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#Post#: 5297--------------------------------------------------
Ocean Species Habits and Ocean Conservancy
DIR By: AGelbert
Date: June 17, 2016, 6:03 pm
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[center]5 Stand Out Ocean Dads[/center]
Posted On June 16, 2016 by Erin Spencer
[center]
HTML http://cdn1.arkive.org/media/10/1007916C-1271-45FB-A448-2C5CC3901894/Presentation.Large/King-penguin-swimming-underwater.jpg[/center]
[center]Agelbert NOTE:[/I] An Emperor Penguin in the ocean is a
[i]very different story from one on land. ;D[/center]
It’s the time of the year when we celebrate all the fantastic
father figures around the world. Although most of the animal
kingdom isn’t known for its exceptional parenting, (male grizzly
bears will attack their own cubs? Ouch) there are a few notable
exceptions. This Father’s Day, we’re celebrating some of the
stand out dads throughout the ocean.
[center]
HTML https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/b0/37/14/b037141de9cb9f47d234af807b99ec09.jpg[/center]
[center]Seahorse[/center]
It’s difficult to argue that seahorses aren’t some of the best
fathers in the ocean, since they are the only animals where the
males become pregnant. Potential mates will court for many days,
performing “dancing rituals” like mirroring the other’s
movements and swimming side-by-side in unison. Once they mate,
females will place up to 1,500 eggs in a small,
specially-adapted pouch on the male’s body. They will stay
secure with the male for weeks before emerging, with the females
checking on her mate and the eggs daily. Leading male seahorses
to be nominated for “Dads of the Year,” every year, forever.
[center]
HTML https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0d/Spiny_lumpsucker_(Eumicrotremus_orbis).jpg[/center]
[center]Lumpsucker[/center]
Lumpsuckers take parental dedication to an entirely new level.
When it’s time to breed, males will migrate to shallow waters to
prep a nest. The female will then arrive, deposit her eggs and
take off for the open ocean. Then the male’s watch begins: He
will use a suction pad formed from his pelvic fins to attach to
a nearby rock and stand guard over the eggs for up to eight
weeks.
[center]
HTML https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/55/Toad_and_spiny_lumpsuckers.jpg[/center]
[center]Eumicrotremus phrynoides and Eumicrotremus orbis
demonstrating adhesive pelvic discs.[/center]
He will use his fins to fan oxygen-rich water over the eggs and
fiercely defend the nest against potential predators. Once the
eggs hatch, the male will return to deeper waters, until called
again to his parental duties.
[center]
HTML http://gwsphotos.com/images/1495.jpg[/center]
[center]Sea catfish[/center]
In the case of the sea catfish, eating your young is actually a
good thing. Once a female sea catfish lays her eggs, her mate
will gobble them up and hold them in his mouth. There the
marble-sized eggs will stay, safe and sound, for months at a
time. The male may even hold on to his young until they hatch
and grow to nearly five centimeters long! As having a mouth full
of squirming offspring makes it difficult to eat, the male has
to live off his own body fat until the young are old enough to
take off on their own.
[center]
HTML http://cdn1.arkive.org/media/65/657BAE03-E957-4FB0-BA51-9225D606A171/Presentation.Large/Three-spined-stickleback.jpg[/center]
[center]Threespined stickleback [/center]
The threespined stickleback is all about real estate. This small
fish painstakingly builds his nest by gluing sand, algae and
other small debris together with a sticky protein secreted from
his kidneys. Once his home is good to go, he will court
potential mates until one finds the nest satisfactory. After the
female lays her eggs, the male will chase her away so he can
fertilize the eggs and guard them until they hatch (remember,
this is about good fathers, not necessarily good mates). He will
even remove fungus-infected eggs and fan the eggs to keep them
properly oxygenated—talk about attention to detail!
