Posted on 19 Aug 2009
With top sustained winds approaching 135 mph, Hurricane Bill was upgraded early today to a dangerous Category 4 storm and could grow even stronger as it makes its way across the open waters of the Atlantic on a path toward Bermuda that would likely keep it clear of the U.S. East Coast but could spell trouble for Canada's Maritime Provinces, said the National Hurricane Center.
The center said people in the Leeward Islands should monitor Bill's progress, though the core of the storm was expected to pass well to the northeast of the islands later today and early Thursday.
"The wind shear is light and the waters are warm," Todd Kimberlain, a forecaster at the center, said. "Those are two essential ingredients not just for the formation, but also the maintenance, of hurricanes."
Early this morning, Bill was centered about 460 miles east of the Leeward Islands and moving west-northwest near 16 mph.
The most significant threat could be to Bermuda, which the storm could pass in three or four days, Kimberlain said. But it also could move directly between Bermuda and the eastern coast of the U.S. without making landfall.
Either way, people near the coast can expect wave swells and rip currents in the next few days, Kimberlain said.
Forecasters had revised their Atlantic hurricane season predictions for this season after the first two months passed without any named storms developing.


The examples and perspective in this article or section might have an extensive bias or disproportional coverage towards one or more specific regions.(January 2019)
Tidal flooding, also known as sunny day floodingor nuisance flooding, is the temporary inundation of low-lying areas, especially streets, during exceptionally high tide events, such as at full and new moons. The highest tides of the year may be known as the king tide, with the month varying by location. These kinds of floods tend not to be a high risk to property or human safety, but further stress coastal infrastructure in low lying areas.
This kind of flooding is becoming more common in cities and other human-occupied coastal areas as sea level rise associated with climate change and other human-related environmental impacts such as coastal erosion and land subsidence increase the vulnerability of infrastructure.Geographies faced with these issues can utilize coastal management practices to mitigate the effects in some areas, but increasingly these kinds of floods may develop into coastal flooding that requires managed retreat or other more extensive climate change adaptation practices are needed for vulnerable areas.
Tidal flooding is capable of greatly inhibiting natural gravity-based drainage systems in low-lying areas when it reaches levels that are below visible inundation of the surface, but which are high enough to incapacitate the lower drainage or sewer system. Thus, even normal rainfall or storm surge events can cause greatly amplified flooding effects. One passive solution to intrusion through drainage systems are one way back-flow valves in drainage ways. However, while this may prevent a majority of the tidal intrusion, it also inhibits drainage during exceptionally high tides that shut the valves. In Miami Beach, where resilience work is underway, the pump systems replace insufficient gravity-based systems.
Sunny day flooding is often associated with coastal regions, where sea level rise attributed to global warming can send water into the streets on days with elevated high tides.Further, regions with glaciers also experience sunny day flooding as climate change alters the dynamics of glacier meltwater. Abnormally hot temperatures not only swell rivers and creeks directly through accelerated snowmelt, but can burst ice dams and cause water from glacial lakes to swell waterways less predictably.
A warming climate causes physical changes to the types of ice on a glacier.As glaciers retreat, there is less firn (water-retaining snow) so that more meltwater runs directly into the watershed over deeper, impervious glacial ice.
Most of the coastal communities in the Eastern Seaboard of the United States are vulnerable to this kind of flooding as sea level rise increases.
Due to changing geography such as subsidence, and poorly planned development, tidal flooding may exist separate from modern nuisance flooding associated with sea level rise and anthropocentric climate change. The widely publicized Holland Island in Maryland for example has disappeared over the years mainly due to subsidence and coastal erosion.In the New Orleans area on the Gulf Coast of Louisiana, land subsidence results in the Grand Isle tide gauge showing an extreme upward sea level trend.
In Florida, controversy arose when state-level government mandated that the term "nuisance flooding" and other terms be used in place of terms such as sea level rise, climate change and global warming, prompting allegations of climate change denial, specifically against Governor Rick Scott. This amid Florida, specifically South Florida and the Miami metropolitan area being one of the most at risk areas in the world for the potential effects of sea level rise, and where the frequency and severity of tidal flooding events increased in the 21st century. one meter (3.3 feet).The issue is more bipartisan in South Florida, particularly in places like Miami Beach, where a several hundred million dollar project is underway to install more than 50 pumps and physically raise roads to combat the flooding, mainly along the west side of South Beach, formerly a mangrove wetland where the average elevation is less than
In the Miami metropolitan area, where the vast majority of the land is below 10 ft (3.0 m), even a one-foot increase over the average high tide can cause widespread flooding. The 2015 and 2016 king tide event levels reached about 4 feet (1.2 m) MLLW, 3 feet (0.9 m) above mean sea level, or about 2 ft (0.61 m) NAVD88, and nearly the same above MHHW. While the tide range is very small in Miami, averaging about 2 ft (0.61 m), with the greatest range being less than 2 m (6.6 ft), the area is very acute to minute differences down to single inches due to the vast area at low elevation. NOAA tide gauge data for most stations shows current water level graphs relative to a fixed vertical datum, as well as mean sea level trends for some stations. During the king tides, the local Miami area tide gauge at Virginia Key shows levels running at times 1 foot (0.30 m) or more over datum.
Fort Lauderdale has installed over one hundred tidal valves since 2013 to combat flooding. Fort Lauderdale is nicknamed the "Venice of America" due to its roughly 165 miles (266 km) of canals.
A recent University of Florida study correlated the increased tidal flooding in south Florida, at least from 2011–2015 to episodic atmospheric conditions. mm) per year, versus the global rate of just over a tenth of an inch (3 mm) per year.The rate was about 3/4 of an inch (19
The coast, also known as the coastline or seashore, is defined as the area where land meets the ocean, or as a line that forms the boundary between the land and the ocean or a lake. The Earth has around 620,000 kilometres (390,000 mi) of coastline. Coasts are important zones in natural ecosystems, often home to a wide range of biodiversity. On land, they harbor important ecosystems such as freshwater or estuarine wetlands, which are important for bird populations and other terrestrial animals. In wave-protected areas they harbor saltmarshes, mangroves or seagrasses, all of which can provide nursery habitat for finfish, shellfish, and other aquatic species. Rocky shores are usually found along exposed coasts and provide habitat for a wide range of sessile animals and various kinds of seaweeds. Along tropical coasts with clear, nutrient-poor water, coral reefs can often be found between depths of 1–50 m.
A flood is an overflow of water that submerges land that is usually dry. In the sense of "flowing water", the word may also be applied to the inflow of the tide. Floods are an area of study of the discipline hydrology and are of significant concern in agriculture, civil engineering and public health. Human changes to the environment often increase the intensity and frequency of flooding, for example land use changes such as deforestation and removal of wetlands, changes in waterway course or flood controls such as with levees, and larger environmental issues such as climate change and sea level rise. In particular climate change's increased rainfall and extreme weather events increases the severity of other causes for flooding, resulting in more intense floods and increased flood risk.
Mean sea level is an average surface level of one or more among Earth's coastal bodies of water from which heights such as elevation may be measured. The global MSL is a type of vertical datum – a standardised geodetic datum – that is used, for example, as a chart datum in cartography and marine navigation, or, in aviation, as the standard sea level at which atmospheric pressure is measured to calibrate altitude and, consequently, aircraft flight levels. A common and relatively straightforward mean sea-level standard is instead the midpoint between a mean low and mean high tide at a particular location.
An estuary is a partially enclosed coastal body of brackish water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea. Estuaries form a transition zone between river environments and maritime environments and are an example of an ecotone. Estuaries are subject both to marine influences such as tides, waves, and the influx of saline water, and to fluvial influences such as flows of freshwater and sediment. The mixing of seawater and freshwater provides high levels of nutrients both in the water column and in sediment, making estuaries among the most productive natural habitats in the world.
A rip tide, or riptide, is a strong offshore current that is caused by the tide pulling water through an inlet along a barrier beach, at a lagoon or inland marina where tide water flows steadily out to sea during ebb tide. It is a strong tidal flow of water within estuaries and other enclosed tidal areas. The riptides become the strongest where the flow is constricted. When there is a falling or ebbing tide, the outflow water is strongly flowing through an inlet toward the sea, especially once stabilized by jetties. During these falling and ebbing tides, a riptide can carry a person far offshore. For example, the ebbing tide at Shinnecock Inlet in Southampton, New York, extends more than 300 metres (980 ft) offshore. Because of this, riptides are typically more powerful than rip currents.
A storm surge, storm flood, tidal surge, or storm tide is a coastal flood or tsunami-like phenomenon of rising water commonly associated with low-pressure weather systems, such as cyclones. It is measured as the rise in water level above the normal tidal level, and does not include waves.
A tidal creek or tidal channel is a narrow inlet or estuary that is affected by ebb and flow of ocean tides. Thus it has variable salinity and electrical conductivity over the tidal cycle, and flushes salts from inland soils. Tidal creeks are characterized by slow water velocity resulting in buildup of fine, organic sediment in wetlands. Creeks may often be a dry to muddy channel with little or no flow at low tide, but with significant depth of water at high tide. Due to the temporal variability of water quality parameters within the tidally influenced zone, there are unique biota associated with tidal creeks which are often specialised to such zones. Nutrients and organic matter are delivered downstream to habitats normally lacking these, while the creeks also provide access to inland habitat for salt-water organisms.
Tidal range is the difference in height between high tide and low tide. Tides are the rise and fall of sea levels caused by gravitational forces exerted by the Moon and Sun and the rotation of Earth. Tidal range depends on time and location.
The climate of the United States is changing in ways that are widespread and varied. From 2010 to 2019, the United States experienced its hottest decade on record. Different regions experience widely different climatic changes. Changes in climate in the regions of the United States appear significant. For example, drought conditions appear to be worsening in the southwest while improving in the northeast. Generally, states that emit more carbon dioxide per person and prevent climate action are suffering more.
The effects of Climate change in Florida is attributable to man-made increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide. Floridians are experiencing increased flooding due to sea level rise, and are concerned about the possibility of more frequent or more intense hurricanes.
Tide gauge measurements show that the current global sea level rise began at the start of the 20th century. Between 1901 and 2018, the globally averaged sea level rose by 15–25 cm (6–10 in). More precise data gathered from satellite radar measurements reveal an accelerating rise of 7.5 cm (3 in) from 1993 to 2017, for an average rate of 3.1 cm per decade. This acceleration is due mostly to climate change, which heats the ocean and which melts the land-based ice sheets and glaciers. Between 1993 and 2018, the thermal expansion of water contributed 42% to sea level rise; melting of temperate glaciers, 21%; Greenland, 15%; and Antarctica, 8%. Climate scientists expect the rate to further accelerate during the 21st century, with the latest measurements saying the sea levels are rising by 3.7 mm per year.
The climate of Miami is classified as having a tropical monsoon climate with hot and humid summers; short, warm winters; and a marked drier season in the winter. Its sea-level elevation, coastal location, position just above the Tropic of Cancer, and proximity to the Gulf Stream shape its climate.
The North Shore, in the context of geography of the Island of Oʻahu, refers to the north-facing coastal area of Oʻahu between Kaʻena Point and Kahuku. The largest settlement is Haleʻiwa.
Coastal flooding normally occurs when dry and low-lying land is submerged by seawater. The range of a coastal flooding is a result of the elevation of floodwater that penetrates the inland which is controlled by the topography of the coastal land exposed to flooding. Flood damage modelling was limited to local, regional or national scales. However, with the presence of climate change and an increase in the population rates, flood events have intensified and called for a global interest in finding out different methods with both spatial and temporal dynamics.
Coastal Risk Consulting, LLC. is an American startup climate adaptation technology and consulting company with headquarters in Plantation, Florida. Coastal Risk provides individuals, businesses, and local governments with climate impact modeling technology, available as an online software-as-a-service (SaaS), that allows property owners to assess their vulnerability to flooding related to sea level rise and climate change impacts and assists in adaptation and resiliency decision-making.
Climate change in Delaware encompasses the effects of climate change, attributed to man-made increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide, in the U.S. state of Delaware.
Climate change in South Carolina encompasses the effects of climate change, attributed to man-made increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide, in the U.S. state of South Carolina.
Climate change in Virginia encompasses the effects of climate change, attributed to man-made increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide, in the U.S. state of Virginia.
Sinking cities are urban environments that are in danger of disappearing due to their rapidly changing landscapes. The largest contributors to these cities becoming unlivable are the combined effects of climate change, land subsidence, and accelerated urbanization. Many of the world's largest and most rapidly growing cities are located along rivers and coasts, exposing them to natural disasters. As countries continue to invest people, assets, and infrastructure into these cities, the loss potential in these areas also increases. Sinking cities must overcome substantial barriers to properly prepare for today's dynamic environmental climate.
Sedimentation enhancing strategies are environmental management projects aiming to restore and facilitate land-building processes in deltas. Sediment availability and deposition are important because deltas naturally subside and therefore need sediment accumulation to maintain their elevation, particularly considering increasing rates of sea-level rise. Sedimentation enhancing strategies aim to increase sedimentation on the delta plain primarily by restoring the exchange of water and sediments between rivers and low-lying delta plains. Sedimentation enhancing strategies can be applied to encourage land elevation gain to offset sea-level rise. Interest in sedimentation enhancing strategies has recently increased due to their ability to raise land elevation, which is important for the long-term sustainability of deltas.


