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The Ocean Project provides this e-newsletter as a free service to our contacts at zoos, aquariums, museums, conservation organizations, schools, agencies, and others involved in our Partner network.

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In this issue...

1) NEW CORAL REEF RESEARCH CONFIRMS NEED FOR REGIONAL MPA NETWORKS

Efforts to understand ecological community structure and function have in the past been hampered by debates about the shape of species numerical abundance and species resource-use curves. Much confusion has arisen from a combination of two factors: limited data and limited power to detect differences between model fits. In the journal Science, researchers report that they have overcome both limitations by applying information theory model selection procedures to a large data set of tropical corals and reef fishes. The large scale at which relative abundance patterns emerge indicates that the scale and scope of coral reef conservation strategies are inadequate, highlighting the need for integration and networking of marine protected areas regionally, across national boundaries. The authors conclude, "This finding underscores the importance of robust conservation strategies that adequately encompass the spectrum of environmental variability to which coral reef organisms are exposed. Accordingly, conservation efforts should expand in scale and scope, moving beyond localized protected areas and toward a seascape approach. Given the accelerating pace of coral reef habitat loss worldwide, addressing this challenge remains an urgent priority."

SOURCE: Sean R. Connolly, Terry P. Hughes, David R. Bellwood, and Ronald H. Karlson: Community Structure of Corals and Reef Fishes at Multiple Scales, Science, volume 309, pages 1363-1365, 1297, 26 August 2005, http://www.sciencemag.org

2) U.S. SENATE URGED TO ADOPT LAW OF THE SEA

Under the aegis of the Joint Ocean Commission Initiative, lead by Jim Watkins and Leon Panetta, a letter has been sent to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist urging the Senate to accede to the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea. Copies of the letter are being delivered to other senior federal officials. A copy of the letter, signed by 76 influential American leaders, is posted on the CORE website at http://www.coreocean.org/.

For more information on the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea, go to http://www.un.org/Depts/los/index.htm
3) HURRICANE KATRINA DESTROYED FISHING, WILDLIFE REFUGES

According to many reports, including this one from Grist Magazine, "far from being solely a 'natural' disaster, Hurricane Katrina's impact was compounded by human alterations of the Gulf Coast ecology. Complex levee and canal systems built to protect New Orleans from being flooded by the Mississippi River, and to improve the river as a shipping channel, have also prevented river silt from replenishing the region's marshlands and river delta for centuries. More than a million acres--1,900 square miles--of Louisiana's coastal wetlands have been lost to development and flood controls since the 1930s, along with barrier islands and stands of coastal forest. Louisiana continues to lose about 25 square miles of coastal area each year. These natural barriers could have absorbed some energy and water from Katrina's storm surge and mitigated the hurricane's force; studies estimate that storm surges rise by about a foot for each square mile of wetlands lost." For a few of several reports about the environmental aspects of this catastrophe, go to http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/30/national/30coast.html?ex=1283054400&en=a98df1964a24e68f&ei=5090&
partner=rssuserland&emc=rss.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/12/national/nationalspecial/12refuge.html?ei=5090&en=4fae10f2b1bd67f9
&ex=1284177600&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=print
SOURCES: The Daily Grist, 2 September 2005, http://www.grist.org; James Bennet: Levees Failed
Nature Refuge Just as They Did Humans. New York Times, 12 September 2005.

In the wake of the devastation, Michael Brown, the head of the U.S.'s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), was replaced and subsequently resigned. Also, U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez announced a formal determination of a fishery failure in the Gulf of Mexico. The affected area includes the Florida Keys and from Pensacola, Florida, to the Texas border. The determination came in response to a virtual fishery shutdown in the affected states due to major flooding, damage to fishing boats and fishing ports, waterways clogged with debris and closed processing facilities. For more information, go to: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/13/national/nationalspecial/13brown.html.