[center]
HTML http://da15bdaf715461308003-0c725c907c2d637068751776aeee5fbf.r7.cf1.rackcdn.com/f259ca8b041442608fca1d9597cf38e5_400x570-emperor-12-with-opening-egg.jpg[/center]
[center]Emperor penguin tending an egg[/center]
After traveling over 60 miles inland on Antarctica to lay her
egg, the female emperor penguin will make the long journey back
to the ocean to hunt. This leaves the male penguin to care for
the egg for two months. The male will carefully keep his egg
covered by his feathered skin, called a brood pouch, to protect
it from the extreme Antarctic cold. While caring for the egg,
the penguin dad will forgo eating to ensure his baby’s safety,
meaning by the time mom comes back two months later, the male
may have lost nearly half of his body weight. Since fat is the
main way that emperor penguins stay warm, it’s a testament to
these dads’ devotion to their young that they’re able to endure
the Antarctic cold on half their body weight. Once reunited,
penguin parents share the responsibility of taking care of their
chick by taking turns feeding it and keeping it warm.
Regardless of how they show their affection, let’s hear it for
all the human and animal dads alike! Happy Father’s Day!
HTML http://www.createaforum.com/gallery/renewablerevolution/3-200714191456.bmp
Posted in Ocean Life | Tagged Emperor Penguin, Erin Spencer,
Father's Day, Lumpsucker, Sea catfish, Seahorse, Threespined
stickleback
About Erin Spencer: Erin is a Digital Outreach Coordinator at
Ocean Conservancy, based in Washington, D.C. Erin’s passion is
using photography, writing and social media to inspire people to
participate in conservation projects, particularly those
relating to the spread of invasive species. Much of her work has
focused on local responses to invasive lionfish in the Florida
Keys and Caribbean. Follow Erin on Twitter @etspencer and on her
website, www.invasivespeciesinitiative.com.
HTML http://blog.oceanconservancy.org/2016/06/16/5-stand-out-ocean-dads/#comment-197002
#Post#: 5522--------------------------------------------------
Re: Ocean Species Habits and Ocean Conservancy
DIR By: AGelbert
Date: July 30, 2016, 6:04 pm
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[center]Coral
HTML http://www.pic4ever.com/images/earthhug.gif
ls are Like… What?! [/center]
Posted On July 25, 2016 by Sarah Cooley
[center]
HTML http://www.createaforum.com/gallery/renewablerevolution/3-300716180551.jpeg[/center]
This week we’re celebrating all things coral! It’s no secret
that coral reefs are spectacular ecosystems, but we wanted to do
a deep dive into what exactly makes corals so special. Check out
nine ways corals are even cooler than you thought:
1) Corals are like speed bumps. They slow down waves and lessen
wave energy. This protects coastlines from hurricanes, cyclones
and tsunamis. Coral reefs protect the shoreline in 81 countries
around the world, sheltering the 200 million people living along
those coasts.
[center]
HTML http://www.createaforum.com/gallery/renewablerevolution/3-300716180946.jpeg[/center]
2) Corals are like nurseries. They provide homes and hiding
places for marine animals large and small. An estimated 25% of
all fish species call reefs home, and even more fish species
spend part of their young lives there. Losing reefs to ocean
warming or acidification costs animals their homes.
3) Corals are like history books. Corals’ hard calcium carbonate
skeletons contain bands, like tree rings, that record
environmental changes in temperature, water chemistry and
sediment. These records help scientists reconstruct what past
ages were like before humans kept records.
[center]
HTML http://www.createaforum.com/gallery/renewablerevolution/3-300716181644.jpeg[/center]
4) Corals are like tropical rainforests. Both corals and
tropical rainforests support an incredible array of life. Both
are also under stress from human activities. Rising
temperatures, heavy fishing (hunting) pressure and physical
destruction are just some of the human-caused problems hurting
both corals and rainforests.
5) Corals are like Venus flytraps. Some corals can eat passing
plankton by grabbing them from the ocean and ingesting them.
This provides a source of fatty acids for corals, and it is
thought to help corals resist bleaching and other stresses.
