Marine News Roundup

Welcome to this week's Marine News Roundup! The best of the week's marine stories all in one place!

Flex's relatives tagged by scientists
Last year, scientists tagged 'Flex', a rare western Gray whale, and watched in amazement as it left it's Russian home and sprinted 8,586 kilometres across the ocean to the west coast of North America. This month, they have tagged five more western Grays in the hope of discovering whether they regularly make international trips. A team co-ordinated by the International Whaling Commission hopes to fix satellite tags to at least 12 whales, which spend their summers off Sakhalin Island, Russia. The big question for researchers is whether the western whales mix with the eastern whales as they migrate between Mexico and Alaska. The western Grays were thought to be extinct before the tiny Sakhalin population was discovered about 15 years ago. Once the tagged whales start their migration they can be tracked on the Marine Mammal Institute website.

Jellyfish compete with fish to dominate the sea
A new study published in Science has found that blooms of brainless jellyfish have surprising ecological power to compete against free-swimming fish and can use their efficient, prehistoric methods to dominant vast expanses of the sea when offered the chance. Jellyfish have functionally replaced several overexploited commercial stocks and scientists have warned of, "a future ‘gelatinous’ ocean reminiscent of the early Ediacaran if fishing effort and other anthropogenic stressors remain unchanged".

Hollywood ending for dolphin's tale
Six years ago, a baby dolphin was rescued by fisherman after becoming trapped by a rope and being injured so badly that it's tail was partially severed and even its mother had abandoned it. Nursed back to health at a Florida aquarium, the dolphin - named Winter by staff - shed it's tail after a few days and might never have swum again, were it not for the unique artificial tail he was fitted with. The story has now been turned into a Hollywood film, starring Morgan Freeman, which will be released in the US this week and in Britain next month.

Deadly jobs: Working with water
A new blog by BBC Earth has uncovered three deadly jobs working with water. The first job is performed by fishermen in the Philippines. Some of the most dangerous techniques are adopted by the Pa-aling divers who inhabit the Palawan province. Diving down to 40 metres, these 100 strong crews take their lives in their hands on every trip.  Sadly the benefits do not outweigh the risks with each fisherman reportedly earning an average of $25 US dollars for a week’s work. The second deadly job involves the goose barnacle collectors of northern Spain. These fearless collectors of this strange looking shellfish, battle with ferocious crashing waves (also known as Atlantic Rollers) and jagged rocks to gather their prize. At up to 200 Euros per kilo it is easy to see what the attraction to this lifestyle is. The third deadly job involves fatherhood! In the Zanskar region of the Tibetan Plateau, the school run is an epic six-day trek along the semi-frozen river Zanskar. In the spring the smooth firm ice can start to give way, rapidly turning the trip from a habitual pilgrimage to a perilous expedition. Check out this BBC Earth blog for more details of these dangerous jobs!

Have you seen a Chinese mitten crab?
Chinese mitten crabs are officially listed as one of the World's 100 worst invasive species. They can cause damage to fishing gear and river banks, block intake screens, modify natural habitats and compete with native species. It is this economic and ecological damage that makes this crab such an unwelcome arrival. The full extent of these exotic pests in English and Welsh waters is currently unclear and a consortium of research institutes is requesting mitten crab sightings from members of the public, anglers and waterway workers, to clarify the distribution of this species. You can report your sightings by email, phone, text or online.

Sweden's west coast hit by 'substantial' oil spill
The Swedish coastguard has said that a recent oil spill near the Sweden's southwest coast is the worst in the area in years and the clean-up will take weeks. Coastguard official Birgitta Andersson said authorities suspect the petrol contaminated the sea following a collision between two boats off Denmark's west coast on September 10th. The cleanup operation will take several weeks, but decontaminating the affected beaches will likely take much longer. The coastguard has already collected more than 130 cubic metres (130,000 litres) from Sweden's southwest coast and up to 15 birds covered in petrol have already been discovered.

3,000 blue whales swarm off the coast of California
In a very rare event, a huge pod of blue whales hovers around the coast of Southern California. Weighing up to 150 tons and reaching lengths of 108 feet, these creatures are exceptional in both appearance and strength. Researchers estimate this particular pod consists of an astounding 3,000 whales, as part of the global population merely three times that size. This pod is already exposing eager marine researchers to behaviours uncommon in this setting. In addition to the fact that the pod is unusually close to shore, witnesses have noted that the species is actively courting, breaching the water's surface, as well as willingly approaching kayaks and boats. In combination with this rare mating behaviour, an NBC camera crew was able to record a blue whale song above water. Local experts exclaim that the opportunity to witness this serenade is undoubtedly a once in a lifetime experience.