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/docs/05-109%20Fisheries%20Failure%20release.pdf

SOURCE: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

4) ANNUAL NOAA REPORT ON STATUS OF STOCKS RELEASED

NOAA Marine Fisheries Service (a division of the U.S. National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration) has published a new report that documents changes in the status of U.S. marine fisheries in 2004. According to NOAA, Alaska crab and butterfish were determined to be overfished. Seven stocks or 'stock complexes' were determined to be subject to overfishing (Atlantic sea scallop, summer flounder, Gulf of Mexico greater amberjack, shortspine thornyhead, North black rockfish, Hawaii bottomfish complex, and large coastal sharks). Pacific whiting has been fully rebuilt. Mid-Atlantic black sea bass is no longer overfished, and overfishing has ended. Lingcod, Pacific Ocean perch, and Gulf of Mexico king mackerel stocks have increased to the point where they are no longer overfished. Gulf of Mexico red drum is no longer subject to overfishing. Overall, 81 percent of the stocks and stock complexes whose status is known are not subject to overfishing, and 72 percent of those with known status are not overfished. For stocks that transitioned from unknown status to known status, 87 percent are not subject to overfishing, and 78 percent are not overfished. For the full report, go to http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/reports.htm.

For an analysis of the report by the Washington Post's Juliet Eilperin, go to: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/31/AR2005083102330.html.

5) MARINE BIOLOGISTS SEEK TO CLOSE IRISH REEFS TO TRAWLING

A recent article in the BBC News reports that deep-water corals off the south-west coast of Ireland are in urgent need of protection. The reefs are located about 100 kilometers (60 miles) off shore, south of Rockall. Scientists say that unique habitats are being bulldozed with heavy fishing gear. The cold-water reefs and the fish and other animals they support are extremely slow-growing and, as such, are particularly vulnerable to any disturbance, which is why marine biologists are so alarmed that the fishing industry is now targeting these areas. Efforts are being made to convince the United Nations to call for an international moratorium on bottom trawling of the high seas, but this is being met with fierce resistance by some countries, says Dr Alex Rogers, from the British Antarctic Survey. For the full story, go to http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4213592.stm.

SOURCE: Jonathan Amos: SOS call for Ireland's deep coral. BBC News, 4 September 2005

6) GIANT TURTLE IS SPOTTED OFF COAST OF GREAT BRITAIN

Conservation experts say the discovery of a leatherback turtle in the North Sea is exciting and significant. Eyewitnesses reported seeing a six-foot creature swimming 100 meters off the Norfolk/Suffolk coast [the east-central coast of England]. Peter Richardson, from the Marine Conservation Society, said the species was the largest turtle in the world. "It travels to British waters in summer to feed on jelly fish but is normally seen on the west side near the Atlantic so is an exciting find this far east." Some experts believe that the more frequent sighting of the leatherback turtle is the result of global warming.

SOURCE: BBC NEWS, 4 September 2005, http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/england/suffolk/4213630.stm.

7) TANZANIA UNVEILS COASTAL FISHERIES PROGRAM

Tanzania plans to strengthen the management and use of its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), territorial waters and coastal resources. This is aimed at improving the income of the coastal communities and reducing environmental degradation. The initiative is contained in the Marine and Coastal Environment Management Project, a six-year program that will be implemented by both the Union government and Zanzibar. Tanzania's coastline is 1,450 km long, with a narrow continental shelf and an EEZ in the Indian Ocean of about 223,000 square km. According to statistics from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the fish potential in the Tanzania ocean waters stands at 730, 000 tonnes per year. Until recently, only one foreign and three local fishing vessels were licensed under the EEZ, where existing commercial species include prawns, lobsters, crabs, squid, octopus, sea cucumbers, sharks, tunas and tuna-like fishes, sardines and sea weeds.