6) Corals are like solar panels. Coral animals contain
“symbionts,” which are small cells that photosynthesize, or
harvest the sun’s energy, and pass some of it along to the coral
in exchange for housing.
[center]
HTML http://www.createaforum.com/gallery/renewablerevolution/3-300716182003.jpeg[/center]
7) Corals are like
flowers.
HTML http://www.createaforum.com/gallery/renewablerevolution/3-210614220933.gif<br
/> To reproduce, most corals release gametes, or eggs and sperm,
into the water. This is similar to how flowers release pollen
(gametes) into the wind. Both corals and flowers decide when to
reproduce based on temperature and lighting.
8 ) Corals are like medicine cabinets.
HTML http://www.pic4ever.com/images/8.gif
Coral reefs and the animals
that live around them have many chemical defenses to drive away
predators. These chemical compounds could be the inspiration for
future medicines, nutritional supplements, pesticides and more.
[center]
HTML http://www.createaforum.com/gallery/renewablerevolution/3-300716182328.jpeg[/center]
[center]parrotfish on patrol ;D[/center]
9) Corals are like rock quarries. Broken bits of coral create
silt and sand that forms seafloor and sandy beaches in many
tropical locations. Some coral breakdown is normal, like when
parrotfish crunch off bites of coral to digest the living coral
tissue, and spit out or excrete the hard skeleton crumbs. Other
breakdown isn’t normal, such as the physical and chemical
breakdown of coral by ocean acidification, dynamite fishing,
ship strikes or other human-caused stress.
HTML http://blog.oceanconservancy.org/2016/07/25/corals-are-like-what/#more-12444
Agelbert NOTE: Humanity must protect Coral Reefs as if our lives
depended on it - Because our lives DO depend on it. Protecting
this vital part of the biosphere is a sacred trust that we, as
self aware beings, alone are responsible for.
[center]
HTML http://www.unep.org/dewa/vitalwater/jpg/0302-coralreefs-EN.jpg[/center]
[center]
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[center][img
width=640]
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[center]
HTML http://www.createaforum.com/gallery/renewablerevolution/3-080814213147.png[/center]
#Post#: 5554--------------------------------------------------
Re: Ocean Species Habits and Ocean Conservancy
DIR By: AGelbert
Date: August 7, 2016, 4:33 pm
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HTML http://vegan-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/World-Wildlife-Fund-logo.jpg
[center]Cultural Appreciation: How celebrating whale sharks
transformed a community
HTML http://www.clipartbest.com/cliparts/xig/ojx/xigojx6KT.png[/center]
[center]
HTML http://www.nature.org/cs/groups/webcontent/@web/documents/media/prd_007227.jpg[/center]
[center]A diver viewing many, many white dots - and the whale
shark that sports them.
HTML http://www.pic4ever.com/images/8.gif[/center]
[center]
HTML http://www.createaforum.com/gallery/renewablerevolution/3-070816171603.jpeg[/center]
[font=georgia]Issue:
Fall 2016 [/font]
[center]DONSOL :: PHILIPPINES[/center]
Every April in the seaside town of Donsol, in the Philippines,
dozens of boats topped with sculptures of whale sharks float
down the coast in a colorful armada. On land, residents parade
through the streets with whale shark floats and banners, many of
them decorated with the animal’s strikingly patterned white
spots.
It’s all part of a celebration called the Butanding Festival.
“Butanding” is Tagalog for whale shark—a species that
transformed Donsol’s economy after a large cluster of the
animals was discovered off the coast in 1998. Almost overnight,
tourists began visiting the region to watch the huge, spotted
fish feed on plankton; the local government quickly declared the
region’s waters a sanctuary.
WWF soon began working with local leaders and stakeholders to
design a community- based whale shark ecotourism program. The
program helped establish guidelines for protecting the species
while creating new tourism jobs for locals. It also allowed WWF
scientists to start identifying and tracking whale sharks to
study their behavior and migrations.
