Magenta Petrel Pterodroma magentae discovered that 95% of non-breeding adults were male. This suggests that critically low population levels may be causing male birds difficulty in attracting a mate.
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Interested in this topic? View MCCN’s website for more: Marine Species
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PETROLEUM AND MINERALS
35. Algal farming - a new Agricultural Revolution? (Australia)
Abridged from: Science Alerts, by Damir Ibrisimovic
30 April 2008
Full text: http://www.sciencealert.com.au
...The dilemma, biofuels or food, disappears as soon we turn our intention to the humble seawater algae. They are not only a potential source of biofuels. Algae are at the base of the marine food web and can also be used for human consumption or as animal fodder. And whatever we do not use can easily be converted into very good fertiliser. Growing algae on barren land may indeed offer a new agricultural revolution and Australia could be at its forefront, earning a good deal from carbon credits.
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36. Natural gas: the future of fuel? (Australia)
Abridged from: ABC 7:30 Report
29 April 2008
Full text: http://www.abc.net.au/7.30
As world oil prices skyrocket, experts warn Australia must find an alternative source of fuel. Some argue a cheaper, greener solution is right under the nation's nose: natural gas.
Download video 7:30 Report: http://www.abc.net.au
Related articles:
http://www.abc.net.au
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37. Floating Turbines May Join Norway's Offshore Rigs (Norway)
Abridged from: Planet Ark
29 April 2008
Full text: http://www.planetark.com
Giant turbines the size of jumbo jets bobbing on the North Sea may soon become as common off Norway as oil and gas platforms. At least that is the ambition of Norwegian authorities and industry, eager to splash some green on their oily image and use their offshore expertise to corner a potentially lucrative new market - floating wind farms in deep sea waters. Norway's government is contemplating licensing "blocks" for offshore wind generation, and Norwegian oil company StatoilHydro aims to start work next year on a floating turbine project near the site of the first North Sea oil discovery 40 years ago.
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38. Australia gets access to underwater bounty (Australia)
Abridged from: ABC Science Online
24 April 2008
Full text: http://www.abc.net.au
Australia has more access to a wealth of oil, gas and biological resources that lie hidden in vast areas of the deep ocean, after the United Nations accepted Australia's claim to nine distinct marine areas around the far edge of the continental shelf.... The new areas include future petroleum exploration areas between Lord Howe and Norfolk islands and the Wallaby Plateau off Western Australia...It also includes areas of the Great Australian Bight, which Mr Alcock describes as a "massive river delta" full of piles of petroleum-friendly sedimentary rocks kilometres thick. Areas south of Tasmania that are home to possible gas reserves and cold-water corals at a depth of 1,000 metres are also included.
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39. Marine mining for diamonds, precious and base metals...(International)
Abridged from: Mineweb profile, Mineweb website
27 April 2008
Full text: http://www.mineweb.com
Namdeb and Nautilus Minerals are just two companies which may benefit from technology developed by Robert Goodden for offshore minerals mining....The current focus of Brisbane based Nautilus is the Solwara project, located in the territorial waters of Papua New Guinea in the deep western Pacific Ocean. Prior to the Fugro takeover Seacore successfully completed one of its most challenging exploration contracts in the company's history, drilling and recovering core samples of the massive sulphide deposits from the floor of the Manus Basin for the Solwara project. Seacore operated at a water depth of 1,700 m and drilled boreholes at over 30 locations and took core samples up to 20 m into the seabed...
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RECREATION & TOURISM
40. Australian ecotourism pioneer wins award (Australia)
Abridged from: Sustained.com.au, by EcoTourism Australia
22 April 2008
Full text: http://www.sustained.com.au
Ecotourism Australia was awarded the prestigious World Travel and Tourism Council “Tourism for Tomorrow” Award for Conservation at the World Tourism Summit in Dubai.
Ecotourism Australia ranked above contenders from around the globe to take top place in the Conservation Category awarded to a business, organisation or attraction that has made a significant contribution to the conservation and preservation of natural heritage.
