Environment

April, 2012

• 21 April

  Fishermen using explosives, cyanide destroy some of Asia’s most spectacular reefs, divers say

  

  Coral gardens that were among Asia”s most spectacular, teeming with colorful sea life just a few months ago, have been transformed into desolate gray moonscapes by illegal fishermen who use explosives or cyanide to kill or stun their prey. The site is among several to have been hit inside Komodo …
• 21 April

  Swordfish certification triggers outcry

  

  Canadian environmental groups say the certification of the Atlantic longline swordfish fishery as sustainable is misleading to consumers because other marine animals get snagged and die in its fishing gear. The Sea Turtle Conservancy and the Ecology Action Centre say the longline fishery should not have been granted eco-certification by …
• 20 April

  Release of Confessions of an Eco-Terrorist on Earth Day

  

  LOS ANGELES (March 21, 2012) — SnagFilms, one of the world’s leading distributors of independent films for digital platforms, announces the U.S. pay-ondemand release of the highly anticipated, groundbreaking feature documentary, CONFESSIONS OF AN ECO-TERRORIST on Earth Day, April 22, 2012.
• 19 April

  Jellyfish on the rise: UBC study

  

  Jellyfish are increasing in the majority of the world”s coastal ecosystems, according to the first global study of jellyfish abundance by University of British Columbia researchers. In a study published in this month”s edition of the journal Hydrobiologia, UBC scientists examined data for numerous species of jellyfish for 45 of …
• 18 April

  Lawsuit seeks protections for sea turtles, polar bears, other rare wildlife from oil-spill dispersants

  

  Conservation groups sued the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Coast Guard today for authorizing toxic oil dispersants without ensuring that these chemicals would not harm endangered species or their habitats. The groups want the EPA to immediately study the effects of dispersants on endangered and threatened species in all …
• 18 April

  Concerns over mutant fish after the BP oil spill in the gulf of mexico

  

  On April 20, 2010, an explosion aboard the BP-leased Deepwater Horizon rig killed 11 people and spewed an estimated 4.9 million barrels into the Gulf, in the worst offshore oil spill in US history. Two years later, scientists and commercial fishers alike are finding shrimp, crab and fish that they …
• 18 April

  Bits of plastic endangering sea creatures: Study

  

  The seas are littered with large quantities of microplastic particles — plastics in small bits and pieces — endangering the lives of marine creatures, says a report. Plastic bottles washed ashore are as much a part of the coast as the sound of seagulls. What the eye does not see …
• 18 April

  56 corals in U.S. waters ‘likely’ to vanish by 2100

  

  Without greater protection, 56 coral species in U.S. waters are “likely” or “very likely” to go extinct by the end this century, due to ocean warming, acidification and disease, finds a new federal government assessment now open for public comment. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, says its ongoing …
• 16 April

  Ocean acidification changes the behavior of baby coral

  

  Ocean acidification caused by human development can alter the behaviour of baby corals, a new study shows. A team of researchers from the School of Biological Sciences and Global Change Institute at The University of Queensland studied how ocean acidification affects the settlement of baby corals onto a reef. The …
• 12 April

  A sea of challenges for the Mediterranean Sea

  

  Cradle of great ancient civilizations, superhighway for trade and transport, treasure-trove of biodiversity, the Mediterranean — the world”s best known sea — faces a sea of challenges in the 21st century, including climate change, pollution, tourism and overfishing. That”s the topic of the cover story in the current edition of …
• 2 April

  Call for big cuts in fishing to save whales and penguins

  

  Fishing for prey species such as herring and anchovies should be cut in half globally to protect creatures that eat them, such as puffins, whales and penguins, an international team of experts has argued. The team warns that the increasing use of herring and anchovies to feed farmed fish, pigs, …

March, 2012

• 30 March

  Deep-sea corals stressed due to BP oil spill: Survey

  

  Deep sea corals appear to have been seriously harmed by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, according to scientists. A survey of one site near the well in the Gulf of Mexico uncovered “compelling evidence” of pollution damage. Coral communities more than 1,220 metres (4,000ft) below the surface of the ocean …