Thousands of visitors now flock to Donsol every year. The town’s
annual income has risen dramatically, and many
residents—especially those in local fishing communities— now
work as tour guides, whale shark guideline enforcers, and resort
staff.
The program expanded even further in January 2016, when Royal
Caribbean Cruises Ltd. announced a five-year partnership with
WWF to help protect the world’s oceans. Its first move? A
$200,000 donation to Donsol’s whale shark program, to ensure
that at future festivals, there’s even more to celebrate.
Dive deeper into WWF’s partnership with Royal Caribbean Cruises.
HTML http://www.worldwildlife.org/magazine/issues/fall-2016/articles/cultural-appreciation-how-celebrating-whale-sharks-transformed-a-community
Agelbert Note: This is the type of stewardship of nature that
helps, instead of exploits, non-self aware life forms in our
biosphere. If we are to avoid extinction, this empathy based
modus operandi is sine qua non .
[center]
HTML http://www.bativert.ma/images/image3.jpg[/center]
#Post#: 5625--------------------------------------------------
Re: Ocean Species Habits and Ocean Conservancy
DIR By: AGelbert
Date: August 24, 2016, 2:02 pm
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Smart Seal Climbs on Boat to Avoid Being Eaten
August 23, 2016 by gCaptain
[center]
HTML https://youtu.be/p1ewg7Xvuo0
HTML https://youtu.be/p1ewg7Xvuo0[/center]
[center]
HTML http://www.createaforum.com/gallery/renewablerevolution/3-200714191258.bmp<br
/>[/center]
HTML https://gcaptain.com/smart-seal-climbs-on-boat-to-avoid-being-eaten/
HTML https://gcaptain.com/smart-seal-climbs-on-boat-to-avoid-being-eaten/
Agelbert NOTE: Please spare me the pointed remarks about twin
outboards run by fossil fuels 'saving' the seal. Some people go
to incredible lengths to justify their obsession with internal
combustion engines. I know it's really, really hard for brain
damaged people to get their minds off of their energy 'savior'
religion, but their constant cherry picking to justify fossi
lfuels is tiresome, as well as relevant only to DEATH of marine
life, not the saving of it.
#Post#: 5837--------------------------------------------------
Re: Ocean Species Habits and Ocean Conservancy
DIR By: AGelbert
Date: October 30, 2016, 4:23 pm
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Ocean Currents
News, opinions, photos and facts from Ocean Conservancy
[center]
HTML http://blog.oceanconservancy.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/CubPassingtheTime-1.jpg[/center]
[center]5 Things You Didn’t Already Know About Polar
Bears[/center]
Posted by Marja Diaz
Polar bears are the best. ;D And if you’re reading this,
chances are you’re already a fan. Regardless of your affinity
for these incredible animals, there’s always more to learn.
Today marks the beginning of Polar Bear Week, and to celebrate
the occasion we’ve tracked down five new facts about Ursus
maritimus. Ready to brush up on some trivia?
1. Polar bears wag their heads when it’s time to play
Polar bears communicate through body language, and will often
wag their heads from side to side to signal that it’s time to
play. Playtime is ritualistic of mock fighting, and the perfect
opportunity for polar bears to brush up on their best moves. To
initiate play, polar bears will stand up on their hind legs with
their front paws at their sides and chins lowered to their
chest.
2. Pregnant polar bears are the ultimate metabolizers
Polar bears have the unique ability to change their metabolic
rate depending on the availability of food. This means they can
devour enormous amounts of food when times are good, but can
also go into a hibernation-like digestion state when there’s no
food around. In fact, pregnant mothers in Hudson Bay have been
found to fast for up to eight months! In Hudson Bay during the
months of July through November, there often isn’t enough sea
ice to hunt—forcing polar bears to conserve fat and energy.
Let’s just say you wouldn’t want to meet a hungry momma bear
come winter.