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41. Report: tourism blind to high climate risk (International)
Abridged from: Climate Change Corp Website
23 Apr 2008
Full text: http://www.climatechangecorp.com
Hurricanes are on the increase and sea levels are rising, but the booming tourist industry is still busy building beachside hotels. Attach the word “sustainable” to tourism and a sector formerly criticised for its contribution to environmental and social degradation seems to undergo a complete transformation. According to the United Nations and international lending institutions, sustainable tourism can alleviate poverty, help with conservation and create employment for minorities. But at best, this vision is only in its infancy...
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RESEARCH
42. Tagged seals shed light on Antarctic deep (Australia)
Abridged from: ABC News Online
29 April 2008
Full text: http://www.abc.net.au
Australian scientists have used tagged seals to explore the deep ocean around Antarctica. The new research has revealed that the sea around the frozen continent is becoming less salty, and scientists say this could play a major role in changing ocean currents and the climate. This unique tracking program is part of a major international research program shedding new light on how the world's oceans are changing.
Further information: download ABC 7:30 Report video http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/730report
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43. New Zealand scientists thaw 1,000-pound squid corpse (New Zealand)
Abridged from: The Associated Press
29 April 2008
Full text: http://ap.google.com
Marine scientists in New Zealand on Tuesday were thawing the corpse of the largest squid ever caught to try to unlock the secrets of one of the ocean's most mysterious beasts. No one has ever seen a living, grown colossal squid in its natural deep ocean habitat, and scientists hope their examination of the 1,089-pound, 26-foot long colossal squid, set to begin Wednesday, will help determine how the creatures live. The thawing and examination are being broadcast live on the Internet.
Further information (live internet broadcast): http://machinist.salon.com
Related articles:
http://www.stuff.co.nz
http://www.abc.net.au
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44. Will Corals Survive The Stormy Future? (Belize)
Abridged from: Science Daily
29 April 2008
Full text: http://www.sciencedaily.com
Hurricanes and storms limit the ability of corals in Belize to “recruit” new coral into their communities, according to an Earthwatch-supported study published in Marine Environmental Research.
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45. Formation Of Ice Sheets 34 Million Years Ago Changed Ocean Acidity (International)
Abridged from: Science Daily
29 April 2008
Full text: http://www.sciencedaily.com
Before ice first began to form in Antarctica around 34 million years ago, the Earth was a very different place - but then greenhouse conditions swiftly gave way to an icehouse climate, causing the oceans to become less acidic. Scientists have been piecing together how Earth's changing climate affected ocean chemistry during this period of transition. Their work sheds light on the links between glaciation and the ocean carbon cycle.
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46. New Fish Romping In The Southern Baltic Competes With Flounder, But Feeds Predatory Fish (Sweden)
Abridged from: Science Daily
28 April 2008
Full text: http://www.sciencedaily.com
In less than three decades the round goby has become one of the most colourful features of the southern Baltic. The fish, which comes from the Black Sea, has rapidly adapted to Baltic conditions and can locally dominate coastal fish populations. This has led to competition with indigenous fish species, such as the flounder, but it has also become a significant contribution to the diet of important predatory fishes, such as cod and perch. This is shown in a dissertation in systems ecology at Stockholm University in Sweden.
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47. Freshwater Herring Had Salty Origin (East Africa)
Abridged from: Science Daily
25 April 2008
Full text: http://www.sciencedaily.com
East Africa's Lake Tanganyika has a highly diverse fauna which closely resembles marine animals. A researcher at the University of Zurich has traced the origins of the freshwater herring of the Lake to a marine invasion which occurred in West Africa 25 to 50 million years ago, coincident with a major oceanic incursion into the region. The ancient freshwater capture of marine organisms may help to explain the origins of other species unique to this Lake.
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Interested in this topic? View MCCN’s website for more: Marine and Coastal Research
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PUBLICATIONS & WEBSITES
48. Are you using the correct fish names? (Australia)
Abridged from: Seafood Services Release
April 2008
Full text: http://www.fishnames.com.au/
Fish Finder is our searchable online database of approved Standard Fish Names for all species in the Australian Fish Names Standard AS SSA 5300. Search by species or generate a customised list that suits your particular needs.
