News

January, 2009

• 13 January

  Marine life being depleted in St. Kitts

  

  (From sknvibes.com) Basseterre, St. Kitts- A prominent local diver is beseeching the powers that be to act swiftly to preserve marine life around the island or risk its total diminution which would have a devastating effect on tourism and the economy. Kenneth Samuel of Kenneth’s Dive Centre spoke at length …
• 13 January

  PETA to NOAA: Please Don’t Let Dolphins Die

  

  (From peta.org)- Sea Bright, N.J.- Today, PETA sent an urgent letter to Dr. William J. Brennan, acting administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), urging him to intervene to save the lives of five dolphins stranded in New Jersey”s Shrewsbury and Navesink Rivers. The marine mammals are those …
• 13 January

  Black Abalone Protected as an Endangered Species

  

  (From biologicaldiversity.org) San Francisco – The federal government today designated the black abalone as “endangered” under the Endangered Species Act. The action comes in response to a formal administrative petition filed by the Center for Biological Diversity in December 2006, which sought protection of the species. The black abalone — …
• 13 January

  Surfrider Fdn announces John Kelly Achievement Awards

  

  (From globalsurfnews.com) Honolulu, Oahu – The Surfrider Foundation Oahu Chapter recently presented the 6 th Annual John Kelly Environmental Achievement Awards to recognize those who have made the greatest contributions towards protecting or enhancing our coastal community and environment.
• 13 January

  Navy Allowed to Kill Whales in Hawaii During Sonar Training

  

  (From ens-newswire.com) – The federal government today issued authorization to the U.S. Navy to impact whales and dolphins while conducting sonar training exercises around the main Hawaiian Islands for the next five years. The letter of authorization and accompanying rules allow for injury or death of up to 10 animals …
• 12 January

  Divers cut away at net that has been killing marine life

  

  (From latimes.com) – In the wee hours one morning in 2006, the trawler Infidel sank off the southern end of Santa Catalina Island, taking several tons of squid and a 9,000-pound fishing net down with it. The Infidel came to rest on its keel, about 150 feet under the sea. …
• 12 January

  Good news possible for NJ’s wayward dolphins

  

  (From nbcnewyork.com) – There”s good news for a pod of wayward dolphins in New Jersey”s Shrewsbury and Navesink rivers. Three of the remaining five dolphins are headed back to sea. A volunteer with the Marine Mammal Stranding Center said Saturday that the trio was spotted in Sandy Hook Bay, a …
• 12 January

  Ban on shark finning in U.S. waters on table in Congress

  

  (From sun-sentinel.com)- A shark conservation bill introduced last week in Congress would strengthen the ban on finning, in which the valuable fins are sliced off a live shark and the rest discarded. The fins generally are exported to Asia, where shark fin soup is a delicacy served at weddings and …
• 11 January

  Disease, oil spills threaten California sea otters

  

  (From sanluisobispo.com)- Sea otters in California, slowly recovering from their brush with extinction a century ago, still face threats from disease and oil spills. That’s the conclusion of a final stock assessment of the animals by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released to the public just after Christmas. The …
• 10 January

  Turtle fights for its life

  

  (From goldcoast.com.au)- A green sea turtle believed to be about 100 years old is being nursed back to health after it was hit by a boat on the NSW north coast. The turtle is in the care of the Ballina-based Australian Seabird Rescue Centre which rescued the 80kg seafarer from …
• 10 January

  Scuba diver helps get shark fin soup off menu

  

  (From signonsandiego.com)- Some local scuba divers and an executive chef combined this week to eliminate a controversial seafood item from a menu for a Chinese New Year celebration. Scuba-diving enthusiast Carl Robbins noticed the menu in an advertising flyer from Barona Valley Ranch Resort & Casino. Among the offerings was …
• 10 January

  Fierce opposition to longline fishing plan

  

  (From bermudasun.bm) Bermuda – Plans to introduce offshore longline fishing in Bermuda”s waters could threaten the revival of the Cahow and help drive other species to the brink of extinction. A host of international and local experts have condemned moves to allow the deeply controversial fishing method in the island”s …