[center]
HTML http://blog.oceanconservancy.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Debbie_Tubridy_PolarBearsonGround.jpg[/center]
3. Polar bears aren’t actually white
HTML http://www.coh2.org/images/Smileys/huhsign.gif
Polar bears have a thick, under layer of fur which is
transparent, not white! Much like the ice and snow, polar bear
fur reflects light, causing them to appear white or yellow.
Underneath their translucent fur, polar bears have black skin to
better absorb the sun’s rays.
4. Polar bears overheat—a lot
You would think that in their icy, arctic environment, polar
bears spend most of their time shivering with cold! However,
polar bears struggle more with overheating than they do fending
off sub-zero temperatures. Since polar bears have evolved to
thrive in a cold climate, they can overheat quickly when
running—which explains why polar bears are notoriously leisurely
walkers. A polar bear’s body temperature runs around 98.6º
Fahrenheit, typical for most mammals, but their adaptation to
cold weather means they have an unfortunate propensity to
overheat.
5. Polar bears are apex predators
Polar bears sit at the top of the Arctic food chain. As
incredibly intelligent and opportunistic hunters, polar bears
have even been found to feed on bigger mammals such as walruses,
belugas and narwhals when given the chance.
Although polar bears have no natural predators in the animal
kingdom, they still face major challenges. Today, polar bears
confront increasing habitat loss as the Arctic continues to warm
and sea ice continues to melt. In addition to climate change,
pollutants from vessel traffic and potential offshore drilling
threaten the species. Take some time this week to speak up for
polar bears. Will you join us in asking the Obama Administration
to keep the Arctic safe from risky drilling for the next five
years
HTML https://takeaction.oceanconservancy.org/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=1991&ea.campaign.id=56557&utm_campaign=Advocacy&utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=Website&ea.tracking.id=16WAXAWXXX&utm_keyword=arctic?<br
/>
HTML http://www.createaforum.com/gallery/renewablerevolution/3-300614160245.gif
For more insight into all things polar bear, make sure to follow
us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. We’ll be sharing more fun
facts and images throughout the week—and be sure to check out
Polar Bears International
HTML http://www.polarbearsinternational.org/for
even more!
HTML http://blog.oceanconservancy.org/2016/10/30/5-things-you-didnt-already-know-about-polar-bears/#more-13202
#Post#: 5925--------------------------------------------------
Re: Ocean Species Habits and Ocean Conservancy
DIR By: AGelbert
Date: November 19, 2016, 5:57 pm
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[center]
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[center]MV Ocean Warrior[/center]
[center]MV Ocean Warrior – Sea Shepherd’s New Weapon in Fight
Against Japanese Whalers[/center]
November 18, 2016 by gCaptain
[center]Related Book: Ocean Warrior: My Battle to End Illegal
Slaughter by Paul Watson and Farley Mowat
[/center]
In January 2015, the controversial whale warriors Sea Shepherd
Conservation Society won 8.3 million euro from the Postcode
Lotteries ;D in the Netherlands and UK to put towards the
construction of a new custom-built patrol ship to battle
Japanese whalers in the Southern Ocean.
To build their dream ship, Sea Shepherd turned to Dutch
shipbuilder Damen Group for a modified version of the Fast Crew
Supplier. Just 18 months later, Sea Shepherd commissioned the
Ocean Warrior, the fastest, most high-tech, efficient and
capable vessel to ever join the fleet.
In September, the Ocean Warrior, rumored to cost $12 million,
departed Antalya, Turkey on its maiden voyage to Australia, via
Amsterdam and Italy, to participate in Sea Shepherds 11th
Antarctic whale defense campaign in the South Ocean beginning
this December.
[move]Here’s a closer look at the vessel:
[/move]
[center]
HTML https://youtu.be/6KCOY_2w0u4[/center]
HTML https://gcaptain.com/mv-ocean-warrior-sea-shepherds-new-weapon-for-fighting-japanese-whalers/
#Post#: 5926--------------------------------------------------
Re: Ocean Species Habits and Ocean Conservancy
DIR By: AGelbert
Date: November 19, 2016, 6:15 pm
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[center]
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[center]Pretty, isn't it?
