News

August, 2008

• 1 August

  Up, up, up and away, but not in Marikina

  

  (From pr-inside.com) – Philippine city bans the release of ballons into the air hoping to save marine animals. Marikina City Councilor of 2nd District Roberto Ponce recently filed an ordinance prohibiting the release of balloons into the atmosphere, underscoring the serious threat to animal and marine life which the act …
• 1 August

  Few Turn up at Shark Restrictions Meeting

  

  (From stories.thefacts.com) – Federal officials are working on possible catch restrictions for the blacknose shark, which turns up regularly in Gulf Coast shrimping nets. A 2007 assessment showed blacknose sharks, which are found in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf Coast waters, have been overfished, Wilson said. Many of the blacknose …
• 1 August

  Man Accused of Selling Sharks

  

  (From glendalenewspress.com) La Crescenta,CA- A federal grand jury on Thursday indicted a 57-year-old La Crescenta man for allegedly selling hundreds of juvenile leopard sharks on the black market, officials said. Eduardo Fernandez Carvajal was indicted on 18 counts of wildlife trafficking and one count of conspiracy for collecting and helping …
• 1 August

  Shark Fillets Confiscated After Freezer Fails

  

  (From euroweeklynews.com) Spain- Tonnes of frozen fish have been removed by the Guardia Civil’s environmental wing, SEPRONA, after the freezer on a transporter lorry failed. More than 24 tonnes of filleted Iridescent Shark from Vietnam were taken away last Monday from a storage unit on the El Viso industrial estate …
• 1 August

  Penguins Wash up Along Tropical Beaches

  (From news.com.au)- Penguins are washing up on tropical beaches with scientists unsure why the Antarctic birds are heading closer to the equator than ever before. Mr Silva said biologists believe stronger-than-usual ocean currents had pulled the birds north but others have said overfishing and warmer ocean temperatures may have led …

July, 2008

• 31 July

  Proposed Rule Alters How the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Applies to Oceans

  

  (From marketwatch.com) Washington – Bush Administration Continues its Attacks on the Environment, No Relief in Sight. NEPA, the nation”s preeminent conservation law, ensures that public officials make informed decisions about the environmental consequences of their actions by requiring thorough environmental assessments with public participation.
• 31 July

  Want to Help a ‘Beached’ Seal Pup? Leave it Alone

  

  (From king5.com) Olimpia- If you see a harbor seal pup that appears to be abandoned on the beach, stay away from it. That”s the message from the Central Puget Sound Marine Mammal Stranding Network. Human disturbance near the pup may cause stress and delay the mother”s return because of natural …
• 31 July

  Rescuers in Fight to Save Whale

  

  (From news.bbc.co.uk)- Rescuers are trying to coax a 33ft (10.1m) whale into The Solent after it became stranded in shallow water, coastguards have said. The North Sea Bottlenose was spotted off the Hampshire coast on Thursday afternoon sparking fears it could beach on a sandbank. The tide is expected to …
• 31 July

  Marine Reserve on Home Straight

  

  (From birdlife.org) New Zealand – Wellington’s south coast marine reserve came a step closer recently with its formal announcement. The ‘Taputeranga Marine Reserve’ will be opened officially next month; 17 years after Forest & Bird (BirdLife in New Zealand) first started campaigning for it. Common Dolphins, Fur Seals, Orcas (Killer …
• 31 July

  Man Sentenced Under Endangered Species Act

  

  (From radiojamaica.com) Florida – A federal judge has convicted a South Florida man who smuggled endangered sea turtle eggs and parts from Jamaica into the United States. Authorities said Clive Brown, 59, of Miramar, Florida carried 11 Hawksbill sea turtle eggs and a segment of a turtle shoulder with an …
• 31 July

  Convention That Protects Whales Submitted to the Dominican Senate

  

  (From dominicantoday.com) Santo Domingo – The Executive Branch submitted the International Convention for the Whale Hunting Regulation to the Senate for its ratification, an agreement first signed in December, 1946.
• 31 July

  Bahamas Sea Turtle Group Launches International Ad Campaign to Stop the Slaughter of Sea Turtles in The Bahamas

  

  (From emailwire.com) – Bahamas Government urged to pass legislation to stop the killing and torture of sea turtles in The Bahamas says Bahamas Sea Turtle Conservation Group. Turtle Group asks: If Cuba can protect sea turtles, why can”t The Bahamas?