External Feeds

July, 2008

• 5 July

  Dolphin Sanctuaries Proposed

  

  (From stuff.co.nz) The Department of Conservation is calling for submissions on its proposal to establish two marine mammal sanctuaries in Southland. The new marine mammal sanctuaries are in areas where dolphins are known to range — Porpoise Bay-Fortrose on the Catlins coast, and Te Wae Wae Bay on the south …
• 5 July

  Climate Change Brings Jellyfish Plague to Europe’s Beaches

  (From dw-world.de) Jellyfish are taking over Europe”s favorite swimming spots in increasing numbers. Scientists blame climate change and overfishing for the proliferation of the stinging nuisance. Overfishing is one cause for the explosion in jellyfish populations, said Ricardo Aguilar, research director for the non-governmental organization Oceana. Jellyfish predators such as …
• 5 July

  Bangladesh Releases 25,000 Protected Turtles

  

  Dhaka (AFP) — Bangladeshi bio-marine experts have released 25,000 endangered baby turtles into the sea in the past two months as part of a state-run captivity breeding programme, an environmental official said Friday. Rafiqul Islam, spokesman for the Coastal and Wetland Biodiversity Management Project, told AFP that 80 to 90 …
• 4 July

  Europeans To Rule on Seal Product Ban this Month

  (From MySpace – Captain Watson”s blog) The lives of millions of seals around the world is now in the hands of the European Parliament. A bill to ban products made from the inhumane slaughter of seals will be put to a vote of the 27 member nations of the European …
• 4 July

  Rising Acidity In Seawater Damages Marine Ecosystems

  (From environmental-expert.com) Rising emissions of carbon dioxide from human activities are not only contributing to the warming effect of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, they are also acidifying the world”s oceans. New research examines the major ecological tipping points that occur when the concentration of dissolved carbon dioxide in seawater …
• 4 July

  EU Orders Seal Fur Ban

  

  (From dailymail.co.uk) Clothing made from seal fur is to be banned throughout the European Union. Although white pelts from baby seals were banned in 1986, fashion houses still use skins from older animals to make boots, coats, gloves and accessories. Stavros Dimas, the EU”s environment commissioner, told national ministers in …
• 4 July

  Celebration Of Death

  

  (From thenational.ae) The smell of dead fish meat mixed with diesel fuel was almost overpowering but did not bother the people crowding around as a shark hung from its tail was weighed on the dockside. Half of the shark’s intestines were falling out of its mouth as proud fishermen and …
• 4 July

  Campaigners Tackle Fishing Lines

  

  (From Cayman”s National Newpaper) Conservationists are beginning campaigns to convince fishermen to retrieve fishing lines and hooks that can injure or kill wildlife that get entangled or caught in the discarded equipment. Cayman Wildlife Rescue, in association with the Department of Environment, will begin a poster campaign this month featuring …
• 4 July

  American Samoa Alarmed At Turtle Poisoning

  

  (From rnzi.com) A young hawksbills turtle found dead near the village of Aua in American Samoa appears to have been poisoned by garbage. An autopsy has shown the animal’s stomach contained plastics, rubber bands, twine, bottle caps and Lego pieces.
• 3 July

  Higher Whale Quota Than Biologists Recommend

  

  (From sermitsiaq.gl) The government has set the combined quota for the haul of white and narwhales at 200 white whales and 300 narwhales in the coming quota year. In many areas the quotas are larger than the Institute for Natural Resources recommends. The applicable quota for white whales in west-Greenland …
• 3 July

  Habitat Protection Sought for Endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal

  

  (From ens-newswire.com) Three conservation groups filed a formal petition today asking the federal government to protect areas on the main Hawaiian islands as critical habitat for the endangered Hawaiian monk seal under the Endangered Species Act. As monk seal populations plummet on the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, the main islands are …
• 3 July

  Marine Mammal Parks: Let Freedom Ring

  

  (From americanchronicle) On July Fourth, Americans from sea to shining sea will celebrate our independence and right to self-determination. But for the countless fish, dolphins, whales, sea lions and other animals kept in chlorinated tanks in aquariums and marine mammal parks—where the “shining sea” is a fading memory—July Fourth is …