HTML http://www.pic4ever.com/images/128fs318181.gif[/center]
[center]How Good Are Octopuses at Changing Color? ???[/center]
The colorful and cunning octopus is a master of disguise. By
flexing and relaxing muscles underneath its skin, this
cephalopod activates color-changing sacs full of pigment, called
chromatophores, to change its appearance very quickly. These
sacs can change the strange-looking deep sea denizens from black
to brown, orange, red, or yellow. One scientist documented an
octopus changing the color of its skin 177 times within an hour.
:o
An octopus changes its color to hide from predators. They also
can change the texture of their skin, manipulating papillae to
create everything from small bumps to tall spikes, to match the
texture of rocks, corals, and other marine objects.
Eight arms and three hearts:
•Octopuses sometimes deliberately sever an arm in order to
distract a predator long enough to get away. Like a starfish,
the arm will grow back.
•Octopuses are able to close off a severed artery to reduce
blood loss. Their blood is blue, not red, thanks to a copper
content (instead of iron).
•Octopuses have three hearts. The main one stops beating when
the animal is swimming, so it can't swim very far before tiring.
They prefer to walk along the ocean floor.
HTML http://www.wisegeek.com/how-good-are-octopuses-at-changing-color.htm
#Post#: 6163--------------------------------------------------
Re: Ocean Species Habits and Ocean Conservancy
DIR By: AGelbert
Date: December 29, 2016, 3:53 pm
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[center]
HTML http://californiadiver.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/harbor-seal-pup-DP.jpg[/center]
[center][center]Seal pup[/center][/center]
[center]Three survivor seal pups released into the ocean
HTML http://www.createaforum.com/gallery/renewablerevolution/3-200714191456.bmp<br
/>[/center]
December 02 2016
After being rescued by our diligent partners at Marine Mammals
of Maine (MMoME) and months of rehab, close monitoring, and
care, three lucky seals have been successfully released back
into the wilds of Rhode Island.
Last week Pyrite, Beryl, and Ivory were all sent back to their
ocean home after suffering a variety of hardships; some sadly
caused by public interaction.
Pyrite, a male harbor seal pup was rescued at around 2 days old,
after being found stranded in May of 2016.
In Pyrite’s case, curious people took their interest in the seal
a step too far. Evidence was found of the pup having been picked
up and handled by the public, possibly for selfies.
This type of interaction with a young pup can cause a permanent
rift between the young one and its mother, potentially meaning
death for the seal. This is one of the reasons that contact
between the public and any seal is outlawed by the Marine Mammal
Protection Act (MMPA).
When Pyrite was found in the same spot the next morning, he was
rescued and brought to the MMoME triage center, where he was
treated for 3 days.
Beryl, another male harbor seal, was found stranded in August of
2016. In Beryl’s case, there was also evidence of mishandling by
the public who attempted to push him back into the water a
handful of times. He was found exhausted and very thin.
Throughout his rescue and rehabilitation, Beryl fought through
an upper respiratory infection, many small punctures and
abscesses over body, and dehydration.
Ivory, a female harbor seal, was also found stranded in August
of 2016. Ivory’s exam showed injuries in her mouth, exhaustion,
and high temperature.
Her care at the MMoME triage center included immediate
antibiotic IV fluid treatment, and a safe, quiet place to rest.
After a few days she was much stronger and was transported to
Mystic Aquarium for rehabilitation.
Thanks to the quick and skillful work of the teams at MMoME and
Mystic Aquarium, Pyrite, Beryl, and Ivory were able to continue
their lives in the wild.
HTML http://www.pic4ever.com/images/47b20s0.gif
We encourage people to keep their distance from animals found on
the beach in compliance with the MMPA and to contact their local
rescue organization. When we leave the rescues to the
professionals, we avoid creating more complications for those
animals already suffering through tough situations and allow for
them to one day continue their lives in the wild.
