Green Options » oceans

1st High Seas Marine Protected Area in Southern Ocean — More Diverse than Galapagos Islands

Zachary Shahan — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:45:21 +0000

Fishing and refuse disposal are to be banned in the 1st high seas Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the Southern Ocean, an area of the ocean that contains more species than the Galapagos Islands.

This will allow scientists to monitor the effects of climate change in this region. This is only the first of possibly twelve such areas.

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Wave Energy Looking for Breakthrough — Using Aerospace Design

Zachary Shahan — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:27:49 +0000

The oceans seem like a great potential source for clean energy. The force of the waves, the constancy, the size of the oceans — it all seems like something that could produce energy for humans without much harm. (I still have some concerns, though it seems like one of the best options these days). Some of the major problems with utilizing the force of the oceans, however, have been how to survive storms, the need to be anchored to the see floor, and efficiency.

Researchers from the US Air Force Academy have a new, outside-the-box idea for dealing with these problems — use an aerospace approach.

This is yet to be developed to full-scale and tested in that form, but early computer and model-scale tests are showing higher efficiencies than wind turbines, according to the National Science Foundation (NSF).

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Oceans’ Ability to Absorb Carbon & Protect Against Climate Change Weakening

Zachary Shahan — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:23:03 +0000

Oceans regulate our climate. They play a key role in keeping the world’s “homeostasis” in tact. However, their ability to absorb carbon & keep the climate in balance is dwindling, a new report shows.

In a year-by-year study from 1765 to 2008, researchers found that the oceans are struggling to meet increasing emissions demands. They cannot take in as much carbon as they used to.

The study, published in the November 19 issue of the journal Nature, found that the percentage of fossil fuel emissions the ocean has been taking in since 2000 has decreased by as much as 10%.

This is the first study of its kind or breadth. One previous study had attempted to measure the oceans’ industrial carbon absorption for one year — 1994. This does so for a period of 200+ years.

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Robot Fish to Better Monitor Water Quality

Zachary Shahan — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:32:10 +0000

An ecologist and an engineer at Michigan State University are working together to create robot fish that can better monitor various factors in aquatic environments.

Combining the brilliance of nature with some top-notch engineering, these two scientists are on to something and getting the funding for it.

The researchers are breaking ground with this and looking to raise water monitoring to another level.

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Lasers from Space Show Ice Sheets Thinning — Greenland and Antarctica

Zachary Shahan — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:16:49 +0000

**This week in the journal Nature scientists give the most comprehensive view of thinning ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica to date.**

Scientists from British Antarctic Survey (BAS) and the University of Bristol analyzed 50 million satellite measurements (from NASA) to show the massive ice loss on these polar giants.

The result are surprising, even to the scientists.

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Global Collapse, Human Survival & the Planet’s Boundaries

Zachary Shahan — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:11:43 +0000

A new study by nearly 30 of the world’s best scientists concludes that we have crossed three of the world’s nine thresholds. It is not only about climate change.

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3 New Species Found in Underwater Cave in Canary Islands

Zachary Shahan — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 11:51:23 +0000

Texas A&M professor and world-leading cave researcher, Tom Iliffe, and others discovered numerous new species in an underwater cave a mile long in the Canary Islands recently. The cave was in Lanzarote off the coast of Africa in the Atlantic Ocean. One of the species might be one of the oldest crustaceans in the world. It might be about 200 millions years old, from the time of dinosaurs.

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Journey into the “Great Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch” — Scientific Findings

Zachary Shahan — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 09:20:27 +0000

The “Great Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch” lies about 1,000 miles from the coast of California. It is in the North Pacific Ocean Gyre, which is one of the oldest and most diverse ecosystems in the world. The garbage patch has gotten a lot of media attention in the last year. However, due to the fact that one must get on a boat and go all the way out to the patch to study it, there hadn’t been any in-depth scientific analysis of the patch,… until now.

The Scripps Environmental Accumulation of Plastic Expedition (SEAPLEX) went on an in-depth search of the “Great Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch” this month. Their findings were varied.

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Seaweed Kills Horse In France

Zachary Shahan — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 09:28:14 +0000

Killer seaweed? Yes. It’s not like a giant venus flytrap, but it is creating a killer gas that some scientists believe may have wiped out the dinosaurs.

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Company To Develop Biofuel Made From Fish

Jerry James Stone — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 23:03:51 +0000

LiveFuels, Inc. hopes to make a renewable fuel using processed algae-fed fish.

The company–who develops renewable algae-based biofuels–has a test facility in Brownsville, TX. At the location they have 45 acres of open saltwater ponds which will be used for optimizing the algal production.

Most algae-to-biofuel companies are limited to monomcultures of algae, but LiveFuels plans to grow a mix of regional species in low-cost, open-water systems. The algae will be “harvested” with filter-feeding fish and other aquatic herbivores.

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Giant Jellyfish Prepare to Invade Japan

Bryan Nelson — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:20:55 +0000

Giant poisonous jellyfish are poised to assault Japanese waters, experts warn.

Reports of massive bloomings indicate that this season’s Nomura’s jellyfish spawn should be a big one. The good news is that there may not be a nation on Earth more psychologically prepared for the invasion of giant monsters.