The Best Kept Shark Diving Secret: Cuba
The Carribean is one of the most popular scuba diving areas for American travelers, with easy access to attractive locations in the Cayman Islands, Belize, the Mexican coast and Honduras, among many others. There is a large concentration of famous dive sites with a variety of diving styles and marine life, including encounters with large marine creatures, world-known wrecks, and cave and cavern diving. Naturally, there are many interesting dives for underwater photographers.
But there is one area which is still virgin, and that is Cuba. There are two main reasons for this. First, it is sort of a “black area” for American divers for political reasons, and second, it is still not easy to reach for European or Asian divers. As a European diver, I had been exploring the possibility of diving in Cuba for a few years, and after checking some YouTube clips from Jardines de la Reina, I decided to see it for myself. The diving in the videos was too tempting to pass up.
A Caribbean reef shark passes by in the rich waters of Jardines de la Reina.
Jardines offers many close encounters for those willing to seek out the diving.
About Jardines de la Reina
Jardines de la Reina is a remote and uninhabited part of southern Cuba, some 50 miles offshore (do not confuse it with “Jardines del Rey”, which is further north). This area is heavily protected by the Cuban goverment, so only scuba diving and some “light” big game fishing are allowed here (thanks to Castro, who was a diver himself and wanted to preserve the area). Cuba is slowly starting to open the gates to tourism, and now we are blessed with the opportunity to dive in this fantastic area.
There is one single, goverment controlled but “joint venture," Cuban-Italian operator conducting scuba activities, Avalon Diving. The area is reachable only by liveaboard, but Avalon Diving made an interesting “floating hotel." It's essentially a big boat converted into a convenient mid-category dive facility anchored in the middle of Jardines, and can accomodate up to 20-25 people living there at a time. Each day divers are transferred to the dive locations with light, speedy boats that we are used to seeing in the rest of Caribbean. The other option is to book a “classic” liveaboard – a 7 day cruise around Jardines. I found the floating hotel to be most effective.
Some of the silky sharks are more than 3 meters long!
A 7 day diving package consists of 5 diving days with three dives a day, since you loose the first and last day on transfers to/from Jardines. It's the only con for this trip. Also, you have to arrive in Havana (where the transfer is organised) one day before the booked trip, and stay in Havana one day afterwards. This presents a great opportunity to explore the city for a few days after your dive trip.
The Diving - Sharks!
The diving itself is something trully different. The water is very clear, and during every dive you are treated to close encounters with dozens of sharks... for the entire dive. I've had the oportunity to dive throughout the world and have seen many sharks before, but never in this fashion. They even started to get a little boring! If I was the operator there, I might even dare to say, “Sharks guaranteed or money back!” This is definitelly the place to go if you are a shark lover. Divers will most frequently encounter groups of silky and carribean reef sharks cruising around in close proximity, giving you many amazing photo options. Most of the sharks, if not every shark, are bigger then 2 metres, few bigger than 3m. The dive guides, who are very competent, know exactly where and when to take you, but it also seems that sharks congregate around the mooring buoys as soon as they hear the boat engines, expecting few pieces of fish after the dive (which they receive). The sharks are not agressive, but courious about the divers so there was never any sense of danger or threatening behavior. Of course, wide angle photography and close-focus wide-angle are common techiques here, so i never even bothered to try macro shooting.
The caribbean reef sharks are often found patrolling near the bottom of the reef.
At some of the dive sites in Jardines de la Reina you'll find dozens of Lionfish.
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06 Nov 2017
Pelagic sharks, like this blue shark are under the most pressure from fishing and the finning industry. A very curious blue shark with some war wounds and souvenir.
Category: Sharks (Gold Medal Winner)
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MELBOURNE, Australia – The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) remains neutral. All climate models surveyed by the Bureau indicate the tropical Pacific Ocean is likely to stay ENSO neutral for the rest of 2017.
Sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the central tropical Pacific (the NINO3.4 region) have been warmer than average, though still in the neutral range, since mid-April.
The current NINO3.4 value of +0.5 °C is the result of a localised warm anomaly. The overall sea surface temperature pattern is inconsistent with a developing El Niño, meaning further ocean warming and El Niño development remains unlikely.
This is reflected in neutral ENSO outlooks from all international climate models surveyed. Other indicators of ENSO, such as the Southern Oscillation Index, cloudiness near the Date Line, and trade winds also remain at neutral levels.
The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) is neutral. However, two of six climate models suggest positive IOD thresholds could be reached in the coming months.
Only one of these models suggests these will last long enough to be considered a positive IOD event.
Positive IOD events are typically associated with below average winter and spring rainfall over central and southern Australia.