New Dolphin Species May Already Be at Risk
A dolphin that was previously lumped in with other species of coastal-dwelling dolphins is actually its own Australian species, researchers say. And already, the new Burrunan dolphin may be in danger due to its small population and limited range. The new species of dolphins only live in a tiny region off southern and southeastern Australia, with two small populations making up the entire species (about 150 individuals). The other, more common dolphins in the area are well represented across the globe. This region is located close to many urban and agricultural centres, the runoff of which ends up in the dolphin's habitat. The populations are also in close proximity to major shipping ports, commercial and recreation fisheries, residential, industrial and agricultural stressors. Researchers believe the species should qualify for protection under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.

'Porpicide': Bottlenose dolphins killing porpoises
A harbour porpoise that washed ashore last month at San Francisco's Fort Funston has been identified as a victim of 'porpicide', the deliberate slaying of a harbor porpoise by a surprising and, to most people, unlikely culprit - the bottlenose dolphin. The brutal battering wasn't an isolated incident. Scientists say there has been a dramatic increase in dolphin attacks on harbour porpoises along the California coast over the past few years. Since Aug. 12, six dead harbour porpoises have washed ashore at Ocean Beach, Fort Funston and Stinson Beach. It is not yet clear how they all died, but most of the injuries are consistent with bottlenose attacks. Well over 50 harbour porpoise deaths are believed to have been caused by bottlenose dolphins along the California coast since 2005, when the first fatal attack ever recorded in California was confirmed. A study published this year in the Marine Mammal Science journal documented 44 fatal attacks between 2007 and 2009, mostly off San Luis Obispo and Santa Cruz and in Monterey Bay. Scientists do not know why the highly intelligent species would suddenly start battering its ocean brethren, but have said the perpetrators are probably young, sexually frustrated toughs defending their turf. The killings coincide with the expansion of dolphin territory, but it is believed that the primary motive is not territorial. The two species primarily feed on different things and do not generally frequent the same places at the same times, according to the porpicide study. Scientists are now proposing theories as to why these killings occur.

European fish stocks changing with warming seas
The first "big picture" study of the effects of rapidly rising temperatures in the northeast Atlantic Ocean shows that a major shift in fish stocks is already well underway. But it isn't all bad news. The research, published in Current Biology, shows that some fishes' losses are other fishes' gain. The study included more than 100 million fish, to explore how warming is affecting the commercially important European fishery. The data shows that fish in European waters have undergone profound community-level changes that are related to dramatic warming trends for the region. The vast majority - a whopping 72% - of common fish species have already shown a change in abundance that relates to the rising sea temperatures. Of those, three out of every four fish species have grown in numbers with warming. Catches of cold-loving species, including haddock and cod, have dropped by half in the past three decades, whereas landings of warm-loving species, including hake and dab, have more than doubled. The results show that studies focused only on changes to where particular fish species are found - species ranges - will miss the far more ecologically and economically relevant effects of warming. They also suggest there will be an unavoidable change in what's for dinner. There may be a further decline in cold-adapted species, many of which were the staple for our grandparents. The flip-side is a likely increase in species that for the UK may seem relatively exotic now, such as red mullet and John Dory. Over time, with effective management and an appropriate response in consumer demand, European seas have the potential to yield productive and sustainable fisheries into the future.

That's all for this week - don't forget to leave us a comment and let us know what you think!

Marine News Roundup

Welcome to this week's Marine News Roundup... As always, feel free to comment and let us know what you think!

"Fears in Miami That Port Expansion Will Destroy Reefs"
Miami's Department of Environmental Protection is on the verge of granting a final permit to the Army Corps of Engineers which will allow them to conduct 600 days of blasting to deepen, widen and dredge its port to accommodate supersize freighters. At the same time, environmentalists are attempting to protect threatened coral reefs and acres of sea grass that they say would be destroyed by the expansion.

"Happy Feet finally set free"
Following last week's story following "Happy Feet's" rehabilitation and journey to the Antarctic, we are pleased to report that Happy Feet the penguuin has now been released, about 700 kilometres south of New Zealand's South Island. He needed "some gentle encouragement" to leave the safety of his crate and is now expected to complete the 2,000 kilometer journey South to his Antarctic home. He has been fitted with a satellite tracker and microchip and his progress can be followed online.

"Dogger Bank to get special marine protection"
The UK section of the Dogger Bank is home to a fantastic array of sea life and habitats and has been submitted by the Government to the European Commission. It now has candidate Special Area of Conservation (cSAC) status, with over 12,000 square kilometers of species rich sandbank having become a marine protected area to safeguard the important sea life and habitats. This is the largest European Marine Site to be submitted by any Member State for protection and links up with the existing sites in Germany and the Netherlands. Candidate SAC status means that the site must be protected from damaging activities to ensure its features are conserved.