SOURCE: Wilfred Edwin, the East African. Cited in SAMUDRA News Alert, 9 September 2005; http://www.nationmedia.com/eastafrican/current/Business/Business050920056.htm

8) MEETING PROMOTES GREENER IMAGE IN PERU'S FISHMEAL INDUSTRY

A seminar on the sustainability of the Peruvian anchovy fisheries was recently held in Lima by Peru's Production Ministry. According to the Chile Pesquero news service, the meeting was organized with the collaboration of the Netherlands government, the Peruvian industrial fishmeal and oil organization, the National Fisheries Society, the Dutch multinational food conglomerate and aquaculture giant, Nutreco, and the international conservation organization, IUCN-The World Conservation Union. Peru's anchovy fisheries provide the mainstay of the Peruvian fishmeal and oil industry, which dominates Peru's fishing sector. In 2004, fish ranked as Peru's second most important source of export earnings. Most of this came from fishmeal and oil exports. However, the Peruvian fishmeal and oil industry has a checkered past and a dirty image to deal with. The meeting was intended to start an international dialogue with the aim of agreeing on a workplan that will seek to establish the sustainability of the anchovy industry. The seminar also considered the scope and relevance of applying an ecosystem approach to the exploitation of anchovies, where support from the Peru-Chile project on the Integrated Management of the Humboldt Current Large Ecosystem should be considered.

SOURCE: Brian O'Riordan, Samudra News Alert, 8 September 2005; http://www.icsf.net

9) DEEP SEA VOYAGE MAY HAVE FOUND NEW EEL SPECIES

Pew Fellow Peter Auster (science director of the federal National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's regional National Undersea Research Center at the University of Connecticut) spent a month mountain climbing under the sea--and as a result may have discovered a rare species of fish. Auster is among a team of 15 scientist-explorers who returned to port recently with several exciting discoveries after exploring terrain and life in uncharted waters up to 2 miles deep, 500 miles off the east coast of the United States. The Deep Atlantic Stepping Stones team has possibly discovered a new species of deep sea eel, Auster announced, although he won't be certain until he compares video of the unusual-looking eel to recorded species. According to the explorers, numerous underwater sea mountains were also discovered, separated from each other by deep water and unexpectedly shaped like squares and triangles rather than cones. The highest seamount recorded by the expedition was 14,100 feet, and was 16,400 feet below the surface. Auster said the mission will better define the damage that fishing trawlers cause to corals and seamounts. From a conservation standpoint, he said, trawling damage to seascapes could have an impact on the deep-sea fish and corals dependent on that landscape for shelter. The scientists discovered scrape marks on seamounts which probably came from Russian vessels that once fished the area for eels and wreck fish. For the full story, go to http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-seaexplorers0904.artsep04,0,613109.story.

SOURCE: Gary Libow: Deep Sea Voyage Yields Surprises, May Have Found New Eel Species. Hartford Courant, 4 September 2005.

10) SEAHORSE SIZE CATCH LIMIT COULD BOOST POPULATIONS

Pew Fellow Amanda Vincent and her coauthor Sally Foster have published a report in Conservation Biology on the implications of implementing a single -size- limit for all seahorse species. They collected data on maximum height and size at first maturity for 32 seahorse species and cross-validated the data. According to this analysis, imposing a minimum height restriction of 10 centimeters would permit reproduction in 15 species before they recruited to the fishery. Of the remaining 17 species, 16 were essentially not in international trade, were safeguarded under domestic legislation, or were partly protected by this size limit. Only one species, Hippocampus kelloggi, was not well served by the 10-cm minimum size limit. The CITES technical committee on animals has now decided to propose this single size limit to all 167 signatory nations as one option toward sustainable trade. Complementary management measures for seahorses are also required, particularly for populations primarily exploited in bycatch. Management tools are needed to help regulate the international trade in seahorses under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) of Wild Fauna and Flora. Given the limited understanding of seahorse population dynamics and fishing mortality, a single minimum size limit for all seahorse species appears to be a useful initial step toward adaptive management, both biologically and socially. For the full report, choose August 2005 (volume 19) at http://www.conbio.org/SCB/Publications/ConsBio/Search/.