Further information:
View new website: http://www.fishnames.com.au/
Australian Fish Names Standard AS SSA 5300 and other Australian seafood resources: http://www.seafood.net.au
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49. NGOS Join Forces to Protect Cetacean Populations in the Region (Europe)
Abridged from: The Earth Times
29 April 2008
Full text: http://www.earthtimes.org
Cetacean Alliance has launched a website http://www.cetaceanalliance.org that aims to disseminate information, raise awareness, promote marine conservation and ultimately facilitate the recovery of dolphins and whales living in Mediterranean waters. The web site features educational materials, videos, research updates, conservation-oriented
information, and tips for interested students keen to study whales and dolphins.
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50. Biodiversity linked to human health (International)
Abridged from: New Scientist
28 April 2008
Full text: http://environment.newscientist.com
To protect the health of humans, save other species. That's the message from Eric Chivian and Aaron Bernstein from Harvard Medical School in Boston, who say that human health depends crucially on biodiversity in new book Sustaining Life: How human health depends on biodiversity, to be published by Oxford University Press in May. Due to be launched at the UN headquarters in New York, the book includes contributions by such heavy-hitters as the sociobiologist Edward O. Wilson and former UN chief Kofi Annan.
Further information: http://www.oup.com
Related articles: http://www.iol.co.za
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51. Australian Coastal Society (Australia)
View website: http://www.australiancoastalsociety.org
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52. Coastline Magazine, Volume 17: No. 1-2008 (Europe)
EUCC’s Coastline Magazine – Coastal and Marine challenges, is available online at http://www.eucc.net. This Issue presents a variety of European coastal management experiences, from restoring marshlands in The Netherlands, to new approaches to capacity building. Further information on EUCC: http://www.eucc.net/
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OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
53. Review of the zoning plans for Jervis Bay and Solitary Islands Marine Parks (Australia)
Abridged from: Marine Parks Authority NSW Release
The Marine Parks Authority (NSW) commenced a review of the zoning plans for Jervis Bay and Solitary Islands Marine Parks from 31 March 2008. The review will determine whether the current zoning plans for Jervis Bay and Solitary Islands Marine Parks remain appropriate for securing the objects of the Marine Parks Act 1997. The review commenced on 31 March 2008. Public submissions will be invited for a period of two months from that date.
Further information: http://www.mpa.nsw.gov.au; or T: 1300 361 967
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54. Inquiry into climate change and environmental impacts on coastal communities (Australia)
Abridged from: Media Release, House Of Representatives Standing Committee On Climate Change, Water, Environment And The Arts, Inquiry into the Australian Coastal Zone
20 March 2008
The House of Representatives Climate Change, Water, Environment and the Arts Committee is to conduct an inquiry into climate change and environmental impacts on Australian coastal communities. Committee Chair Jennie George welcomed the co-referral of this inquiry by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts Peter Garrett MP and the Minister for Climate Change and Water Senator Penny Wong. “Much of Australia’s population and infrastructure is in the coastal zone, increasing our vulnerability to climate change impacts,” Ms George said. “The growth in population and intensification of land use along the coast is further increasing pressure on the environment in many areas.” “That both ministers jointly referred this inquiry to the committee reflects the critical importance of this area.” The committee will accept submissions until Friday, 30 May 2008.
Further details about the inquiry, including how to make a submission, can be obtained from the committee’s website at http://www.aph.gov.au/ccwea.
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55. MCCN’s Coastal Survey 2008 – closes 18 May 2008 (Australia)
Have your say on how to improve the future conservation and sustainability of our coasts and marine environments. Coast to Coast 2008, Australia’s national coastal conference, will be held in Darwin in August 2008. Use this Survey to input into the conference agenda and potentially a submission to the recently announced House of Representatives Standing Committee inquiry into “Climate change and environmental impacts on coastal communities”. Tell us what you think are important for future coastal programs for community engagement , capacity building and training! All responses will be treated confidentially. Please complete the questionnaire by 18 May 2008.
