Marine News Roundup

The best marine news stories from throughout the week, hand-picked for you. Please feel free to comment and tell us what you think!

"Seeking Protection for Coral Sea 'Hotspot'"
The Coral Sea is best known for the Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest barrier reef, which was designated as a World Heritage Site in 1981. The Australian government designated the area a marine park in 1975 due to it's extensive biological diversity and richness, so some activities (e.g. fishing) are regulated in some areas and banned completely in others. A new report, "Australia's Coral Sea: A Biophysical Profile", by Pew Environment Group, is now suggesting that a similar level of protection should be extended to the sea as a whole, creating the world's largest marine park covering an area of nearly 1 million square kilometers or 386,000 square miles. The report notes that the Coral Sea contains 18 shallow reef systems which, due to their, "small size, isolation from each other and high exposure to cyclones and storms," may actually be more vulnerable than the better-known Great Barrier Reef. The Coral Sea is a global biological hotspot and some species are endemic, i.e. found nowhere else in the world. However, the report also notes that 341 bird and animal species in the sea are listed on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, with 51% of these showing declining population trends. This is why Pew Environment Group are calling for protective action for the area. The Australian government has established a Coral Sea Conservation Zone whilst it assesses the area's potential designation as a permanent marine reserve, meaning that most commercial activities in the region now require permits. The government is expected to announce a formal decision later this year.

"Monster Algae Bloom Off Jersey Shore"
Images from a NOAA satellite have identified a "monster" algae bloom off the New Jersey coast, stretching from Brooklyn all the way down to Cape May, a distance of more than 100 miles. The bloom could soon affect fishing and beach goers and, when the algae dies within the next couple of weeks, it could create a huge 'dead zone' just off shore that will impact on marine life if the oxygen in the area in not replaced. The bloom was caused by, "an unfortunate combination of southwesterly winds that allowed the upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich waters to come to the surface... [that] gave the algae so much food they could quickly multiply". Some of the nutrients appear to have come from New York Harbour, where heavy rains have caused an overflow of sewage and storm drain systems. As bacteria feed on the dead algae, they consume the oxygen in the water which can suffocate fish, or drive them away to more oxygen-rich waters. This could impact on fishing, and beachgoers may notice a brown foam on their skin as they get out of the water.

"BBC/Discovery 'Life' Giant Cuttlefish sequence"
This beautiful video of Australian Giant Cuttlefish mating strategies was filmed by cameraman Doug Anderson in South Australia.

"Sea Jelly Blooms in the UK: research continues to point towards manmade causes"
Mass gatherings of jellyfish of various species are becoming more frequent worldwide and the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) has reported that the UK's seas are becoming more like a jellyfish 'soup' as huge swarms appear during summer. Scientists are unsure as to why, as little is known about these invaders. Research is now suggesting that pollution, overfishing and climate change may be responsible. Pollution run-off from the land into the sea can boost jellyfish numbers by causing plankton blooms, which they feed on along with fish. Overfishing removes jellyfish predators and competitors which usually regulate population growth. Climate change may cause more favourable conditions for jellyfish, "with their adaptability giving them an advantage over some other sea creatures." Jellyfish swarms can have serious economic consequences and in more developed nations, they can spoil entire commercial catches. Jellyfish numbers are a important indicator as to the state of our seas so do keep an eye out for them and report any sightings to the MCS for inclusion in their jellyfish survey data.

"Public urged to report whale shark sightings"
The Dubai-based research body, Sharkwatch Arabia, are asking members of the public to report any sightings of whale sharks in the wild, dead or alive, to them after a missed opportunity in Musandam last week. A dead whale shark washed ashore but was not reported to anyone, so scientists missed the opportunity to take tissue samples and analyse the whale's stomach contents. It is globally a very rare occurrence for a whale shark to wash ashore and scientists are keen to gather as much information as they can in order to determine where whale sharks feed, whether they are from a genetically different population or native to the area, sex, breeding maturity and possibly cause of death. If you see a whale shark contact Whaleshark Arabia as soon as possible, on sharkwatcharabia@gmail.com.

"NOAA rescuers free whale calf from fishing line"
NOAA officials have managed to rescue a 5-month old humpback whale that had become entangled in a buoy line. Tourist boats spotted the calf and it's mother and helped to keep track of them until NOAA were on the scene. Luckily the buoy, believed to have possibly come from a crab or shrimp pot, was only wrapped around the calf. The team analysed the ropes and realised they could remove it with a single snip, which they managed to do successfully after a few hours. A small of line remained on the calf but the team believe it will drop off on it's own.

"Scottish seas in good shape, say scientists"
A team of researchers from the University of Plymouth have been studying how acid can affect the sea, and ultimately the fish life within it. By focusing on a series of giant underwater volcanoes that emit CO2, they have established that the waters around Scotland are in good condition and should be able to survive the rising levels of carbon dioxide that are causing serious problems in other parts of the world. Scottish waters contain more food, which is likely to make them less vulnerable to acidification. Acidification can have dramatic consequences for marine life and is set to get worse, as more chemicals and materials are dumped into the sea.

"Experts start work on finding solutions to shark attacks"
Following the recent shark attacks in the Seychelles, it looks like the Seychelles government has now listened to concerns about indiscriminate sharks hunts. They have called in two experts from South Africa to work out what factors have led to the attack, and how best shark attacks can be avoided in the future. The experts are also attempting to work out the species of shark behind the attacks, now believed to have been a Great White or a Tiger shark. The swimming ban is still in place in Anse Lazio, Petit Anse Kerlan, Anse Georgette, Curieuse and St Pierre with swimmers and divers being asked to take necessary precautions in other areas. Air Seychelles pilots are flying over the area regularly on the lookout for sharks and the Government has stated that it does not want a bounty being put on the shark responsible for the attacks, nor an indiscriminate cull of sharks.

"Orphaned seal pups 'fall in love' after charity rescue"
This lovely story was spotted by Seal Scotland. The Scottish SPCA in Oban rescued two orphaned seal pups in June after they became separated from their mothers. The two pups, Jellyfish and Sand, have formed an unusually close bond whilst being cared for together, touching noses and sniffing each other frequently and even sleeping side by side. This is unusual behaviour for seals but they can't seem to bear being apart. The seals are set to be released together when they are old enough to fend for themselves and there is, "every chance" they will remain together in the wild.

"Shark Bay dolphins astound university researchers"
Researchers at Murdoch University have found an increased number of dolphins practicing the technique of 'conching' in Western Australia. The behaviour was first observed in bottlenose dolphins in 2007 and again in 2009, and involves the dolphin trapping small fish in an empty conch shell with it's beak, then taking the shell to the surface and shaking it, causing the water to drain out and the fish fall into it's mouth. The previously rarely witnessed phenomenon appears to be spreading, possibly through close associates of 'conching' dolphins watching them and then imitating the behaviour. Researchers are excited at the possibility of watching this learned behaviour spread, and hope to set up experiments to test how the dolphins are using the conch shells to trap small fish.

That's it for this week - please do leave your comments below and let us know what you think!