SOURCE: S. J. Foster, A. C. J. Vincent: Enhancing Sustainability of the International Trade in Seahorses with a Single Minimum Size Limit. Conservation Biology 19 (4):1044, August 2005. doi:10.1111/j.1523-1739.2005.00192.x

11) REPORT ON PACIFIC OCEAN DAMAGE FROM INVESTMENTS IN LONGLINE FISHING

A new report by the Sea Turtle Restoration Project says that controversial bank investments in longline fishing in the Pacific are contributing to overfishing for tuna and an extinction crisis for sea turtles and seabirds. The report, 'Bankrupting the Pacific: How Multilateral Development Banks are Contributing to Overfishing and Helping Push Sea Turtles and Seabirds to the Brink of Extinction in the Pacific,' discusses large investments in longline fishing in the Pacific, made by the International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group, and the Asian Development Bank. According to this report, these investments were made in critical nesting and migratory habitats of critically endangered sea turtles and seabirds without any assessment of the impact on biodiversity of the regions where the projects took place and in direct violation of their own environmental and fisheries policies. For the report, go to http://www.seaturtles.org/pdf/ACF1120.pdf.

12) DUKE RESEARCHES DISCOVER WHY ENVIRONMENTAL SUPPORT DOES NOT EXTEND TO VOTING

A new study by Duke researchers examines why pro-environmental views do not always translate into votes. Eight-in-10 Americans say they support pro-environmental policies, but a new national survey by the Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions at Duke University finds their support often stops short of the ballot box. The survey suggests opportunities for how to address this disconnect. Its findings were announced recently at a press briefing at the U.S. Senate.

The survey of 800 registered voters found that 79 percent favored “stronger national standards to protect our land, air and water,” with 40 percent strongly supporting it, but only 22 percent said environmental concerns have played a major role in determining whom they voted for in recent federal, state or local elections. Even among self-described environmentalists, only 39 percent could recall an election where a candidate’s environmental stance was among the two or three most important reasons why they voted for or against him. Full results of the study can be viewed at http://www.dukenews.duke.edu/2005/09/nicholaspoll.html.

13) PERCEPTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE VARIES FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION, STUDY FINDS

Fully comprehending the extent of environmental change over generations is hampered by the problem of “shifting baselines,” say the authors of a new paper. Shifting environmental baselines are inter-generational changes in how people perceive the state of their natural environment. According to this idea, each new generation subconsciously views as ‘natural’ the environment they remember from their youth. People compare subsequent changes against this ‘baseline’, masking the true extent of environmental damage and often leading them to question the accuracy of historical anecdotes of past abundance.

While shifting baselines appear to affect all human societies, the evidence to date has been largely anecdotal. Now a study headed by Andrea Sáenz -Arroyo of the University of York in England has tested the idea among three generations of Mexican fishermen. Working in the Gulf of California where fisheries have greatly intensified and fish stocks have declined steeply over the last sixty years, Sáenz-Arroyo and her colleagues examined how quickly and to what extent environmental baselines have changed there.

“We asked fishermen to list sites and species that had once supported productive fisheries but had then become depleted. There was a dramatic shift in perception of what constitutes the natural state of the environment,” said Sáenz-Arroyo. “Fishermen over 55 named five times as many depleted sites and five times as many species lost as fishermen under 30.” The older men began fishing when the sea abounded with predators such as bull and hammerhead sharks, enormous groupers and snappers, Pacific green turtles and large edible invertebrates such as rock oysters and conch. They testified how these animals had been depleted during their working lives. But middle-aged fishers showed less appreciation of this past abundance and most young fishers seemed unaware that these species had ever been common.

While older fishermen clearly recalled better environmental conditions than young men, their experiences were very different from scenes witnessed by the first European visitors. For example, few older fishers commented on the once valuable fishery for pearl oysters, which was abundant and extensive from the beginning of the 17th century to 1940 when the pearl banks collapsed. And none of their testimonies fit the descriptions of 17th century Spaniards such as Nicolás de Cardona who wrote that “along the seacoast of the interior region, over a distance of one hundred leagues all that one sees are heaps of pearl oysters”. Among today’s fishermen, few thought to mention the goliath grouper, one of the area’s largest predators. This great fish was once a favorite meal of 17th and 18th century buccaneers such as William Dampier. Now its very existence seems almost to have been forgotten.

