Environment

August, 2009

• 5 August

  Fishy Fishing Practices Threaten the Environment

  

  For years, fishing communities along Africa’s 30,000 km-long coastline have been raising the alarm on the depletion of their fish stocks, to no avail. Over-fishing by foreign vessels has been wiping out the livelihood of West African fishers, contributing to desperate migration attempts into Europe. But this could only be …
• 5 August

  Pollution causing cancer in animals, new report warns

  

  Dumping of toxic wastes is contributing to cancer among wildlife, a new report says. Scientists say that tumors on beluga whales, sea lions and other animals are a warning signal. They call these animals “sensitive sentinels of disturbed environments.” The report, “Wildlife Cancer: a Conservation Perspective,” published in the July …

July, 2009

• 29 July

  Bill To Protect Seabirds And Marine Mammals Defeated

  

  The Government has turned down a Green Party bill that would have strengthened the legal protection of seabirds and marine mammals. Metiria Turei”s Marine Animal”s Law Reform Bill was defeated 63-58 after she made a passionate appeal for support. Ms Turei held up pictures of dead seabirds, dolphins and seals …
• 29 July

  Scientists sound Oceania extinction warning

  

  Many scientists believe we are now living in the midst of another big extinction event although this time the cause of the mass die-off is easier to identify – humans. A survey of conservation research in the Oceania region says the area is losing species at least as fast as …
• 28 July

  Humans ‘damaging the oceans’

  

  Man-made carbon emissions “are affecting marine biological processes from genes to ecosystems over scales from rock pools to ocean basins, impacting ecosystem services and threatening human food security,” the study by Professor Mike Kingsford of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and James Cook University and colleague …
• 28 July

  Monaco seeks global bluefin tuna trade ban

  

  Monaco has tabled a proposal to place Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin tuna on the list of the world”s most endangered species in a move that could ban international trade of the fish. As one of the most popular sushi staples, bluefin tuna has become increasingly in demand in recent years …
• 28 July

  One sixth of all freshwater crab species are threatened with extinction

  Crabs Feel the Pinch River scavengers under threat   The “vultures” of our river systems are at risk from extinction, reveals new research. The IUCN Red List assessment discovered that about one sixth of all freshwater crab species are threatened with extinction, with habitat loss and pollution to blame. River vultures …
• 27 July

  Mangrove forests in danger

  

  Beautiful Chame bay is at risk. The development of the shrimp industry, construction of bridges and roads, coal production and agriculture are destroying Chame’s mangroves, according to a press release from the National Environment Authority (ANAM). Ironically, ANAM recently declared this region a protected area. ANAM´s Jose Gonzalez said that …
• 22 July

  Almost extinct Galapagos tortoise mates at 90

  

  Lonesome George, the last remaining giant tortoise of his kind, may soon be a father to the delight of conservationists. Unhatched eggs have been found in his “bachelor” pen in the Galapagos Islands, his keepers said on Tuesday. For decades, the last known Pinta island tortoise had shown little interest …
• 22 July

  NOAA bans harvesting of krill off California, Oregon, Washington coasts

  

  The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration last week published a final rule in the Federal Register prohibiting the harvesting of krill in the Exclusive Economic Zone off the coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington. The rule goes into effect on Aug. 12. Krill are a small shrimp-like crustacean and a …
• 19 July

  Wildlife crisis worse than economic crisis – IUCN

  

  Life on Earth is under a serious threat. World leaders fail to reverse the trend by 2010 despite commitments made in 2002. The latest analysis of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, which is published every four years by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, shows as …
• 17 July

  Britain calls for ban on sale of endangered bluefin tuna

  

  Britain and France are to lobby governments for an international ban on the sale of bluefin tuna. Fisheries minister Huw Irranca- Davies confirmed Britain will back the fight to protect the delicacy. The Nobu chain recently attracted criticism from conservationists after continuing to serve bluefin at its London restaurants.