Aquariums have come a long way since the days when visiting was strictly a spectator sport, with guests parading past static exhibits and viewing fish through thick walls of glass. The move toward interactive displays and “animal chats” have enhanced the visitor’s experience, with many aquariums also offering special tours to meet marine life in a humane way. Now, aquarium-goers can experience everything from dolphin training to diving with sharks or visiting the food-prep lab.
If you’ve ever been curious about what goes on at the aquarium, out of public view, find out by visiting these five aquariums. Keep in mind that these in-depth, insider tours are very popular, so reserve your spot well in advance to avoid disappointment.
1. New England Aquarium in Boston
Photo courtesy of the New England Aquarium
Ever wonder how an aquarium takes care of all its animals? Discover the secrets on a behind-the-scenes tour. The New England Aquarium in Boston offers two options. The first, focusing on the galleries, provides insight into food preparation, medical care and maintenance of tanks and habitats. Another takes you to the Marine Mammal Center, where California sea lions and northern fur seals live, learn and play. You’ll explore their habitats and find out what marine mammal trainers do to keep these creatures happy and engaged.
Or, sign up for a meet-and-greet with the playful Atlantic harbor seals—and expect to get wet! The aquarium’s focal point—the four-story, 200,000-gallon Giant Ocean Tank—is where Myrtle, the green sea turtle, lives. You can meet this famous resident on a personalized tour that includes a peek at the food preparation kitchen and the technology behind this massive seawater tank. You’ll also be invited to step out on the feeding platform to give lettuce to Myrtle and feed the fish.
Lesson-plan resources: New England Aquarium’s Teacher Resource Center provides access to materials for related lesson planning.
Driving distances: 2 hours 20 minutes from Hartford, Connecticut | 2 hours 25 minutes from Portland, Maine | 3 hours 15 minutes from Albany, New York | 3 hours 45 minutes from Burlington, Vermont | 4 hours from New York City, New York
2. National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland
Photo courtesy of National Aquarium
Nearly 20,000 creatures call the National Aquarium home. Learn more about them by choosing from more than a dozen special tours. The Insider Tour provides an overall look at the animals and their habitats, as well as the exhibits and the inner workings of running an aquarium. Choose the Animal Care Experience to tour the medical facilities and meet the veterinary team. Interested in coral reefs? Dive into the aquarium’s Atlantic coral reef and hear what divers are doing to protect this fragile environment.
Atlantic bottlenose dolphins are the focus of three tours, including an opportunity to assist the marine mammal team with training. On the adults-only Dive into Art tour, you’ll explore the art and science involved in designing exhibits and natural habitats, followed by a paint-and-sip experience to create your own marine-themed art. Traveling with little ones? A choice of three different family-friendly sleepovers introduce participants to dolphins, ocean predators or the aquarium after dark.
Lesson-plan resources: Tap into the National Aquarium’s learning resources.
Driving distances: 2 hours from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | 3 hours 10 minutes from Richmond, Virginia | 4 hours from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
3. Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, Georgia
Photo courtesy of the Georgia Aquarium
Georgia Aquarium’s commitment to protecting the ocean and its inhabitants is evident in its immersive animal experiences, as each has a learning component to increase awareness. With a trainer’s guidance, enjoy an up-close encounter with dolphins or penguins in their habitat. Or, get acquainted with sea otters with a tour of their facility and an educational presentation. You’ll also have an opportunity to be their personal chef, helping to prepare a meal for them before taking part in a training session.
Would you prefer an encounter with a denizen of the deep? Dive into the 6.3-million-gallon seawater tank to come face-to-face with whale sharks and other aquatic creatures. Or, swim with beluga whales. The Behind the Seas Tours, offered several times daily, provide an in-depth look at the exhibits, the commissary, filtration room for the tank and the animal health center. To experience the aquarium after hours, consider Sleep under the Sea (sleepover and activities for families) or Sips Under the Sea (cocktails, tapas and sleepover for adults).
Lesson-plan resources: Look for lesson plan ideas in the aquarium’s website.
Driving distances: 2 hours 30 minutes from Montgomery, Alabama | 3 hours 30 minutes from Columbia, South Carolina | 4 hours 15 minutes from Nashville, Tennessee
4. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago
Photo courtesy of the Shedd Aquarium
Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium is among the world’s largest indoor aquariums. There, you can pull on a pair of rubber boots and shadow a marine mammal trainer for half a day, assisting in the daily routine, including feeding and training of dolphins, belugas, sea lions, sea otters and penguins. If you prefer to focus on a single species, then maybe the penguin or beluga encounter is for you. You’ll get a more in-depth look, learning about the animal, its care and feeding, and conservation efforts to protect the species. Your encounter also includes a hands-on mini-training session with tips from experts who work with these animals.
There’s also a shark feeding tour at the Wild Reef and an opportunity to visit the animal hospital and exhibit galleries. Photo courtesy of the Shedd Aquarium
Lesson-plan resources: Explore the Shedd Aquarium’s educator resources.
Driving distances: 1 hour 30 minutes from Milwaukee, Wisconsin | 3 hours from Indianapolis, Indiana | 4 hours from Toledo, Ohio and Detroit, Michigan | 5 hours from St. Louis, Missouri
5. Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport, Oregon
Photo courtesy of the Oregon Coast Aquarium
The Behind-the-Scenes tour at the Oregon Coast Aquarium gives insight into how the aquarium cares for and feeds more than 15,000 Pacific coast animals in their care. Opt for the Seal and Sea Lion Kisses tour, and you’ll get close enough to smell their fishy breaths, as the trainer describes their habitat and feeding, and demonstrates their training—with ample time for questions. If you’re game, these lovable creatures may give you a peck on the cheek.
Certified divers have the added option of enjoying a unique experience: diving with hundreds of sharks, fish and other marine species. The tour includes an inside look at the Passages of the Deep exhibit with its underwater tunnel through three ocean habitats. That’s also the location of the Sleep with the Sharks experience, which includes a scavenger hunt and tour of the galleries and exhibits—a perfect family outing that allows you to explore without the daytime crowds.
Lesson-plan resources: Discover the creatures of the Pacific.
Driving distances: 2 hours 30 minutes from Portland, Oregon | 4 hours 45 minutes from Tacoma, Washington


Surfers in New York have to deal with flat spells, wind swell, crowded city breaks. And now this: Researchers have just discovered the the southern coast of Long Island is a great white shark nursery and possibly the birthing site for the local population. (By the way, Santa Monica Bay is pretty much the same thing.)
While Jaws-like 16 footers are occasionally found in these waters, four-foot juveniles are a frequent catch — a unique feature in the North Atlantic. The scientists noticed that such a mature shark was returning to the area after being caught and tagged last year, leading them to the nursery theory. They spent two weeks trying to catch and tag juvenile whites, hauling in an impressive nine specimen.
Great whites aren’t federally protected, but the scientists say the juveniles’ presence signals a healthy ecosystem. After presumably being birthed in this area, the youngsters will hang around for 20 years before heading farther afield.
Check out Ocearch’s Shark Tracker to find out where fish tagged by the organization are…Or not. Do you really need that running through your head as you paddle out?


Correcting widespread misidentifications of the highly abundant and commercially important sardine species Sardinella lemuru, Bleeker, 1853 in the Philippines.
Morphology, meristics, and molecular genetics tools were used to determine the species level identification of the most commonly landed sardine species in the Philippines. Results from this study indicated that the historical and widely applied nomenclature of the Indian oil sardine, Sardinella longiceps, is incorrect and that this species is instead the Bali sardinella Sardinella lemuru. Developing an effective strategy for managing one of the Philippines most important commodity sardine species first requires accurate identification of this species. Results of this study provide needed information that is now being applied to emerging management policies.


Second ever pocket shark described
Scientists have just discovered the second specimen ever collected of a small shark known as a pocket shark. The first pocket shark (Mollisquama parini) was discovered in 1984 off the coast of Peru. This second species was inadvertently collected by scientists in the Gulf of Mexico studying sperm whales.
Book release: 100 Facts About Dolphins
Viktor Lyagushkin, Nikon Ambassador and National Geographic Russia photographer, together with Bogdana Vashchenko have just released an eBook entitled “100 Facts about Dolphins”. The book represents the results of several years of research and photography into the Black Sea Black Sea bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops Truncatus Ponticus).
Resources for Adobe Lightroom 6/CC users
Since Lightroom 6/CC’s release, Adobe has posted over 60 tutorials. These include guides for those completely new to the app, as well as orientation to the new features in the latest release. The tutorials are free to view and represent an amazing resource. Don’t forget to check out Wetpixel’s review too.
Japan suspended from world aquarium association
The Dodo reports that the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums has suspended the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums due to concerns that they were obtaining dolphins from the infamous drive hunts at Taji, Wakayama, Japan. This amounts to Japanese aquaria and dolphinariums no longer being recognized by any international bodies.
Video: Canon on 4K optics
Ikelite announces housing for OM-D E-M5 Mark II
Rob Stewart’s Revolution released online
Revolution, “The Evolution of Life and the Revolution to Save Us”, directed by Rob Stewart of Sharkwater fame has been released and is now available to download. Featuring some stunning wildlife and underwater footage, the film charts Stewart’s journey charts what he describes as “the biggest movement in history” as he charts the growth of environmental awareness and activism worldwide.
Show report: ADEX 2015
Wetpixel Moderator Drew Wong provides us with a report for the Asian Dive Expo (ADEX), which was held at the Marina Bay Sands Convention Center in Singapore from 10 to 12 April. Drew gives us an illustrated run-down of all the new products on display, and the dishes the dirt on who did what to who at the Wetpixel/Scubacam ADEX Imaging party.
- Issue 14 of Anima Mundi magazine is now available to download (via )
- Sea Lions of the Galapagos Islands (via )
- How deep can fish swim? (via )
- Over underwater photographs in a tank (via )
- RED Dragon sensor outperforms Nikon D800e in DxO tests (via )
- March issue of DIVE magazine is now available (via )
- Issue 77 of UwP magazine is now available to download (via )
- Underwater photography tips from Outside magazine (via )
- Video: Amateur photographer tracks the decline in mirrorless… (via )
- New suit allows diving to 1,000 feet (305m) (via )


Manhattan MixingMay 9, 2006
Jay Sisson (left) and Craig Marquette maneuver a box corer after plucking a sediment sample from the bottom of the Hudson River for studies of how sediment accumulates along this intersection between salty ocean water and fresh river water.(Photo by Rocky Geyer, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)
Image and Visual Licensing
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Hey I’m Sophie 😊
I live and work in Tutukaka, New Zealand. At the Poor Knight Islands for Dive! Tutukaka.
I’ve been working here for nearly 8 years, since I was 16.
I’m originally from Zimbabwe and moved to New Zealand as a child, where I fell in love with the ocean.
I’ve worked as an Instructor in Tonga, taking people snorkelling and diving with Humpback whales. Mozambique and South Africa teaching underwater photography internships.
My full time work is in New Zealand as a Diving Instructor, where I dive 5 days a week at the Poor Knights Islands.
I’ve featured in Various Advertising campaigns (Nikon, Air New Zealand, Tourism NZ) as a diver at the Beautiful Poor Knights Islands.
I am passionate about marine sustainability and I hope by teaching new divers and showing people this beautiful marine reserve they become inspired to want to conserve everything underwater as well.
- PADI IDC Staff Instructor
- Emergency First Response Instructor
- Night Diver Instructor
- Dry Suit Instructor
- Digital Underwater Photography Instructor
- Wreck Instructor
- Deep Instructor
- Peak Performance Buoyancy Instructor
- Project Aware Instructor
- Aware Coral Reef Conservation Specialty Instructor
- Care For Children with AED Instructor