“The speed with which environmental baselines can shift is troubling,” said Callum Roberts, co-author of the study and Professor of Conservation Biology at the University of York. “It wouldn’t be a great surprise for us to discover that people’s environmental baselines had changed in our suburbs and cities where people live at a distance from the wild. But our study shows they shift very rapidly even among those whose occupations bring them into daily contact with nature.” Many of the young fishermen interviewed came from fishing families. Despite having older family members who could remember the sea being full of huge fish, that knowledge does not seem to have been passed on.
This study shows that people fail to appreciate the scale of environmental degradation that happened before their lifetimes. It helps explain why our expectations of nature are diminishing as time passes. “An understanding of past environmental conditions is essential for effective conservation today”, said Sáenz-Arroyo. “Without such knowledge, environmental managers may set inappropriate conservation targets based on depleted populations or degraded habitats, which perpetuates the cycle of loss. Our findings suggest a large educational hurdle must be overcome to reset people’s expectations for conservation, especially in developing countries where societies are dominated by
young people.”

SOURCE: Saenz-Arroyo, A, et al. 2005. Rapidly shifting environmental baselines among fishers of the Gulf of California. Proceedings of the Royal Society B. DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2005.3175.
CONTACT: Callum M. Roberts, Environment Department, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK. E-mail: cr10@york.ac.uk

14) NEW RESEARCH FROM THE ODYSSEY

Ocean Alliance’s Odyssey has docked, concluding a lengthy voyage that has produced much important ocean data. Founded in 1971, Ocean Alliance is dedicated to the conservation of whales and their ocean environment through research and education. At the helm is renowned biologist Dr. Roger Payne, whose research began with the Patagonia Right Whale Program, now in its 35th year, and continues with the Voyage of the Odyssey, a global, multi-year research expedition currently in the Canary Islands. Learn more about the Voyage of the Odyssey and follow up activities at http://www.pbs.org/odyssey or http://www.oceanalliance.org.

15) DO IMMUNE SYSTEM DISEASES HAVE AN ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSE?

Nearly 20 years ago, as a young graduate student, Canadian wildlife biologist Peter Ross investigated a massive die-off of harbor seals in the Baltic Sea. The problem, it turned out, was their immune systems. Their habitat was so full of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), that the seals could not fight common viruses anymore. The more PCBs the seals had in their bodies, the greater damage scientists found. PCBs wreak havoc on the delicate balance between hormones and the immune system, Ross says. Now, scientists are studying similar effects of toxic chemicals in humans. Researchers are uncovering a definite link between environmental pollutants and a growing number of autoimmune diseases. Disorders like lupus, multiple sclerosis (MS) and Type I diabetes are on the rise, says Glinda Cooper, an epidemiologist with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). “It’s very likely that environmental factors play a role in the development of these diseases,” Cooper says. About eight percent of the U.S. population, or 22 million people, have one of the 24 most common forms of autoimmune disease, National Institutes of Health officials estimate.

“You have to look at these diseases together to really get the magnitude of the problem,” says Virginia Ladd, president of the Detroit-based American Autoimmune Related Disorders Association (AARDA). Few people have heard of these disorders because, individually, they are rare, Ladd says. Since AARDA lobbied to classify them as a group, government officials are providing more research dollars. For the full article go to http://www.emagazine.com/view/?2484.

