Now is the Time to Help our Oceans & it's Species !

 Dolphins are the Other we’ve always wanted to commune with. And their ‘smile’, which is not a smile at all, but an anatomical illusion arising from the physical configuration of their jaws, has led to the illusion that dolphins are always jovial and contented, compounding mythological beliefs that they hold the key to the secret of happiness.

Further testing on the species of algae they were using to clean up the water revealed it was worth more as a dietary supplement than a simple fertilizer. The algae were high in the sugar compound known as beta glucan, which acts as an immune system booster. “About a year and a half ago we realized that this beta glucan that was in the algae we were already using was very valuable,” said Geoff Horst, a Ph.D. candidate at Michigan State University at the time, and now the company’s chief science officer. “It is worth $20,000 to $30,000 per ton and at that price point we figured, ‘Wow, we can make a lot of money with this.’ ”

 

Right now, the most popular source for beta glucan is certain types of yeast that develop the chain of sugar molecules in their cell walls. The species of algae used by Algal Scientific is more than 50 percent beta glucan, while yeast has just 5 to 15 percent beta glucan content and requires an expensive process to extract the compound from the cell walls. “It’s a unique species of algae,” says Horst.

 

“You probably wouldn’t encounter it in a local pond or lake, but it’s not genetically-modified. It’s a naturally occurring species, just not a very common one.”

A deep-sea shark spawning ground has been discovered on Scotland's only inshore coral reef.

 

It was found by the team from Edinburgh's Heriot-Watt University which discovered the reef itself.

 

They discovered egg cases of the blackmouth catshark on the Mingulay Reef in the Outer Hebrides.

 

Deepwater sharks have long been a draw for anglers in the area, but this is the first time their spawning grounds have been found in Scotland.

 

The Mingulay Reef is waiting to find out if the European Union will designate the site as a marine protected area.

 

The Heriot-Watt scientists believe this would be essential to help safeguard local sharks and the millions of pounds generated by recreational anglers who visit Scotland.

 

"The sharks are choosing these sites because they're safe. The corals have lots of hard branches, which deter predators, and laying them away from the current in lower parts of the seabed reduces the risk of eggs drifting away.

 

"The height of the coral means the eggs receive plenty of air and that they're not suffocated by sediments and debris."

It's been called the 'worst aquarium in the nation ... Seal Guantanamo,' and the 'saddest aquarium on earth.' Under fire since the 90s, conservation groups are stepping up their efforts to have Morro Bay Aquarium closed down. The aquarium, home to three harbor seals, a sea lion and other aquatic animals, first opened its doors in 1960, and pro-animal groups say that little has been done to upgrade the facility since then.

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/352496#ixzz2WgPl7tAj

He said: "At least 1,000 seals have been reported shot in Scotland in just over two years.

"Tourists are in for a very nasty surprise indeed if they find themselves watching seal slaughter while on their holiday."

After just a couple of days at sea the Icelandic whaling company Hvalur hf have dragged back to port their first harpooned fin whale of the season. Tow boats left port at Reykjavik on Sunday and the first arrived at the Hvalfjordur whaling station with a fin whale strapped to its side yesterday, Tuesday 18th June.

 

UPDATE::: 

Greenpeace criticises resumption in Icelandic whaling

Wednesday, 19 June 2013, 6:36 pm
Press Release: Greenpeace >>> http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1306/S00501/greenpeace-criticises-resumption-in-icelandic-whaling.htm

 

THE World Heritage Committee has delayed a decision to list the Great Barrier Reef as "in danger" until next year, the WWF says.

WWF Great Barrier Reef spokesman Richard Leck says the World Heritage Committee has adopted three of the four recommendations made to the committee by UNESCO.

The recommendations adopted, according to Mr Leck, are:

 

♦ No new developments that impact the reef be approved

 

♦ No developments outside existing port footprints be approved

 

♦ That environmental laws protecting the reef be strengthened

 

If Australia fails to comply with the recommendations by mid-2014, when the committee is due to meet next, the reef could be listed as "in danger".

 

Mr Leck, who attended the committee meeting in Cambodia today, says a fourth recommendation regarding water quality wasn't adopted.

 

"They're essentially saying: 'things aren't good enough, you have to do better'.

 

 Update::: 

                                  http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/06/18/dolphin-dies-after-china-tourist-abuse/

An iron ore export project in Western Australia's north has been given environmental approval, on condition whales and dugongs in the area are strictly protected.

WA's Environmental Protection Authority have given the green light for Forge Resources to construct and operate an export facility at Balla Balla, midway between Port Hedland and Karratha.

The facility is intended to export about six million tonnes of magnetite concentrate product per year from the Balla Balla mine site, with barges to transfer the material to a vessel 20 km offshore.

Environmental factors including impacts to nearby mangroves and algal mats, and local wildlife including turtles, dugongs and humpback whales were considered.
And EPA chairman Paul Vogel said those concerns could be managed with conditions.

Read more: http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/iron-project-depends-on-whale-safety-20130617-2odlb.html#ixzz2WVYf37rC

“It may also herald the start of a valuable new Australian industry enjoying a growing demand in national and international markets, particularly in Asia, for products derived from seaweed.”

The three-year AUD 1.1 million (USD 1.05 million) project is funded by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation on behalf of the Australian Government, with contributions from SARDI (a division of Primary Industries and Regions South Australia, or PIRSA) and the University of Adelaide, as well as commercial participants.

 

SARDI researcher, Kathryn Wiltshire, says the trials aim to find the right type of seaweed and determine the mass of seaweed needed to effectively and naturally remove the nutrients created by finfish aquaculture.

Wiltshire says this is the first serious work to have been done in Australia on off-shore farming of native seaweeds.

 

The trials will identify the most suitable species and methods for this type of aquaculture known as integrated multi-trophic aquaculture. It will also provide knowledge on the amount of nutrients removed by seaweeds which will help determine how much seaweed is needed to absorb waste nutrients from finfish aquaculture. This information will also help inform aquaculture development opportunities.

The project will also provide information on methods of seed production, suitable depths for culture, arrangement around farms and preliminary data on seasonal performance to understand the best times of year to plant and to harvest seaweed crops.

 

Gago added that the levels of nutrient byproducts generated by finfish farming were closely monitored under the South Australian Aquaculture Act. This included annual DNA-based tests conducted by SARDI on behalf of the industry sectors, to assess the health of seafloor organisms to ensure the farming is sustainable.

 

The commercial value of the seaweed in its uses as food additives, cosmetics, dietary supplements, herbal products, fertilisers and animal feeds including feed for abalone, was also considered.