2022 Education Program: Technology Innovation & AFDF’s Startup Accelerator
Garrett Evridge will lead a discussion with several early-stage companies deploying technology in Alaska fisheries to increase safety, profitability, and sustainability. Learn about precision fishing devices, remote sensing, and ocean modeling, as well as how Alaska can participate in the rapidly growing field of ocean technology.
Nov 17, 2022
12:45 PM - 1:30 PM EDT


Are you going to the beach for fall break? You had better watch the water if you are. Shark attacks are increasing in the U.S. according to a study by Progress in Oceanography and there is no one to blame besides Mother Nature. The increase in attacks is due to climate change, according to a study by Progress in Oceanography. The climate change is pushing sharks and other marine species north towards North America.
Just in the past two weeks there have been two shark attacks in the U.S. One was off of Cape Cod Beach in Massachusetts. A man named Arthur Medici of Revere, Mass. was boogie boarding when he got attacked and died later at the hospital. This was a shocker for the area as they haven’t had a deadly shark attack in over 80 years.
The other shark attack was a 13 year-old boy at a Southern California beach. Lifeguard Captain Larry Giles told reporters the victim was diving for lobsters about 200 yards from the shore in water about 9 feet deep when the shark attacked. Although his bite was not fatal, the boy was in critical condition due to extreme blood loss. “We imagine it could be a great white shark, but we don’t know for sure.” Lifeguard Captain Larry Giles said to Fox News reporters.
There are around 70 shark attacks on average world wide. Most attacks happen to not be fatal. According to National Geographic the U.S. averages 19 attacks a year and 1 shark fatality every two years. Meanwhile, in the coastal U.S. states alone, lightning strikes and kills more than 37 people each year. Even though shark attacks are on a rise they are still very uncommon.


Antioxidant and antibacterial assay of two red marine macro-alga of Bandar Abbas coastal
Zarei Jeliani, Z.
Yusef Zadi, M.
MetadataShow full item record
Seaweed is favored seafood in some regions and is also used as feedstock for extracting fine chemicals. The total global seaweed production continues to grow This study investigated the biological activities of n-Hexane, Ethylacetate and Methanol extract of two red marine macro algae (Gracilariopsis persica and Hypnea flagelliformis), collected from the coast of Bandar Abbas, Persian Gulf, Iran. For identification the superior species with biological properties, the tested activities included Carotenoids content, total Phenolic content, total flavonoids content, antioxidant activity at the concentration (3 mg/ml) by ferric reducing power (FRP) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) assay and at final, antibacterial activity was evaluated. This study revealed that the more effective macro algae extracts by maximum antioxidant capacity: FRP and TAC, were recorded for Ethylacetate extracts. The result showed the highest content of phenolic and flavonoid compounds were recorded for.....
JournalJournal of Marine Science and Technology
Bandar Abbas coastal


I visited the New York City aquarium last weekend while out in Coney Island. It’s a really small aquarium for such a large city. Despite the small size, their “Hall of Conservation” was well done. Notably, the exhibit on coral was interesting.
I learned coral grows very slowly. Apparently the large reefs only grow .2 – 1 inch per year. This is why human damage to reefs can be so harmful to the ecological balance of an area because the coral takes so long to regenerate. The team at the aquarium was artificially growing dozens of different coral specifies in a large grid, pictured. Like any growing process they need the proper delicate balance of light, nutrients and, in the case of coral, water temperature, turbulence and salinity, to grow properly. Coral also depends on the indigenous fish population to feed off the algae that forms on the coral to keep the plant free from obstruction so the sunlight can reach it properly.
Another necessary symbiotic relationship creating balance in the universe!


Researchers have discovered an otherworldly, 20-tentacled creature lurking in the freezing depths of the Antarctic Ocean. Resembling an alien or a Lovecraftian horror, the Antarctic strawberry feather star (Promachocrinus fragarius) is one of four new species of crinoids that scientists found at the bottom of the ocean, reports an article in Live Science.
Crinoids are a group of eerie, perfectly symmetrical creatures that include sea lilies and sea feathers. Sea lilies attach themselves to the ocean floor with a stalk, while sea feathers abandon their stalk upon reaching maturity to waft themselves through the sea with mesmerizing, synchronized swishes of their arms.
Prior to the discovery, there was thought to be only one species of Antarctic feather star, Promachocrinus kerguelensis. But the new research has revealed that at least eight species of the strange creatures live in the waters surrounding the southernmost continent, at depths ranging from about 330 to 3,300 feet (100 to 1,000 meters).
To discover the new animals, whose colors range from purple to dark red, researchers trawled a net across patches of the Southern Ocean to collect samples of the creatures. After performing a DNA analysis, the researchers classified the creatures into four new species.
Intrigued by their findings, the researchers then took a closer look at sea feather specimens that were captured between 2008 and 2017 and were presumed to be P. kerguelensis. Their efforts netted them a discovery of four more new species — bringing the total to eight.
The Antarctic strawberry feather star gets its name from the strawberry-like nub on its body, from which string like appendages called cirri protrude anchor the animal to the seafloor. When feather stars take flight, they spread their arms wide and paddle with rhythmic pulses, dancing through the water and capturing plankton with thousands of tiny, mucousy filaments along their arms.
Crinoids like these dominated the young seas of our planet, but they were largely wiped out — along with 95% of life on Earth — during the Permian mass extinction roughly 251 million years ago.
The researchers, Emily L. McLaughlin, Nerida G. Wilson and Greg W. Rouse from the Scripps Institute of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, published their findings July 14 in the journal Invertebrate Systematics.


Table of Contents
Inshore Fishing Defined
Inshore refers to your distance from land. While technically offshore, inshore fishing is when you’re located relatively close to land. Usually, this water is also quite shallow and not considered deep sea fishing.
Inshore fishing usually takes place no more than five miles offshore. This type of fishing, depending on the location, usually doesn’t require a large boat or expensive equipment. Inshore fishing is a low-cost way to enjoy saltwater fishing without the risks or requirements of an extensive fishing trip.
Inshore Fishing Vs Nearshore Fishing
How does inshore fishing differ from nearshore fishing? By the way we defined inshore fishing, it seems like “nearshore” would be a more accurate way to describe it. But in actuality, nearshore fishing takes place much further out on the water than inshore fishing.
Nearshore fishing takes place up to 30 miles offshore. At these distances, you can catch just about anything that exists in your region of the ocean—including massive prized game fish like swordfish and sharks.
Nearshore fishing isn’t necessarily defined by a specific distance. Instead, it describes the type of conditions encountered and the type of fish you can catch. But nearshore fishing is a universally more cost and time-intensive activity than inshore fishing, and it’s reserved for serious fishermen with the necessary experience and equipment.
It’s best to start with inshore fishing before buying a big boat or going too far offshore. This will allow you to gain the necessary practical experience and to get comfortable in an environment where you may encounter large and powerful fish. Plus, you’ll get to save some time and money in the process and spend more time on the water doing what you love.
Benefits of Inshore Fishing
Inshore fishing is a low-stress activity with a relatively low barrier-to-entry. Generally speaking, you can get away with using less expensive equipment due to the decreased size of the fish. Additionally, inshore fishing doesn’t require an expensive fishing boat—you can use a much smaller boat and be just fine.
Inshore fishing is also more convenient, as it doesn’t take as long to set up, get out on the water, and get back. You can spend the morning or afternoon fishing and be back in time for a meal—hopefully, one that you caught yourself.
Inshore fishing is generally less seasonally affected than nearshore fishing. Many of the game fish you can catch don’t have strict migratory schedules, and you’re more likely to go home with something worthwhile in shallower waters. Additionally, shallow waters are home to a more dense marine environment—which means there are more fish in a given area to catch.
Inshore fishing is a great activity for beginners, especially those who’ve only fished in freshwater or from land. There are fewer hazards, and less expertise is necessary to have a good time. Inshore fishing is fun for the whole family too, and it’s a much more pleasant experience for less interested passengers.
Do You Need a Boat for Inshore Fishing?
Technically, you’ll need to be on a boat to go inshore fishing—but you don’t have to own it. Thanks to the reduced distances involved, you can charter an inshore fishing boat at an affordable price instead of buying one for yourself. If you own a boat, you’ll enjoy reduced fuel and maintenance costs.
What Kind of Boat Do You Need for Inshore Fishing?
You can use lots of different boats for inshore fishing. After all, you’re not far out at sea—and so your boat options are flexible. The most popular kind of boat used for inshore fishing is the classic fiberglass console fishing boat. These robust open boats are powered by one or two medium-sized outboard motors and are usually around 20 feet in length.
Outboard fishing consoles are popular because they’re easy to handle, relatively inexpensive to own and operate, and tough enough to blast through an occasional choppy afternoon. What they lack in creature comforts, they make up for the inconvenience. One of these little boats can easily take four adults on a day-long fishing trip, but overnight excursions are less practical.
Some people use Sport Fisher boats for inshore fishing. These larger vessels, which are usually powered by twin inboard diesel engines, are suitable for much more rigorous offshore activities. With an average length of about 40 feet, these fishing boats have all the accommodations required for a multi-day fishing trip.
The primary disadvantage to inshore fishing on a large boat is draft and maneuverability. Many of the best inshore fishing spots are shallow and can become dangerous during low tide. Additionally, your proximity to the shore can become a problem when your boat is too big to react quickly.
Inshore Fish Species
Fish species vary widely by climate, location, water depth, and even the time of day. However, there are a few fish you can find in many locations when inshore fishing. Here’s a quick breakdown of fish species you can catch by region.
The Pacific Northwest is a popular destination for fishing, though the rocky coastline can be somewhat inhospitable for inshore fishing. However, those who do venture out have access to some excellent local fish species. Some of the most common include walleye, Pacific cod, surf smelt, dogfish sharks, Pacific herring, some species of salmon, and the prized massive halibut.
You may also run into coastal cutthroat trout, but they’re catch-and-release in most parts of the Pacific Northwest.
Further south in California, there are dozens of fish species and a much longer comfortable fishing season. Southern California is a good environment for inshore fishing, and the activity is extremely popular there.
Some of the most common inshore species in California include several species of rays, sharks, sea bass, perches, croakers, flatfish, rockfish, and enormous west coast tunas. Inshore fishing on the West Coast is a good bet year-round, and there’s always a huge variety of game fish to catch.
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is one of the most popular inshore fishing regions in the world. The region is extremely biodiverse, and there’s an almost unlimited amount of locations to fish. Due to the sport’s popularity in the region, you probably won’t be the only small boat out on the water—but the soft coastline and shallow waters make the Gulf an excellent and easy inshore fishing destination.
Inshore fishing species vary wildly by location. That said, the most popular catches on the Gulf are Spanish Mackerel, Sailfish, Wahoo, various species of sharks, King Mackerel, eel, barracuda, redfish, flounder, and spotted sea trout. Just be sure to watch out for jellyfish—it’s a more common annoyance than you may have predicted.
Eastern Florida Coast
Inshore fishing is so popular in Florida that the state gets its own category. Thanks to the geography of the state, inshore fishing is an easy and safe activity along most of its extensive coastline. Many of the fish you’ll encounter off the coast of Florida are found in the Gulf as well, such as tarpon, Spanish mackerel, and redfish.
Other common Florida inshore species include sand perch, sheepshead, snook, southern kingfish, gulf kingfish, anchovy, pigfish, and sardines. You can also catch plenty of eel, crabs, and lobster.
Further north, there are still plenty of opportunities for inshore fishing. In states like New Jersey and Massachusetts, inshore species include massive white marlin, blue marlin, cod, bluefish, and prized swordfish. Sea bass is also common, along with ling, porgy, bonito, and some species of mackerel.
About THE AUTHOR
From a young age I was introduced to fishing, hiking, camping, snowboarding and more through family, friends, and scouting. After 20 years of learning and participating in these outdoor activities, I share what i've learned (and continue learning) with you.Read more about Scott Kimball