Further information: for a hard copy of the coastal survey call MCCN on 1800 815 332 or E: nat-off@mccn.org.au. Complete the survey online: Click here for MCCN Coastal Survey 2008 or view from MCCN’s website: http://www.mccn.org.au
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Interested in this topic? View MCCN’s website for more: Act Now
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GRANTS
56. Community Coastcare Grants (Australia)
Abridged from: Australian Government, Natural Resource Management website
April 2008
Full text: http://www.nrm.gov.au/
Caring for our Country Community Coastcare will support coastal communities to participate in coastal protection and restoration activities. Applications are scheduled to open on 19 May and close on 25 July 2008. Further information: http://www.nrm.gov.au
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57. Nominations For Caring For Our Country Community Coastcare Small Grants Assessors (Australia)
Abridged from: Australian Government, Natural Resource Management website
April 2008
Full text: http://www.nrm.gov.au
The Australian Government is seeking nominations from individuals interested in contributing to the assessment of applications for Community Coastcare small grants. Assessors may provide advice relating to individual applications, contribute to grants review panels and / or provide advice in the development and review of Community Coastcare processes. Assessors will be appointed for up to three years beginning in 2008. Further information: http://www.nrm.gov.au
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AWARDS
58. The Department of Sustainability and Environment Excellence in Marine and Coastal Management Award (Australia)
Abridged from: United Nations of Australia, Victoria Division Website
April 2008
Full text: http://www.unaavictoria.org.au
The Department of Sustainability and Environment Excellence in Marine and Coastal Management Award seeks to acknowledge the best company, organisation, individual or community group that has demonstrated excellence in the conservation and management of marine, coastal or estuarine environments. Nominations Close 5pm, Friday 2 May. Further information: http://www.unaavictoria.org.au Email: events@unaavictoria.org.au
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59. 2008 Australian Museum Eureka Prize for Environmental Research (Australia)
Abridged from: Australian Museum Website
April 2008
Full text: http://www.amonline.net.au
Entries and nominations are invited for the Eureka Prize for Environmental Research, one of seven prizes dedicated to environmental issues in this year’s Australian Museum Eureka Prizes, Australia’s largest award scheme for research into critical environmental sustainability issues facing the country. This Eureka Prize is designed to highlight outstanding research being undertaken in Australia that addresses critical environmental issues, and the leading role often played by Australian research in identifying solutions to environmental problems and to the improvement of the environment. Entries close 2 May 2008
Further information: http://www.amonline.net.au or email eureka@austmus.gov.au
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60. 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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61. Call for Entries to Reuters-IUCN Environmental Media Awards (International)
Abridged from: Reuters-IUCN Media Release
Reuters Foundation and IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) launch the 2008 Media Awards, a worldwide competition aimed at raising global awareness of environmental and sustainable development issues, by encouraging excellence in environmental reporting worldwide. The deadline for entries is 15 June 2008.
Further information: http://www.foundation.reuters.com and http://www.iucn.org/media_awards.
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WORKSHOPS, CONFERENCES AND EVENTS
COMING UP (May – June 2008)
62. World Ocean’s Day (Australia)
8 June 2008
To help celebrate World Ocean’s Day, MCCN will profile Australia’s talented marine science students and their research work. To help us do this, Phoebe Hill, herself a PhD candidate and volunteer with MCCN, will compile a review of some of the research work being conducted in academic institutions across Australia. If you are a student doing a post-graduate marine science research project, or a supervisor of marine science research students, we would like to hear from you. Please send us a 100-200 word summary of your research including your supervisors name and any supporting images to Phoebe Hill at email: volunteer@mccn.org.au by Monday 26th May 2008. If we are able to include your project we will send you a copy of the completed article on the MCCN website so that you can circulate to your own networks.
Further information T: 1800 815 332 E: volunteer@mccn.org.au
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63. Effects of Climate Change on the World's Oceans - International Symposium (Spain)
19-23 May 2008
The Symposium will focus on the major issues of climate change that affect the oceans: oceanic circulation, climate modelling, cycling of carbon and other elements, acidification, oligotrophy, changes in species distributions and migratory routes, sea-level rise, coastal erosion, etc. It will bring together results from observations, analyses and model simulations, at a global scale, and will include discussion of the climate change scenarios and the possibilities for mitigating and protecting the marine environment and living marine resources.
Further information: http://www.pices.int
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64. International Ocean Stewardship Forum 2008 (International)
17-18 June 2008
The National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, UK will host a major International Ocean Stewardship Forum with the aim of facilitating the effective integration of marine science, policy and law within ocean governance. World-leading experts in these disciplines together with principal users of ocean space represented by governments, industry and academia, will meet to assess the development of a sustainable operational strategy for marine policy.