16) EPA FAILS TO GET HEALTH DATA ON CHEMICALS

TThe U.S. EPA hasn't collected data on the potential risks of tens of thousands of toxic substances, putting the public at risk, says a new report from the Government Accountability Office. Under the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act, which regulates industrial chemicals, the EPA can't force companies to provide health data unless there is overwhelming evidence that a chemical might be harmful. Thus the agency has health data on only about 15 percent of the compounds introduced to the U.S. market over the past 30 years; there are roughly 80,000 chemicals in use today. Studies are finding that humans carry hundreds of these chemicals in their bodies, including some that may cause cancer, birth defects, altered sex hormones, and other health problems. Today, Sens. Jim Jeffords (I-VT) and Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) are expected to introduce an overhaul of the TSCA that would strengthen requirements to test chemicals for impacts on human health.

SOURCES: Los Angeles Times, Marla Cone, 13 Jul 2005 and USA Today, Elizabeth Weise, 12 Jul 2005

17) KIDS SAFE CHEMICAL ACT EMPOWERS EPA

A new government report outlining the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) inability to protect humans and the environment from hazardous chemicals due to legal hurdles has given lawmakers the ammunition they need to empower the agency. U.S. Senator Frank R. Lautenberg, a New Jersey Democrat, held a news conference Wednesday to announce the Child, Worker and Consumer Safe Chemicals Act, coauthored with Vermont Independent Senator Jim Jeffords. The measure would require chemical manufacturers to provide health and safety information on chemicals used in consumer products like baby bottles and food wrapping instead of presuming a substance is safe until proven dangerous.

"Every day, Americans use household products that contain hundreds of chemicals," said Senator Lautenberg. "Most people assume that those chemicals have been proven safe for their families and children. Unfortunately, that assumption is wrong." "We have laws to make sure that pesticides and medicines are safe - but we fail to require similar analysis for the chemicals used in baby bottles, water bottles, food packages and thousands of other products," said Lautenberg. This is inexcusable." Senator Jeffords said, "Study after study has shown we have dozens, if not hundreds, of synthetic chemicals in our bodies, yet we have very little information about how they impact our health. The Kids Safe Chemical Act will for the first time require that the chemicals our children come in contact with each day are properly tested and reviewed. It is time to hold the chemicals in our consumer goods and household products to a higher standard, and fully understand their effect on our bodies."

The report recommends that Congress consider providing the EPA with additional authorities under the Toxic Substances Control Act to improve its ability to assess chemical risks. Today, chemical companies are not required by the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to test new chemicals before they are submitted for the EPA's review, and companies generally do not voluntarily perform such testing. Tens of thousands of chemicals are currently in commercial use in the United States and, on average, over 700 new chemicals are introduced into commerce each year, but the EPA does not routinely assess the risks of all existing chemicals. For the full article please go to http://www.truthout.org/issues_05/071805EA.shtml.

18) FOSSIL FOUND OF FIRST TRUE WHALE-WITH FEET!

In Egypt’s Wadi Hitan Desert, geologist Philip D. Gingerich announced his team had excavated the first known nearly complete skeleton of a Basilosaurus isis. The 50-foot-long (18-meter-long), 40-million-year-old fossil will now be shipped to Michigan, where experts will preserve it. Later they will return the fossil to Egypt along with a complete cast of the skeleton. The first of the truly gigantic whales, Basilosaurus had the serpentine shape of a sea monster and short, sharp teeth for hunting sharks and other prey. Unlike today's whales, it had no blowhole—the ancient behemoth had to raise its head above water to breathe. What's more, Basilosaurus still had the feet it inherited from its land-dwelling ancestors, according to Gingerich, who works for the University of Michigan and is a National Geographic Society grantee. See pictures at http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/04/0414_050414_egyptwhale.html.

19) BIRD POOP SOURCE OF TOXIC POLLUTION IN ARCTIC

Native residents of northern Arctic regions are ridden with toxic chemicals -- some of the highest body concentrations in the world -- and new research has uncovered an unlikely culprit: guano, or as we prefer to call it, bird dookie. Scientists have long assumed that the industrial world's toxic effluents were carried northward on wind and water currents, but that doesn't explain why they concentrate in particular hotspots. A new study in the journal Science places the blame on migratory birds, which eat chemical-ridden food and poop chemical-ridden poop, which then moves up through the Arctic food chain. The researchers hope that their discovery will allow Native populations to resume eating traditional foods -- many had moved to new diets, escaping high toxin concentrations but running headlong into Type II diabetes and other ailments -- by choosing to gather them in (relatively) cleaner areas. But the real long-term solution, say activists, is to end the use of the toxic chemicals -- DDT, mercury, and several long-lasting chlorinated pollutants.