"Unbelievable photo of shark spotted along San Diego's coastline"
A two-mile stretch of coastline at Casa Reef in La Jolla, San Diego was shut down last week after several people reportedly spotted a twelve-inch dorsal fin in the water in an area close to a seal colony. The area was reopened on Thursday because lifeguards, patrolling the area since the early morning, found no evidence of a shark. This was the third confirmed shark sighting along San Diego's coastline in a week and it is believed that this shark was a 10-12 foot Great White.

"Hawksbill Sea Turtles Not Extinct In Eastern Pacific"
Until recently, scientists had assumed that the Hawksbill Sea Turtle was functionally extinct in the eastern tropical Pacific. However, a group of researchers in Central and South America are now saying this is not the case. The new findings, published this month in Biology Letters, show that Hawksbills went undetected because they are "living among in-shore mangrove estuaries rather than the coral and rocky reefs for which they [were] previously known to inhabit". The researchers believe that conservation efforts will be easier than for turtles in the ocean, although the turtles' mangrove habitats are also close to human populations, putting them at greater risk for destruction and habitat degradation. The habitats are under pressure from fishing, tourism, development and other human activities.

"Sharks likely to get more protection"
State fishery managers will recommend at this week's Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission meeting in Naples that anglers can catch more sea trout but need to kill fewer sharks. The state regulatory board also begins reviewing a budget for the next fiscal year that proposes to institute a 10 percent cut ordered by the Florida Legislature. In fishery matters of interest to the Florida Keys, the FWC board on Thursday will hear staff proposals on protecting sharks. Tiger sharks and three species of hammerhead sharks (great, smooth and scalloped) all should be added to Florida's no-take list, which now includes 22 shark species, says the recommended action. A series of seven statewide workshops on sharks, including one in Key West, found widespread support for adding the four shark species to the protected list. Two other shark proposals, to require use of circle hooks in shark fishing, and to ban chumming from shore, did not get endorsed by FWC staff. Encouraging reports on the spotted sea trout fishery could lead to a year-around recreational season on the Gulf of Mexico food fish. The agency also will recommend extending the season for the "small" commercial fishery on sea trout. The FWC meets from Wednesday through Friday at the Naples Grande resort.

"Sardine fishery growing sustainably"
The South Australian sardine fishery has been developing quickly since 1991, but has not harmed the surrounding ecosystem, according to a seven-year study by the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI). The fishery is Australia’s largest by weight, with around 30,000 tonnes harvested annually. Most of this goes to feed farmed tuna but is increasingly destined for human consumption. “This study shows that South Australia’s pelagic marine ecosystem is in good health. The evidence suggests that the precautionary approach to management that the sardine fishery has taken, is achieving its goal of ensuring ecological sustainability,” said Associate Professor Tim Ward, who has led the SARDI Wild Fisheries research team since 1998.

"Shark Savers congratulates California Senate for banning the shark fin trade"
The California state Senate has passed a historic bill to protect all shark species from the environmentally destructive shark fin trade. AB 376 makes it unlawful for any person to possess, sell, offer for sale, trade, or distribute a shark fin. The bill was sponsored by Monterey Bay Aquarium and the Asian Pacific American Ocean Harmony Alliance and supported by a diverse coalition of organizations that included Shark Savers and thousands of individuals. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 25 to 9 and now moves to Governor Jerry Brown to be signed. Opposition was raised on the grounds that the bill was discriminatory to Asian communities but polls have indicated 70% of the Asian American community and 76% of California voters supported the shark fin ban. A companion bill, AB 853, was also passed that allow sales of shark fin until 1st July 2013 for all fin stock on-hand prior to January 1st 2012. Sharks are essential to the health of our oceans and maintain balance within the marine ecosystem and the AB 376 bill represents a fantastic step towards protecting sharks.

"Giant crabs make Antarctic leap" Scientists have found a large, reproductive population of King crabs in the Palmer Deep on the edge of Antarctica, probably as a result of warming in the region. The researchers believe the crabs may have been washed in during an upsurge of warmer water, and have warned that the crabs are likely to profoundly change the ecosystem of the area as the population spreads. It is estimated that they may be around 1.5 million King crabs in the basin and that they have been there for about 30-40 years. The species cannot tolerate water colder than 1.4 degrees Celcius but the seas there get warmer as you descend, and the crabs were only found below 850m. The crabs are voracious crushers of sea floor animals and local extinctions of other species are expected.

"Blind Cave Fish Tell Time On Biological Clocks"
How do animals that have evolved for millions of years underground, completely isolated from the day-night cycle, still "know" what time it is? A new study has attempted to tackle this question by investigating a species of cavefish, Phreatichthys andruzzii, which has lived isolated for 2 million years beneath the Somalian desert. The study has found that this cavefish has an unusual circadian clock; it ticks with an extremely long period (up to 47 hours) and is completely blind. The circadian clock is a highly conserved physiological timing mechanism that allows organisms to anticipate and adapt to the day-night cycle. The cavefish have given scientists a unique opportunity to understand how profoundly sunlight has influenced our evolution.