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10 Sustainable Lifestyle Tips: #1-5

Zachary Shahan — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 00:16:19 +0000

In a previous post, I listed five of the best things I think you can do in order to live a sustainable lifestyle — #6-10. Now, here is the top five list.

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Environmental Defense Fund: Good Advice for Seafood Lovers

edfblog — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:48:29 +0000

Today’s guest blogger is EDF scientist Tim Fitzgerald.

Ever stare at the seafood counter and wonder where all that fish comes from? Maybe not, but I do, and a new article in Martha Stewart’s Body+Soul magazine wades through some other issues that might be on your mind - overfishing, fish farming, omega-3s and mercury.

Although the article sugar coats a few things (e.g. wild fish generally being a safe, sustainable option - not true), it contains some good advice. First and foremost, get to know the people that sell you fish. They can be your best ally in making good choices and are often a wealth of knowledge.

Second, don’t be afraid to ask questions like, ‘Where is this fish from?’, ‘Is it farmed or wild?’, etc. This will help steer you in the right direction.

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11 Million Pieces of Litter Picked Up in Under 24 Hours

Gavin Hudson — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 16:56:36 +0000

In less than one day, nearly 400,000 volunteers in 104 countries found and collected 11,439,086 items of litter from beaches and waterways.

The garbage cleanup was part of the Ocean Conservancy’s annual Coastal Cleanup. Information about the types of garbage found during the cleanup was compiled into a report that will help planners to understand and address the problem of litter.

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Iceland’s New Government to Keep Increase in Whaling Quota

Alex Felsinger — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 22:20:00 +0000

Contrary to previous reports, Iceland’s new government announced that they will keep the controversial increased whaling quota that the outgoing Fisheries Minister enacted last month, just one day before leaving office.

Steingrimur J Sigfusson, Iceland’s new Fisheries Minister, said that the country will keep the whaling quota, but added that whalers should not expect the quota to extend five years, as was originally planned. The quota increase has been criticized by environmental groups because it allows the killing of 150 endangered fin whales.

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13,000 Species Documented in Marine Census

Jake Richardson — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 22:24:19 +0000

A team of international researchers has released the results of an extensive survey of the Antarctic and Arctic oceans.

The census showed 7,500 species in the Antarctic and 5,500 in the Arctic. The total number includes several hundred thought to be newly discovered species. In addition it was discovered, astonishingly, that 200 or more of species are common to both oceans - though they live 11,000 kilometers from one another.

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Coral Reef Fish Experience Middle Class Crunch

Bryan Nelson — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 22:59:19 +0000

The economic downturn is making it tough to be a member of the middle class, now there’s evidence that ‘middle class’ coral reef fish are hurting too.

According to a new Wildlife Conservation Society study, reef fish levels along middle class coastal communities in Eastern Africa tend to be significantly lower– up to 4 times lower– than along areas bordering wealthy or poor communities.

Reasons for the disparity are numerous, and they involve a complicated interplay between traditional customs, economic development and population dynamics. But middle class apathy could also be to blame.

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635 Million-Year-Old Animal Traces Discovered

Jake Richardson — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 01:17:56 +0000

New research in the South Oman Salt Basin shows evidence of animal life dating back much further than the first appearance of other significant life forms.

Chemical traces of the minute marine sponges, called demosponges were observed by a research team led by the University of California, Riverside geochemist Dr. Gordon D. Love. Desmosponges include the species most consumsers are familiar with: the bath sponge. These over 500 million-year-old sponges however, were probably much smaller due to a lack of oxygen available during their geological period. The fact that they existed 200 million years before plants appeared on land, shows just how very old they are.

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Top 10 Eco-Best Seafood

Sonya — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 00:58:29 +0000

Many eco-conscious families struggle with buying seafood that is both healthy for themselves and the environment.

“Choosing eco-friendly seafood is not only good for the oceans, it’s good for your family too,” says Katharine Burnham, spokesperson for the Environmental Defense Fund.

So what exactly is eco-friendly seafood? Anchovies are the Eco-Best Seafood, according to the Environmental Defense Fund’s research. In its health facts, the fund says anchovies are high in heart-healthy omega-3s and have low contaminant levels.

Anchovies can be safely eaten by adults and children for more than four meals per month, research indicates. They have “short life spans and reproduce quickly (and) are resilient to fishing pressure and remain plentiful.”

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World Species Survey - More Animals Endangered and in Decline

Michael Ricciardi — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 03:21:42 +0000

World Species Survey details gloomy outlook for many animal species.In early October of 2008, the results of a global species survey, conducted by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, were released. The numbers are startling:

At least a quarter of mammal species are headed toward extinction in the near future.
Nearly 80 percent of the primate species in southern and southeastern Asia are immediately threatened.
At least 22 percent of reptile species are at risk of extinction.
Perhaps 40 percent of North American freshwater fish are threatened.
In Europe, 45 percent of the most common bird species are rapidly declining, and so are the most common bird species in North America.

But perhaps these figures are a bit too abstract. Here’s a more precise way to look at the present state of bio-diversity on Earth.

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