SOURCES: New Scientist, Anna Gosline, 14 Jul 2005 and BBC News, Richard Black, 15 Jul 2005

20) STUDIES LINK COMMON CHEMICALS TO REPRODUCTIVE HARM

Stronger evidence that a class of ubiquitous chemicals called phthalates -- found in a wide variety of plastics, nail polishes, fragrances, and other products -- are linked to adverse effects on the human reproductive system was made public Thursday. A study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives found a strong correlation between the level of phthalates in the urine of 85 pregnant mothers studied and abnormal genital development in their infant sons, in particular (because we know you want the particulars) smaller penises and scrotums and a higher frequency of incompletely descended testicles. Says lead author Shanna Swan, "These changes are seen at phthalate levels below those found in one-quarter of the female population of the United States." A separate study released this week found that lab animals exposed to levels of the chemical bisphenol A many times below the U.S. EPA's "safe dose" during pregnancy had babies with impaired mammary glands, associated with a higher risk of breast cancer in humans.

SOURCE: San Francisco Chronicle, http://www.grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=5085, Jane Kay, 27 May 2005

21) PARTNERSHIP LAUNCHED TO ADDRESS AFRICAN FISH CRISIS

The World Bank, the Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Conservation Union, the WorldFish Center (whose Director General is Pew Fellow Stephen Hall), and representatives of the donor community (France, Iceland, Norway and Finland) have launched a new Global Program on Fisheries (PROFISH) to turn the rising tide of depletion of fisheries and increasing degradation of marine habitats. The announcement was made at the recent NEPAD Fish for All Summit in Nigeria. The population of poor Africans who rely primarily on fish for protein has been estimated at 200 million. Sub-Saharan Africa is the only world region where fish consumption is actually falling. "African fisheries and aquaculture are at a turning point," said Hall. "There is a pressing need for strategic investments to better natural fish stocks management, develop aquaculture and enhance Africa's fish trade at every level. Regional and national research, technology transfer and policy development also need improvement." The Summit recommended a five-point strategy to quickly improve the contribution of fish to African food security: support capture fisheries, develop aquaculture, improve fish market chains, increase benefits from fish trade, and support decision-makers with information. A new World Bank publication, 'Turning the Tide--Saving Fish and Fishers,' illustrates key benefits of fisheries and reasons for their depletion, defines an approach for reversing the present trend of depletion, and calls for a set of measures to institute good and equitable global governance to ensure sustainable fisheries. For more information, go to http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4187522.stm and http://www.fishforall.org/ffa-summit/media_abuja.asp.

22) WORST HURRICANE IN U.S. HISTORY LEAVES MASSIVE DESTRUCTION BEHIND

Hurricane Katrina tore through the U.S. coastal city of New Orleans and on into the states of Louisiana and Mississippi on August 29 and 30, leaving behind the worst destruction of any storm in U.S. history. Several hundred people are thought to have died as of August 31, and New Orleans was almost totally flattened and still remains largely underwater. The Gulf Coast of this region is heavily industrialized, with a great deal of offshore oil extraction and many coastal processing plants, and has experienced major pollution problems for decades. The intense flooding of Katrina may have allowed pollutants to enter new areas and released others. According to Craig Pittman, writing for the St. Petersburg Times, "The water that swept through New Orleans' streets in the wake of Hurricane Katrina carried more than continued misery for the storm's victims. It also brought along a potentially toxic soup of pollution--sewage, chemicals and perhaps human bodies... Getting rid of floodwaters so residents can return to their homes is likely to require pumping the dirty water into either the Mississippi River or Lake Pontchartrain... The lake route would kill several thousand acres of nearby swamps and marshes which have already been rapidly diminishing because of alterations to the Mississippi River. But pumping it into the river means flushing it into the delta and the Gulf of Mexico, already suffering from a 'dead zone' due to other upriver contaminants."

