Environment

August, 2008

• 22 August

  Turtle saved from death by plastic bag

  

  (From ntnews.com.au)- The adult female Olive Ridley turtle – believed to be up to 90 years old – was spotted in distress near a reef off Dundee Beach, about 120km southwest of Darwin on Monday. It is believed she may have swallowed a plastic bag.
• 22 August

  Japan ends whale hunt with 211 catches

  

  (From afp.google.com) Tokyo – Since they left on June 6, the ships caught 100 sei whales, 59 minke whales, 50 Bryde”s whales and two sperm whales, the agency said Friday. The Japanese government, which says whaling is part of the national culture, plans to kill around 1,000 whales a year …
• 22 August

  Killing of whale is not justified

  

  (From brantfordexpositor.ca) – The Inuit have legally, according to Canadian law, hunted and killed an endangered species, a bowhead whale, something they have not been able to do in past years. Strangely, Canada heralds this feat as an amazing accomplishment. According to authorities, it took only 30 minutes of brutality …
• 22 August

  Mediterranean facing fish invasion

  

  (From upi.com) Rome –  Italian environmental officials said the Mediterranean Sea is being invaded by two alien species each month. IRPA, Italy”s marine environment protection agency, said the fish are coming from fish farms, the Atlantic Ocean and up the Suez Canal, ANSA reported Thursday.
• 22 August

  Eco-tourism touted as chance to save whale sharks

  

  (From abc.net.au) Darwin, Australia – A Darwin conference has been told that eco-tourism could be the best way to save dwindling whale shark populations off the north coast of Australia. Whale sharks can grow up to seven metres long and can live for 150 years, but they are a popular …
• 21 August

  Illegal ‘blast fishing’ rampant in Nicaragua’s Pacific

  

  (From ticotimes.net) –  Fishermen in Nicaragua”s northern Pacific waters use as many as 40,000 makeshift bombs a week in the illegal blast fishing industry, with disastrous environmental effects, according to Capt. Juan Juárez of the Nicaraguan Navy. Juárez told The Nica Times that blast fishing, in which fishermen drop homemade …
• 21 August

  New laws to keep tourists away from marine wildlife

  

  (From theage.com.au) Australia – It is expected the new laws will introduce strict approach distances for vessels, aircraft, people and vehicles on land to protect seal populations. Feeding seals and visits during breeding periods may also come under scrutiny. The legislation also seeks to improve arrangements for whales in emergencies.
• 21 August

  Red tide threatens marine animals

  

  (From upi.com) Montreal, Canada – Scientists say they believe a huge swath of red algae in the St. Lawrence River is killing marine mammals, including the threatened beluga whale. The so-called red tide has left dead in its wake at least seven harbor porpoises, nine beluga whales, 35 seals and …
• 20 August

  Environmentalists Worry About Fay’s Effect On Sea Turtle Eggs

  

  (From gainesville.com) West Palm Beach, Florida – Environmental officials hope turtle nests were safe from Tropical Storm Fay. Officials say the nests, which are buried under layers of sand, may still be there, but they won”t know Fay”s effect on them for days. Each nest is marked with a stake …
• 20 August

  Oil Spill Plan Delayed

  

  (From thenational.ae) – Work on a plan for dealing with oil spills and marine pollution off the coast of the Emirates is not progressing as fast as initially announced, a top government official has said. Since the beginning of the year, there has been a spill almost every month.
• 20 August

  Prohibition of Whale-Hunting Along Chile’s Coast Awaits Senate Vote

  

  (From santiagotimes.cl) – Chile’s Chamber of Deputies voted unanimously last Thursday to declare the country’s coastline a whale sanctuary. The vote is a major step in protecting whales from hunting in Chilean waters – 200 miles from the coast, along the entire length of the country.
• 20 August

  Shipwrecks On Coral Reefs Harbor Unwanted Species

  

  (From sciencedaily.com) – Shipwrecks on coral reefs may increase invasion of unwanted species, according to a recent U.S. Geological Survey study. These unwanted species can completely overtake the reef and eliminate all the native coral, dramatically decreasing the diversity of marine organisms on the reef.