Impacts of artisanal fishing on key functional groups and the potential vulnerability of coral reefs
Lokrantz, Jerker, Nyström, Marcus, Norström, Albert V., Folke, Carl, and Cinner, Joshua E. (2009) Impacts of artisanal fishing on key functional groups and the potential vulnerability of coral reefs. Environmental Conservation, 36 (4). pp. 327-337.
|PDF (Published Version) - Repository staff only - Requires a PDF viewer such as GSview, Xpdf or Adobe Acrobat Reader|
View at Publisher Website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0376892910000...
Fishing can have major impacts on the structure of coral reef ecosystems. Overfishing of herbivores is particularly detrimental, as it makes the coral system more likely to undergo shifts to macroalgal dominance in the event of coral mass mortality. Knowing when important processes, such as herbivory, are becoming brittle is important because it can provide an opportunity for managers to avoid undesirable ecosystem-level changes. This study investigates the impact of artisanal fishing on three important functional groups of herbivores (grazers, scrapers and excavators) on five coral-dominated reefs outside Zanzibar (Tanzania). There was a negative correlation between fishing pressure and fish biomass, abundance, diversity and species richness. Moreover, fishing had a negative influence on the demographic structure of functional groups, particularly excavators, manifesting itself as a skewness towards smaller individuals within populations. Artisanal fishing can have significant impacts on key functional groups of herbivorous reef fishes which may increase the vulnerability of coral reefs to undesirable ecosystem shifts.
|Item Type:||Article (Refereed Research - C1)|
|Keywords:||artisanal fishing, coral reefs, ecosystem function, functional groups, herbivory, resilience, vulnerability, Zanzibar|
|FoR Codes:||16 STUDIES IN HUMAN SOCIETY > 1608 Sociology > 160802 Environmental Sociology @ 10%|
07 AGRICULTURAL AND VETERINARY SCIENCES > 0704 Fisheries Sciences > 070403 Fisheries Management @ 40%
05 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 0501 Ecological Applications > 050102 Ecosystem Function @ 50%
|SEO Codes:||96 ENVIRONMENT > 9605 Ecosystem Assessment and Management > 960506 Ecosystem Assessment and Management of Fresh, Ground and Surface Water Environments @ 50%|
96 ENVIRONMENT > 9608 Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity > 960808 Marine Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity @ 50%
|Deposited On:||20 May 2011 09:01|
|Last Modified:||18 Oct 2013 01:09|
Last 12 Months: 0
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H. R. 3665
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
August 25, 2017
Mr. Mast introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
To require the Inter-Agency Task Force on Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia to develop a plan for reducing, mitigating, and controlling harmful algal blooms and hypoxia in the Greater Everglades region, and for other purposes.
This Act may be cited as the
South Florida Clean Coastal Waters Act of 2017.
Greater Everglades harmful algal blooms and hypoxia assessment and action plan
The Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 (Public Law 105–383; 16 U.S.C. 1451 note) is amended—
by redesignating sections 605 through 609 as sections 606 through 610, respectively; and
by inserting after section 604 the following:
Greater everglades harmful algal blooms and hypoxia
Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of South Florida Clean Coastal Waters Act of 2017, the Task Force, in accordance with the authority under section 603, shall complete and submit to Congress and the President an integrated assessment that examines the causes, consequences, and potential approaches to reduce harmful algal blooms and hypoxia in the Greater Everglades region, and the status of, and gaps within, current harmful algal bloom and hypoxia research, monitoring, management, prevention, response, and control activities that directly impact the region by—
regional research consortia;
private industry; and
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of the South Florida Clean Coastal Waters Act of 2017, the Task Force shall develop and submit to Congress a plan, based on the integrated assessment under subsection (a), for reducing, mitigating, and controlling harmful algal blooms and hypoxia in the Greater Everglades region.
The plan shall—
address the monitoring needs identified in the integrated assessment under subsection (a);
develop a timeline and budgetary requirements for deployment of future assets;
comprehensively analyze how South Florida Ecosystem Restoration efforts may affect the distribution, magnitude, duration, and frequency of harmful algal blooms and hypoxia events within the region;
assess the effect of the Lake Okeechobee Regulation Schedule and the Army Corps of Engineers’ management of lake levels, including release timing, duration, and flow rates, on the distribution, magnitude, duration, and frequency of harmful algal blooms and hypoxia events within the region;
identify requirements for the development and verification of Greater Everglades harmful algal bloom and hypoxia models, including—
all assumptions built into the models; and
data quality methods used to ensure the best available data are utilized; and
propose a plan to implement a remote monitoring network and early warning system for alerting local communities in the region to harmful algal bloom risks that may impact human health.
In developing the plan, the Task Force shall—
coordinate and consult with the State of Florida, and affected local and tribal governments;
consult with representatives from regional academic, agricultural, industry, and other stakeholder groups;
ensure that the plan complements and does not duplicate activities conducted by other Federal or State agencies, including the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force;
identify critical research for reducing, mitigating, and controlling harmful algal bloom events and their effects;
evaluate cost-effective, incentive-based partnership approaches;
ensure that the plan is technically sound and cost-effective;
utilize existing research, assessments, reports, and program activities;
publish a summary of the proposed plan in the Federal Register at least 180 days prior to submitting the completed plan to Congress; and
after submitting the completed plan to Congress, provide biennial progress reports on the activities toward achieving the objectives of the plan.
In this section, the term Greater Everglades means—
all lands and waters within the administrative boundaries of the South Florida Water Management District;
regional coastal waters including, but not limited to, Biscayne Bay, the Caloosahatchee Estuary, Florida Bay, and the Indian River Lagoon; and
the Florida Reef Tract.
Clerical amendment and correction
The table of contents in section 2 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1998 (Public Law 105–383) is amended by striking the items relating to title VI and inserting the following new items:
Title VI—Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia
Sec. 601. Short title.
Sec. 602. Findings.
Sec. 603. Assessments.
Sec. 603A. National Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Program.
Sec. 603B. Comprehensive research plan and action strategy.
Sec. 604. Northern Gulf of Mexico hypoxia.
Sec. 605. Greater Everglades harmful algal blooms and hypoxia.
Sec. 606. Great Lakes hypoxia and harmful algal blooms.
Sec. 607. Effect on other Federal authority.
Sec. 608. Definitions.
Sec. 609. Authorization of appropriations.


Sharks hunting surfers are in for a shock
Ingenious ways to protect surfers from an increased number of shark attacks were discussed by 70 marine scientists in Sydney yesterday.
After 29 encounters with sharks off the coast of Australia this year, in which two people have been killed and 18 injured, one proposal involved planting a cable from the shoreline that would give a shark an electric shock.
Another idea was for a more robust style of the netting that has been used since the 1930s. It resembles a bubble curtain and prevents sharks swimming closer to shore, but does not trap other fish in the meshing.
In an attempt to counter calls for a shark cull, the scientists also examined personal shark shields, where a swimmer or surfer carries a device that


Hope for Reefs is a global initiative launched by the California Academy of Sciences in 2016 to research and restore critical coral reef systems. Its key aims are to make fundamental breakthroughs in coral reef biology, develop new conservation solutions and restoration techniques, and share what we know through innovative exhibits and educational media programs.
Exciting news from the Academy's Coral Regeneration Lab (CoRL)! On April 22, 2020, Acropora hyacinthus corals collected from the reefs of Palau released eggs and sperm that mixed in a fascinating reproduction display.
In this video, Academy curator Rebecca Albright, PhD, who runs one of the world’s only indoor coral culturing labs, talks viewers through the spawning and explains how her team uses lights, temperature, and more to simulate seasons and lunar conditions in Palau. Dr. Albright’s team works tirelessly to keep these corals healthy so they can reproduce year after year and provide critical insight about the future of threatened coral reefs.