You can contact MMoME rescue hotline at (1-800-532-9551). and
you can find the NOAA’s US stranding networks at
HTML http://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/pr/health/report.htm.
HTML https://www.worldanimalprotection.us.org/news/three-survivor-seal-pups-released-ocean
#Post#: 6248--------------------------------------------------
Re: Ocean Species Habits and Ocean Conservancy
DIR By: AGelbert
Date: January 12, 2017, 3:45 pm
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[center]
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[center]New Report Evaluates Risks of Vessel Traffic in the
Bering Sea[/center]
Posted On January 12, 2017 by Andrew Hartsig
As Arctic sea ice continues to melt, the Bering Sea—including
the narrow Bering Strait—is experiencing more and more ship
traffic. As ship traffic increases, so too do the risks,
including oil spills, vessel strikes on marine mammals, air
pollution, discharge of wastes into the water, and production of
underwater noise.
A new report, commissioned by Ocean Conservancy and conducted by
Nuka Research and Planning Group LLC, evaluates the risks from
vessel traffic in the Bering Strait.
The Bering Sea is used by millions of seabirds, and an array of
marine mammals including whales, seals, walruses and polar
bears. Alaska Native peoples who live near the Bering Sea depend
on its fish and wildlife as a key source of food and to support
cultural practices that date back millennia. And the Bering Sea
is home to rich commercial fisheries: in 2014, five of the top
10 most valuable commercial fisheries in the United States were
based in or near the Bering Sea.
There’s no doubt that these waters are astoundingly abundant,
and there is a lot at stake. So what did the risk assessment
find about the risks posed by vessel traffic in the Bering Sea?
???
--- Quote ---
>
> •Right now, in the Northern Bering Sea and Bering Strait
region, most oil exposure and risk is associated with vessels
that service the region, primarily delivering fuel and goods to
communities or exporting resources from mines. In contrast, in
the Southern Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, most oil exposure
comes from vessels that are just passing through the region,
transiting Great Circle Route.
>
> •“Lightering” (transferring fuel from one ship to another
offshore via hoses) is a significant source of risk in the
Northern Bering Sea.
>
> •In the future, as more ships transit the Bering Strait, there
will be more oil spill exposure.
>
> •Much of the increase in ship traffic is expected to come from
bulk carriers and tankers serving resource extraction projects
elsewhere in the Arctic. These vessels are a particular concern
because they generally use heavy fuel oil—a “persistent” fuel
that,[size=12pt] if spilled, would be virtually impossible to
clean up and would likely have impacts for years. Cruise ship
and tourism traffic is also likely to increase in the
future.[/size]
--- End Quote ---
HTML http://blog.oceanconservancy.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Arctic-Shipping-Routes.jpg
Fortunately, the risk assessment makes clear that we can take
pragmatic steps to reduce the risks from increasing vessel
traffic in the Bering Sea. In doing so, we should make use of
extensive traditional knowledge from Alaska Natives about the
Bering Sea ecosystem to inform the development of mitigation
measures and response planning. Some options could include:
•Using routing measures such as traffic lanes and Areas to be
Avoided to reduce exposure to hazards;
•Improving vessel communications and monitoring systems to help
avoid conflicts between vessels and subsistence hunters and to
reduce impacts to marine mammal aggregations;
•Tightening requirements for vessel waste management to avoid or
reduce impacts of harmful pollution;
•Engaging in rigorous planning for disabled vessels so that
incidents don’t become accidents;
•Evaluating lightering practices to determine whether there are
ways to improve safety and reduce the risk of spills; and
•Developing community spill response that incorporates not only
local response capacity but also local input into response
planning.
