Thriving Oceans

The Salty Scoop, week 3, which is merely a highlight of the previous week’s news and blog posts I found interesting and pertinent to marine life and ocean conservation.  And by all means feel free to add your recommended posts, news, videos and pictures via the comments section.

Palau to create world’s first shark sanctuary (Sept. 25)
“The tiny Pacific nation of Palau is creating the world’s first shark sanctuary, a biological hotspot to protect Great Hammerheads, Leopard Sharks, Oceanic Whitetip Sharks and more than 130 other species fighting extinction in the Pacific Ocean.”

Warming ocean melts Greenland glaciers (Sept. 23)
“With whale fins splashing in the distance, Ruth Curry hauls up her catch from the blustery deck of an icebreaker.  An orange tube fixed to a metal frame breaks the surface as the motorized winch stops groaning. Inside: data on the water temperature deep down in this glacial fjord off southeast Greenland.”

Hunt for clues to sea life deaths at Farallones (Sept. 22)
“A humpback whale that suddenly rose out of the water and splashed down near the Farallon Islands provided a research vessel full of scientists with a surprising bonanza of research data.”

Emperor Penguins -v- Leopard Seals in Antarctica (Sept. 24)
“Emperor Penguins, Aptenodytes forsteri, return from the seas to feed their young. Dramatic scenes unfold as they hesitate at the edge of the Antarctic sea ice after spotting a Leopard Seal, Hydrurga leptonyx, on the prowl under the Antarctic ice. Narrated by the incomparable David Attenborough.”
Posted by GrrlScientist on Living the Scientific Life (Scientist, Interrupted)

EU nations fail to agree on bluefin tuna ban (Sept. 22)
“A sharply divided European Union failed Tuesday to protect the threatened bluefin tuna, as the bloc’s Mediterranean nations refused to back even a temporary a ban on catching the fish prized by sushi aficionados.”

Deep-sea trawling debate heats up in France (Sept. 24)
“French deputies are calling on Jean-Louis Borloo, the country’s minister of ecology, energy, sustainable development and sea, to clarify France’s position on deep-sea trawling in international waters and whether the government intends to support a possible United Nations moratorium.”