- With efforts underway around the globe to develop commercial octopus farming operations, scientists from Australia, Spain, and the U.S. have penned an article, published in the journal Issues in Science and Technology this month, warning of the severe impacts octopus aquaculture would have on animal welfare and the environment.
- Some 550 different aquatic animal species are currently raised in captivity in about 190 countries, accounting for as much as half of the seafood market in many industrialized countries. Spain is leading the charge to farm species like the common octopus, Octopus vulgaris, employing a variety of experimental aquaculture practices while the Spanish Institute of Oceanography carries out and publishes major research on octopus farming.
- Even if a sustainable diet for captive octopus could be found, farming the cephalopods would still be unethical, researchers argue.
With efforts underway around the globe to develop commercial octopus farming operations, scientists from Australia, Spain, and the U.S. have penned an article, published in the journal Issues in Science and Technology this month, warning of the severe impacts octopus aquaculture would have on animal welfare and the environment.
Octopuses have “sophisticated nervous systems and large brains” and are known for their fascinating and complex behaviors, the authors of the article note. For instance, octopus are famous for their ability to rapidly change colors and camouflage themselves in the wild, as well as their problem-solving skills that have allowed many octopuses to repeatedly escape captivity, among many other incredible talents.
“Given their exceptional abilities, one might ask whether humans should be eating octopus at all, but here we want to raise a different ethical question,” the scientists write. “As global demand for octopus grows, especially in affluent markets, so have efforts to farm them. We believe that octopuses are particularly ill-suited to a life in captivity and mass-production, for reasons both ethical and ecological.”
Some 550 different aquatic animal species are currently raised in captivity in about 190 countries, accounting for as much as half of the seafood market in many industrialized countries. Spain is leading the charge to farm species like the common octopus, Octopus vulgaris, employing a variety of experimental aquaculture practices while the Spanish Institute of Oceanography carries out and publishes major research on octopus farming. Other farming and research projects are being pursued in Australia, Chile, Greece, Italy, Mexico, and Portugal. As many as eight different octopus species are now experimentally farmed in China, and the Japanese seafood company Nissui is reportedly expecting to bring a fully farmed octopus to market by 2020.
“We are all living during the rapid domestication of aquatic species and research is almost entirely around the question of which aquatic animals we can farm, rather than which animals we should farm,” Jennifer Jacquet, an assistant professor in the Department of Environmental Studies at New York University and the lead author of the article, said in a statement.
“Universities and companies are investing time and money into farming octopus, which we believe is a big mistake. Mass producing octopus would repeat many of the same mistakes we made on land in terms of high environmental and animal welfare impacts, and be in some ways worse because we have to feed octopus other animals.”
Aquaculture’s impacts on the environment are well known and include nitrogen and phosphorus pollution, released from feces and the decomposition of uneaten food, which contributes to oxygen depletion in ocean waters. Contamination from fertilizers, algaecides, herbicides, and disinfectants are also a concern, as are the excessive use of antibiotics and the loss of natural habitats, like mangrove swamps, that are used for farms.
But the biggest ecological impact of farming octopuses would derive from the fact that they are carnivorous animals who depend on fish protein and oil, according to Jacquet and her co-authors. Whereas most terrestrial animals we farm are herbivores, the majority of farmed aquatic species, such as salmon, trout, and shrimp, are carnivorous. That means that feeding aquatic animals raised in industrial farming operations puts additional pressure on wild fish and invertebrates for fishmeal.
“Around one-third of the global fish catch is turned into feed for other animals, roughly half of which goes to aquaculture,” the authors write. “Many fishmeal fisheries are subject to overfishing and are declining,” and octopus farming would greatly exacerbate that problem.
“Octopuses have a food conversion rate of at least 3:1, meaning that the weight of feed necessary to sustain them is about three times the weight of the animal. Given the depleted state of global fisheries and the challenges of providing adequate nutrition to a growing human population, increased farming of carnivorous species such as octopus will act counter to the goal of improving global food security.”
But even if a sustainable diet for captive octopus could be found, farming the cephalopods would still be unethical, Jacquet and colleagues argue. The 2012 Cambridge Declaration on Consciousness, the first formal documentation of the scientific consensus around the consciousness of non-mammal species, cited octopuses as the sole invertebrate capable of conscious experience. Experimental work has confirmed that octopuses are curious creatures who like to explore their surroundings. And octopuses are not only capable of problem-solving, but retain long-term memories of how to perform tasks: “One study found that octopuses retained knowledge of how to open a screw-top jar for at least five months. They are also capable of mastering complex aquascapes, conducting extensive foraging trips, and using visual landmarks to navigate.”
All of which means that octopus are poorly suited to being raised in captivity. Little research has been done on how octopuses fare in farmed settings, but “existing evidence suggests intensive farming systems are likely to be associated with high mortality rates and increased aggression, parasitic infection, and a host of digestive tract issues. Beyond their basic biological health and safety, octopuses are likely to want high levels of cognitive stimulation, as well as opportunities to explore, manipulate, and control their environment. Intensive farm systems are inevitably hostile to these attributes.”
Beyond the ecological and ethical challenges octopus farming poses, Jacquet and colleagues question whether it is even necessary to the future of humanity’s food needs. The main markets for farmed octopus are upscale outlets in Australia, China, Japan, northern Mediterranean countries, South Korea, and the U.S., all regions that are largely food secure, meaning that all people have sufficient access to safe and nutritious food.
“As consumers become increasingly concerned about animal welfare and sustainability, the case against octopus farming should only become stronger,” the researchers write. “If society decides we cannot farm octopus, it will mean relatively few people can continue to eat them. But it does not mean that food security will be undermined; it will mean only that affluent consumers will pay more for increasingly scarce, wild octopus.”
Octopus farming is currently constrained by the available technology, but we may eventually develop the ability to farm octopus at an industrial scale. “If such an opportunity comes, we hope that the serious welfare and environmental problems associated with such projects are recognized, and octopus farming is discouraged or prevented,” Jacquet and colleagues say. “There are better directions for the future of farming.”
• Jacquet, J., Franks, B., Godfrey-Smith, P., & Sánchez-Suárez, W. (2019). The Case Against Octopus Farming. Issues in Science and Technology 35(2): 37–44.


Turbidity currents are subaqueous sediment gravity flows that are generated by landslides, slumps or density-based avalanches (Mutti et al.
Deposits of turbidity currents, i.e., turbidites, can be found in different geological settings such as lakes, reservoirs, delta fronts and continental shelves (Walker 1976).
Provenance of Motatau Complex indicates a distant or low relief source, but the presence of the glauconitic sandstone suggests intermittent influxes of coarse silisiclastic material, possibly by turbidity current
. The source of most of the Motatau detritus plutonic quartz within this sandstone is considered as plutonic protolith.
(1986), respectively, and indicate long-distance transport by debris flows and/or high-concentration turbidity currents and finally rapid collective deposition of a pebble-sand mixture.
(1986) respectively and indicate deposition by mixed low-concentration turbidity currents and hemipelagic sedimentation
Piper, D.J.W., Shor, A.N., and Hughes Clarke, J.E., 1988, The 1929 Grand Banks earthquake, slump, and turbidity current
: Geological Society of America Special Paper No.
 Firoozabadi, B., Farhanieh, B., and Rad, M., 2003, "Hydrodynamics of 2-D Laminar Turbidity Current
That suggests that a geologically recent canyon-scouring turbidity current
had passed through, depleting the chasm of material that previously had accumulated, she notes.
According to Shor, "smaller bedforms develop from fast tidal currents in shallow water, but normally the flows in deep water aren't strong or persistent enough to form [such large features in gravel]." But as more surveys are conducted with sonar systems along coastlines where strong turbidity currents
might have flowed, it's likely that more gravel dunes will turn up.
The most fascinating attributes of turbidity currents
, their high speeds and their ability to transport coarse sediment into deep water, are also those that make them difficult to study with ocean-drilling techniques.
and Migliorini, C.I., 1950, Turbidity currents
as a cause of graded bedding: Journal of Geology, v.


Life of Sea | Bigeye Thresher Shark(Alopias superciliosus) | This sea predator got its name from the "huge eye" of this marine. Bigeye thresher sharks are also called Long-tailed shark, Thresher shark and Whiptail shark.Bigeye threshershark are found in warm, temperate and tropical oceanic and coastal waters from the surface to depths of 500 feet (152.3 m). They live in continental shelf and in the open sea. But sometimes, you can see them in shallow coastal waters.
Although Bigeye threshershark have been sighted in inshore shallow waters, they are found more often in oceanic waters. These sharks range from the coast of New York to Florida and from the California coast to the Gulf of California and south of the Hawaiian Islands. This shark is also found in Cuban waters as well as tropical waters worldwide off the coasts of Portugal to Angola to South Africa, as well as off the coasts of northwest Australia, New Zealand, southern Japan, and Taiwan.
Bigeye threshershark exhibits counter shading with the dorsal surface having a purplish gray to brownish gray color with metallic hues, while its ventral side is a solid, pale, cream color. "Huge eye" of this shark is used for hunting in low light condition or dark ocean. Bigeye threshershark has enormous long upper caudal lobe. The upper lobe of the caudal fin can reach lengths of 50% of the total length. The Thresher shark(Alopias vulpinus) is similar with Bigeye threshershark. But, you can differ them by the size of the eye. Additionally, Thresher sharks have white coloration extending from its abdomen to above the pectoral fins.
Bigeye threshersharks are strong swimmers, and it is known that they use their long tails to stun their prey.Theyfeed mainly pelagic fishes, including mackerels, herrings, and small billfishes. They also eatbottom fishes (such as whiting and hake), oceanic squids (such as the bioluminescent deep-sea squid, Lycoteuthis diadema, and ommastrephid 'flying' squids).