The Bering Sea hosts abundant marine life that supports the
people of the region, as well as rich commercial fisheries. And
now, the Bering Sea and Bering Strait are growing more important
as an international shipping route. Ocean Conservancy is working
with others who care about the health and resilience of the
Bering Sea to advance practical, common-sense ways to reduce the
risks associated with vessel traffic. Putting in place key
measures to increase safety and reduce risk makes sense now, and
will pay dividends in the future, as shipping transits through
the Bering Strait and Bering Sea increase.
[center]
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Posted in Science & Conservation | Tagged Andrew Hartsig, Arctic
sea ice, Bering Sea, Nuka Research and Planning Group LLC, the
arctic, vessel traffic
About Andrew Hartsig
Andrew Hartsig is the director of Ocean Conservancy’s Arctic
Program. He lives and works in Anchorage, Alaska. In a bid to
put off taking the bar exam after law school, he paddled a sea
kayak from Bellingham, Washington to Juneau, Alaska in the
summer of 2005. (Ed. note: Fortunately, he made it back safely
and passed with flying colors.)
HTML http://blog.oceanconservancy.org/2017/01/12/new-report-evaluates-risks-of-vessel-traffic-in-the-bering-sea/#more-13613
Agelbert NOTE: Hope springs eternal, but an ice free arctic
means more Climate Change Catastrophe and multiple extinctions
for arctic land and ocean species.
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#Post#: 6403--------------------------------------------------
Re: Ocean Species Habits and Ocean Conservancy
DIR By: AGelbert
Date: January 31, 2017, 4:04 pm
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[center]Unintended Consequences of the “One In, Two Out”
Executive Order: Will America’s Fishermen be the Victims?
???[/center]
Posted On January 31, 2017 by Ivy Fredrickson
Yesterday, President Trump signed an Executive Order that
intends to reduce government regulations and associated costs to
businesses and the federal government. The President claims this
will help small businesses, but for the men and women making
their living off the ocean, the order could pose some serious
problems.
Known as “one in two out,” the order states that “for every one
new regulation issued, at least two prior regulations be
identified for elimination.”
How does this relate to fisheries? America’s fishermen are
constantly adapting—to new science, to changing conditions on
the water and to fishing seasons. They rely on fishery managers
to make decisions that weigh environmental conditions, the best
available science and fishermen input. Armed with this
information, managers develop solutions that not only protect
our environment, but support commercial and recreational fishing
and coastal communities across America. And the method for
implementing these day-to-day management decisions? Regulations.
Fishery regulations open seasons, establish catch quotas and
test new management concepts. When a disaster happens, like an
oil spill, a toxic algal bloom or a sudden decline in fish
populations, regulations are the way the government protects
fishermen and consumers.
With this order, when fishery managers need to take any sort of
action (for example, open the red snapper season in the Gulf of
Mexico, or change the number of salmon vessels are allowed to
catch in the Pacific) those managers will need to find two other
regulations they can nullify. Managers’ hands will be tied.
The point: Regulations support the businesses of American
fishermen and seafood consumers. Hamstringing fishery managers
from issuing routine rules that are needed to run our nation’s
fisheries could cause serious trouble for both fish and
fishermen. There are a lot of unanswered questions, and at this
point it’s very uncertain how things will work under President
Trump’s Executive Order. But what is clear is that fishery
management may have just gotten much more difficult.
Our fisheries already face new and growing pressures from
pollution, environmental variability, and increased demand on
resources. The last thing our fishermen need is a misplaced
order that suddenly brings a wave of uncertainty to the basic
mechanics of how we manage our nation’s fisheries. >:(
Posted in Policy | Tagged fish, fisheries, policy, regulation,
Trump administration
About Ivy Fredrickson
Ivy is a Staff Attorney based in Portland, Oregon. Ivy loves the
sounds of the ocean, and the small surprises found in the craggy
tide pools of the Oregon coast. When she is
HTML http://blog.oceanconservancy.org/2017/01/31/unintended-consequences-of-the-one-in-two-out-executive-order-will-americas-fishermen-be-the-victims/#more-13694
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