Further information: http://www.oceanstewardship.com/ or email: info@oceanstewardship.com
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65. The 3rd Congress of the International Society for Applied Phycology and the 11th International Conf (Ireland)
21 - 27 June 2008
To be held at the National University of Ireland, Galway and will be hosted by the Martin Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland, Galway.
Further information: http://www.conference.ie
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66. Asian Wetland Symposium 2008- Wetlands -The Heart of Asia (Vietnam)
22- 25 June 2008
A symposium to reflect on the importance of wetlands to the daily life of people in Asia and to look into the progress and challenges in wetlands management and conservation. The Asian Wetland Symposium provides a single platform for discussions among various sectors including, national and local governments, NGOs, scientific experts, the private sector, and local and indigenous people engaged in wetland management to discuss issues, approaches and priorities in wetland management in the Asian Region.
Further information: http://www.aws2008.net/
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CALL FOR PAPERS & ABSTRACTS
67. Littoral 2008 A Changing Coast: Challenge the Environmental Policies (Europe)
25-28 November 2008, Venice, Italy.
Abstract submission extended until 12th May 2008. Further information: http://www.littoral2008.corila.it or E: littoral2008@corila.it
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68. 29th Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology & Conservation (International)
17-19 February 2009, Brisbane, Australia.
Creating Community Collaboration. This will be the first time the symposium has been held in Australia and the southern hemisphere. The symposium will explore themes such as building communication and networking at local, regional, and global scales. It aims to create linkages between communities and to connect policy-makers at all levels with the latest information coming out of sea turtle research and conservation programs. Abstract submissions are due by 15 September 2008. Further information: http://www.turtlesbrisbane2009.org/ or Email: info@turtlesbrisbane2009.org
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69. Australian Protected Areas Congress 2008 (Australia)
24-28 November 2008, Sunshine Coast, Queensland.
The congress will focus on the values, benefits and contemporary and future importance of protected areas for humankind in Australia. Terrestrial, freshwater and marine protected areas will all be considered. Marine protected areas and conservation will feature as an important theme throughout the congress. The conference is hosted by the Queensland Environmental Protection Agency in conjunction with WWF, IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas, Tourism Queensland and the University of Queensland. First call for abstracts will close 5 May. Further information: http://www.asnevents.com.au or E:
keith.twyford@epa.qld.gov.au
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70. Coastal Zone Asia-Pacific Conference (China)
http://www.czapa.org and now open for on-line abstract submission. The deadline for submission is 15 June 2008.
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71. International Marine Conservation Congress: call for papers (International)
The Marine Section of the Society for Conservation Biology will be hosting its first stand-alone meeting, the International Marine Conservation Congress from 20-24 May 2009 at George Mason University near Washington D.C. This will be an interdisciplinary meeting that will engage natural and social scientists, managers, policy-makers, and the public. 1st Call for symposia and workshops: 1 April - 1 June 2008, decisions by 15 July 2008. Further information on submitting papers: http://www.conbio.org/IMCC ; E: IMCCprogram@conbio.org
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View full calendar of events on MCCN website: Workshops, Conferences and Events
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DISCLAIMER
The views and opinions expressed in Wetstuff-News are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Australian Government, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts, or the Minister for Climate Change and Water.
While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that the contents are factually correct, the Commonwealth does not accept responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the contents, and shall not be liable for any loss or damage that may be occasioned directly or indirectly through the use of, or reliance on, the contents of this publication.
All material in Wetstuff-News may be reprinted unless it has been sourced from an unidentified publication whereby no reprint is authorised except by permission from the source publishers.
News articles are posted as a free community service for the purposes of non-commercial education, research, study review and news reporting, and are archived for reference of students and researchers as a 'fair dealing' activity under Australian Copyright Law.
Marine Coastal Community Network (MCCN) is a national, not-for-profit Network that facilitates government, industry & community involvement in marine and coastal conservation and sustainability initiatives. Marine Coastal Community Network is supported by the Australian Government.
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
Supported by the Australian Government 