A new study published today in Scientific Reports by University of Delaware researchers and colleagues reveals that 100 feet below the surface of the ocean is a critical depth for ecological activity in the Arctic polar night — a period of near continuous winter darkness.
It is at this depth, the researchers said, that atmospheric light diminishes in the water column and bioluminescence from marine organisms becomes the dominant light source. It also is the site of significant changes in the composition of luminescent organisms present in the water column.
“It turns out that approximately 100 feet in depth is an important transition zone,” said Jonathan Cohen, a UD assistant professor in the College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment and co-author on the paper.
The research team has been studying how much biological activity takes place in the Arctic polar night since 2012, when UD’s Mark Moline, director of the School of Marine Science and Policy and colleagues in Norway and Scotland began exploring how sea life copes with continuous winter darkness in Svalbard, Norway. Prevailing scientific thought until then was that the food web remained dormant during the polar night.
The researchers said that bioluminescence can help explain how some organisms feed and maintain activity during the polar night period and how light can still be involved in ecological processes even during a time of darkness.
Taking roll call
One interesting finding in the current study is that as depth increased, the amount of bioluminescence in the water column increased and the zooplankton community composition changed.
“As you go deeper into the water, we saw fewer dinoflagellates and more copepods, krill and ctenophores, which give off brighter bioluminescent light,” said Cohen, who joined the research team in 2013.
This community change is not associated with any physical conditions of the water, the researchers said. Rather, it correlates to what the researchers term “bioluminescence compensation depth,” the transition point at which atmospheric light diminishes in the water column and bioluminescence takes over.
“This points to the functionality of bioluminescence structuring the vertical distribution through behavior possibly independent of migration,” said Moline.
This is an important finding as the Barents Sea south of Svalbard, Norway, is home to a large and globally important fishery. Fishermen in the region are tremendously interested in understanding how changes in zooplankton — like copepods — and zooplankton availability will affect commercially important fish species like cod and herring.
The researchers knew from other studies that the distribution of zooplankton and krill in the water column increased at around 100 feet.
“When the sky gets brighter at midday during the polar night period there is more atmospheric light available underwater for predation than at night, so marine organisms like copepods retreat lower into the water column where it is darker. We wanted to know how this light interacted with bioluminescence to influence life in the water column,” Cohen said.
The researchers first attacked this issue by taking atmospheric light measurements in 2014 and 2015, while also measuring bioluminescence in the water. This led to a more detailed study in 2015 of which planktonic species produced light. Finally, they put it all together to think about how bioluminescence can be a light source during the polar night.
Then UD graduate student Heather Cronin, working with Cohen and Moline, created what is called a photon budget, or light budget, to measure how much light comes from the atmosphere and how much light comes from inside the water itself with organisms glowing through bioluminescence.
To quantify the amount of bioluminescence and to identify what marine organisms were present, the researchers used a pumping system in the water column to drive the organisms into a specialized device equipped with a sensitive light meter.
As the organisms entered the device, turbulence created by the pump stimulated the animals to luminesce or glow. Using luminescence kinetics, or the time course of light production and dissipation, the researchers measured how the light intensity inside the pump changed with time in order to identify the marine species present.
“Luminescent marine organisms each have a unique light signature. By looking at the time series light generated by a flash within the instrument, we were able to determine who was there making the flash,” Cohen explained. “It’s a useful tool, particularly at this time of year when relatively few species are present.”
Bioluminescence is known to play a critical role in helping marine organisms avoid predators and even hide themselves in plain site. At the same time, Cohen continued, it appears that krill and potentially fish are using the additional bioluminescent light from the copepods to find food.
“We know from analysis of gut contents that fish and seabirds are active and feeding in Svalbard fjords during polar night,” Cohen explained. “Our research suggests that bioluminescent light may be one of the ways that they find food in the dark.”
Climate change connection
One looming concern under climate change scenarios is the loss of sea ice.
According to Cohen, scientists are just beginning to appreciate that climate change will change the light environment, which will impact the timing of the ice algae and phytoplankton blooms that spur the spring growing season, maybe even causing it to occur earlier in the year.
In the Arctic, for example, sea ice is part of what makes the water column dark. So, if the depth at which atmospheric light transitions to bioluminescent light is important in structuring the zooplankton community and the ecological interactions among organisms, then understanding how much atmospheric light will be present in the water column with less sea ice is significant for understanding food web dynamics.
The novelty in the team’s work is the focus on putting numbers and data to the processes that occur directly before the spring cycle begins. The next step is to make similar measurements further away from Svalbard to validate their findings in the open ocean.
“Being able to measure this transition depth gives us something to look at across seasons and across years that could have important implications for food web impacts in a rapidly changing Arctic,” Cohen said.


Whilst on a trip to Shetland, the biggest thing I wanted to do was photograph the Gannets as they feed underwater. Gannets hunt fish by diving into the sea from a height of 30 metres and can achieve speeds of up to 100 km an hour as they hit the water in pursuit of their food. The photography takes place at sea around some of the Shetland’s remotest headlands. Dead bait is used using fish the Gannets would normally eat, locally sourced around Shetland. To be able to capture what goes on under the water was an unbelievable experience.


President Bill Clinton doubled the extent of US authority over near shore waters Wednesday by signing a proclamation claiming jurisdiction over waters within 24 nautical miles of US shores.
The US is allowed to claim these waters under the international Law of the Sea Convention – a treaty that the US Senate has failed to ratify.
Under the Law of the Sea Convention, in effect since 1994, nations have a territorial boundary 12 miles beyond their coastline. The same treaty allows a nation to claim a contiguous zone adjacent to its territorial waters, extending its jurisdiction 24 miles out to sea.
This change effectively doubles the area in which the Coast Guard and other federal authorities can enforce US law by boarding foreign vessels and other actions.
The administration says this will allow the Coast Guard and other federal law enforcement agencies to better apprehend ships illegally polluting the waters, and catch drug smugglers and other criminals.
"With this new enforcement tool, we can better protect America's working families against drug trafficking, illegal immigration, and threats to our ocean environment," said Vice President Al Gore. "We are putting would-be smugglers and polluters on notice that we will do everything in our power to protect our waters and our shores."
The US has pledged to abide by the Law of the Sea Convention, but the US Senate has not ratified the treaty. Most of the 131 nations that have ratified the Law of the Sea Convention have also extended their zones of marine authority. Within these zones, nations can act to prevent violations of environmental, customs, fiscal, or immigration laws.
Clinton’s proclamation covers the continental US, Hawaii and Alaska, as well as the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the US Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and "any other territory or possession over which the US exercises sovereignty."
Speaking at the New England Aquarium in Boston, Gore urged the Senate to ratify the Law of the Sea Convention as soon as possible. By not joining the Convention, the US gives up important leverage to affect new rules and regulations drafted under the treaty.
Last month, the US lost its seat on the 36 member Council of the International Seabed Authority, which is writing the world's first mining code for the oceans. The code covers crucial environmental protections for the marine environment.
By the terms of the Convention, the US is guaranteed a seat on the International Seabed Authority Council as one of the four largest consumers or net importers of minerals to be derived from seabed mining. As long as the Senate has not ratified the treaty, however, the US cannot retain its seat.
An attorney in the US State Department's Office of Ocean Affairs told ENS that ratification of the Law of the Sea treaty is stalled in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
"We submitted all the documents and the request for ratification on October 7, 1994, but there has been no action scheduled. It's out of our control. Everything the administration can do has been done. It's on the highest list of treaties for which we seek Senate action," the spokesperson said.
Ratification of the treaty is one recommendation contained in a report from the Cabinet, titled "Turning to the Sea: America's Ocean Future," that was presented to the Vice President on Thursday. The Ocean Report is the result of a national dialogue that began last year at the Ocean Conference held at California's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
The report outlines 148 recommendations in four areas: sustaining the economic benefits of the oceans, strengthening global security, protecting marine resources, and discovering the oceans. Gore announced the formation of a high level task force to oversee implementation of the recommendations.
Key recommendations include: creating new incentives to reduce overfishing; coordinating federal programs with local "smart growth" efforts in coastal communities; and expanding federal support for underwater exploration.
An Oceans Report Task Force announced by the Vice President will be co-chaired by the Council on Environmental Quality and the National Security Council.
The group, which will include high-level representatives of agencies with responsibility for ocean affairs, will set priorities for implementing key recommendations in the Cabinet's report and will meet quarterly to review progress.
"Last year's Ocean Conference launched an important national dialogue on the future of our oceans," the Vice President said. "With this report, the Cabinet has elevated this dialogue to the next level, and set the stage for a truly comprehensive ocean policy for the 21st century. I commend the Cabinet for its vital contribution, and I urge the task force to move swiftly on its recommendations."
One recommendation that will be implemented immediately is a three-year $300,000 pilot program to enlist commercial fishermen in research efforts at the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary in California.
Participating fishermen will gather data to characterize and help protect the sanctuary. If the program is successful, it could be expanded to other marine sanctuaries.
Gore also called on Congress to approve the Administration's Lands Legacy Initiative introduced at the 1998 Ocean Conference. The Lands Legacy Initiative includes $183 million to protect ocean and coastal resources in fiscal year 2000, including $29 million for national marine sanctuaries, $25 million to acquire and protect critical fish habitat, and $10.3 million to protect and restore fragile coral reefs.
"Today we take further action to protect our shores and preserve our precious oceans for our children and grandchildren," Gore said.
"From small fishing villages on the New England coast to communities across America that rely on food from the sea, we are all linked to the oceans. We must protect them for our families and for our future."


Larval Cestode Parasites of Edible Mollusks of the Northeastern Gulf of Mexico
Ten distinct species of larval cestodes were obtained from 43 edible, or potentially edible, benthic mollusks of the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. Three of the infected mollusks, American oysters, Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin), Atlantic bay scallops, Argopecten irradians concentricus (Say), and sunray venus clams, Macrocallista nimbosa (Lightfoot), are important commercial species in the eastern Gulf and the remainder are occasionally eaten by epicurean shellfishermen or were consumed by prehistoric, aboriginal Indians of the Gulf coast. The cestodes represent four orders, seven families and nine recogized genera and include the trypanorhynchs, Euteirarhynchus sp. (of Cake 1975) and Parachristianella sp. (of Cake 1975), the Iecanicephalideans, Polypocephalus sp. (of Cake 1975) and Tylocephalum sp. (of Burton 1963), the tetraphyllideans, Dioecotaenia cancellata (Linton 1890), Anthobothrium sp. (of Cake 1975), Rhinebothrium sp. (of Cake 1975), Acanthobothrium sp. (of Regan 1963), and Acanthobothrium sp. (of Harry 1969), and the diphyllidean, Echinobothrium sp. (of Cake 1975). Infected mollusks were widely distributed in coastal estuarine and marine habitats from the Mississippi Sound to the Florida Keys. Pelecypods appear to serve as primary intermediate hosts and molluscivorous gastropods appear to serve as secondary intermediate or paratenic (transport) hosts for these cestodes which in turn utilize demersal elasmobranch fish as final hosts. None of these cestodes are known to infect humans and the only potential harm is to the quality and quantity of the edible molluscan tissues.
Cake, E. W. Jr.
Larval Cestode Parasites of Edible Mollusks of the Northeastern Gulf of Mexico.
Gulf Research Reports
Retrieved from https://aquila.usm.edu/gcr/vol6/iss1/1


The tabular iceberg recently broke from the Larsen C ice shelf on the Antarctic Peninsula.
Researchers uncovered the sound accidentally while studying seismic data on the Ross Ice Shelf.
A new study suggests that sea-level rise could happen faster than predicted.
Say your goodbyes to the Larsen B ice shelf.
For the past decade, scientists have debated whether a massive Antarctic ice shelf is thinning from warmer air above or warmer oceans below.


Turku YMCA Scuba diving section paid our museum a visit. After a refreshing cup of coffee we had the priviledge to get to know a commercial diving company and see the machinery they have designed and built. After a very interesting round trip we moved along to the museum. The twelve visitors were very interested in historical diving gear and methods and a lengthy discussion about diving bells took place. We actually coined an idea. We should manufacture an air tun for the bell and also locate a blacksmith interested in historical tools and then we could take our bell to the sea and test old working methods. Such a trip could even draw the attention of professionals in the museum sector.
Jun 07 2019
2019-06-06 Sukellusjaosto pays a visit
- By Ralf Strandell in Reports, Society
Search and recovery diving, cave diving and historical diving as a hobby.
- Finnish combat divers 1970
- Finnish navy divers in the late 1950’s
- Updated: Historical diving event postponed
- Book: Finnish Air Force Divers 1964-2000
- European Historical Diving Event
- Some Finnish diving magazines 1974-2018
- Merry christmas!
- The silent world (1956)
- England, Porstmouth and Gosport
- Finnish diving history upto 1850’s
- Maritime museum of Kaliningrad
- Submerging with an aqualung
- Local diving-themed jewellery
- The collection of historical diving gear is slowly growing
- Traveling around Finland to locate exhibitions
anniversary barbeque dinner diving diving bell Dyktankhus event exhibition Forum Marinum hard hat diver hard hat diving Kristiinankaupunki museums Mårten Raahe Rauma reportaasi sdhf Siebe-Gorman Standard diving dress Stockholm Sukellusjaosto Sukellusneuvos Öhman Sweden tapahtuma Turku Vaasa Vasa museum web wooden helmet


Sea turtles are among the most endangered animal species; hence they are protected by numerous national and international regulations. Based on the Nature protection law and provisions of the Regulation for protection of certain reptile species, turtles are strictly protected in Croatia since 1995. Despite their protection, sea turtle populations are drastically declining worldwide, so it has proven necessary to establish rescue centres worldwide to take care of injured and otherwise troubled sea turtles. The biggest part of sea turtle rescue in the Croatian part of the Adriatic takes place in our centre in Aquarium Pula, working under the NGO “Marine educational centre Pula”.Response system and first aid      Adopt a sea turtle
Besides treating and care, Centre's activities also involve educating the public. Mayor part of that is a yearly manifestation called” Turtle release” , occurring on World sea turtle day, when we release recovered turtles back to the sea. This manifestation has grown into a traditional and media covered event, attended every year by growing numbers of tourists and other interested people.


Over the past 20 years, marine mammal strandings and mortalities have been investigated in an ad hoc manner with little effort to place health or disease findings in an ecologic, population, veterinary or public health context. The Marine Ecosystem Health Network (MEHN) addresses this void by fostering broader collaborations with stranding networks, research scientists, veterinarians and field biologists to better understand marine ecosystem health dynamics.
The goals of the Marine Ecosystem Health Network include:
- Establishing a regional and broad nationwide database that integrates ongoing diagnostic findings and surveillance to better assess the emergence and dispersal of pathogens, impacts of anthropogenic activities, and compare findings across geographic regions.
- Studying the ecology of infectious diseases within the marine environment.
- Determining whether land-to-sea transfer of infectious diseases from wildlife, livestock and companion animals is an emerging threat to marine animal and human health.
- Uncovering mechanisms and routes of pathogen transfer, and evaluating potential measures that may mitigate their dispersal and impact in susceptible marine populations.
- Enhancing carcass detection, reporting, recovery, necropsy protocols, sampling strategies and efforts to maximize data collection from necropsied animals and better understand the natural history of the animal and potential role of infectious and non-infectious disease on individual and population health.
- Developing comprehensive protocols for the opportunistic sampling and banking of tissues from live-stranded marine mammals admitted to rescue facilities as part of the medical management plan for these animals
- Developing response plans for catastrophic disease outbreaks.
- Providing multidisciplinary opportunities for undergraduate, post graduate and veterinary students to pursue investigations into aspects of human, veterinary and marine ecosystem health.
- Raising public awareness about the health of marine mammal populations, potential threats to human health, and the role that anthropogenic disturbances play in contributing to disease in marine ecosystems.


Kohola (humpback whales) are one of the larger species of baleen whales, with adult males ranging between 40 and 52 feet and weighing up to 45 tons. Despite their size, humpback whales are surprisingly graceful acrobats.
Just as our idyllic weather beckons to tourists around the world, the warm shallow waters (less than 600 feet) surrounding the main Hawaiian Islands are a favorite destination for humpback whales. Scientists estimate that two-thirds of the entire North Pacific humpback whale population returns to Hawaii each year to breed, calve and nurse their young in our warm waters. They race over 3,000 miles from the Gulf of Alaska to Hawaii in less than two months, then stay for a lengthy vacation, frolicking off our shores and entertaining spectators from December through May. The peak of whale watching season is typically in February and March.
In Hawaii, the return of the kohola is considered more of a homecoming than a visit. Humpback calves are born in Hawaiian waters, making them “kamaaina” or native born. Some Native Hawaiians also believe the kohola are aumakua (family guardians), and so these gentle giants are treated with great respect.


Expected Effects of Offshore Wind Farms on Mediterranean Marine Life
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Current climate policy and issues of energy security mean wind farms are being built at an increasing rate to meet energy demand. As wind farm development is very likely in the Mediterranean Sea, we provide an assessment of the offshore wind potential and identify expected biological effects of such developments in the region. We break new ground here by identifying potential offshore wind farm (OWF) “hotspots” in the Mediterranean. Using lessons learned in Northern Europe, and small-scale experiments in the Mediterranean, we identify sensitive species and habitats that will likely be influenced by OWFs in both these hotspot areas and at a basin level. This information will be valuable to guide policy governing OWF development and will inform the industry as and when environmental impact assessments are required for the Mediterranean Sea.
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Why oceans matter to Cody Simpson and people around the world
23 June 2022
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Australian singer-songwriter Cody Simpson joins United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and people around the world in declaring that the ocean matters to the health of the planet and all of its inhabitants. It is a call to action for a sustainable blue economy and more.


This study investigates predation by the vent zoarcid fish Thermarces cerberus through gastrointestinal analyses of 27 specimens collected with the submersible ALVIN at vents at 9°50′N on the East Pacific Rise. T. cerberus fed most frequently on gastropod mollusks (mainly Lepetodrilus elevatus) and amphipod crustaceans (mainly Ventiella sulfuris). Species found occasionally in high abundance included the swarming amphipod Halice hesmonectes and the snail Cyathermia naticoides. Other items also found in gastrointestinal tracts, but in very low numbers, included polychaete worms, crustaceans and unidentified tissue clumps. The comparison between the size distribution of L. elevatus limpets ingested by T. cerberus and those found attached to vestimentiferan tubes suggest that the fish may selectively prey on large limpets. If the selective removal of large Lepetodrilus spp. limpets by T. cerberus does occur, then it would have potential community-level consequences at hydrothermal vents, since these mobile gastropods appear to inhibit the settlement of sessile vent species, including tube-building worms. Our results suggest possible direct and indirect effects of T. cerberus on benthic community structure at hydrothermal vents on the East Pacific Rise.
|Number of pages
|Deep-Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers
|Published - May 2005
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Aquatic Science