SOURCES: St. Petersburg Times, 31 August 2005, http://www.sptimes.com/2005/08/31/news_pf/Worldandnation/New_Orleans_now__haza.shtml and MSNBC, 30 August 2005, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9116281/

23) NEW ZEALAND TACKLES ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF FISHING

The government of New Zealand has announced a new policy that aims to improve the environmental performance of the country's fisheries. Fisheries Minister David Benson-Pope, opening the 2005 Conference of the New Zealand Marine Sciences Society, took the opportunity to launch the government's Strategy for Managing the Environmental Effects of Fishing. "Managing fishing's footprint on non-target species, on marine habitats, and on the wider ecosystems in our oceans is to be as important as maintaining the target fish stocks themselves," said Benson-Pope. "To do this we must be able to set limits around environmental performance. We must be able to say what level of effect is acceptable and what is unacceptable. We have already taken important steps to minimize fishing's impact on marine ecosystems. These include managing target fish stocks sustainably, closing areas to protect seabed communities, requiring seabird mitigation devices and techniques to be used in some fisheries, and imposing bycatch limits in others. But we need to do more. In fact, I want to see our environmental performance reach the same world-leading standards as our fisheries management has reached."

SOURCE: Scoop Media, Date: 24 August 2005, http://www.scoop.co.nz/, cited at http://www.icsf.net/jsp/english/externalnews/newsDetails.jsp?id=22893.

24) CORAL REEF FISH LARVAE SETTLE CLOSE TO HOME

New research shows that a significant proportion of panda clownfish (Amphiprion polymnus) larvae ultimately move less than a few hundred meters away from their parents. A third of the juveniles settled within just two hectares (less than five acres). Although clownfish spend a relatively short period of time as larvae (approximately 10 days), the results are significant because they document the smallest scale of dispersal known for a marine fish species. Clownfish are subject to a thriving aquarium-fish trade in many tropical countries, and their numbers have been seriously depleted.

REFERENCE: Geoffrey P. Jones Serge Planes, and Simon R. Thorrold. Coral Reef Fish Larvae Settle Close to Home. Current Biology 15:1314-1318, 2005. DOI 10.1016/j.cub.2005.06.061

SOURCE: EurekAlert 25 July 2005, http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-07/cp-crf072005.php

25) ENDANGERED PACIFIC ROCKFISH WILL BE PROTECTED, AFTER ALL

In a victory for conservation groups, a United States federal appeals court has ruled that the federal government must increase protections for severely depleted Pacific groundfish until the fishery recovers. The decision reversed a lower court ruling that increased fishing was permissible despite the fishery's precarious state. Conservation groups sued over a decision by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to increase the fishing quota for darkblotched rockfish, an overfished species, by nearly 30 percent. The agency's decision came after it learned that the species was overfished much more severely than previously thought. In its ruling, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals called "patently unreasonable" NMFS's decision to allow increased fishing of a species it had just learned to be in worse condition. The government argued that since it was impossible to restore the fish within ten years, the agency could take decades to rebuild the population and catch more of the depleted fish in the meantime. The conservation groups said the agency's reasoning was based on a narrow, illogical interpretation of federal law. The court joined the plaintiffs, NRDC and Oceana, in rejecting the agency's arguments.

SOURCE: National Resources Defense Council, 24 August 2005. Cited at http://www.icsf.net/jsp/english/externalnews/newsDetails.jsp?id=22889.

26) SEMINAL RESEARCH ON OCEAN PREDATORS PUBLISHED IN SCIENCE

Boris Worm, and colleagues published important research on global patterns of predator diversity in the open oceans, in Science Express (online 28 July 2005; reported in the July-B issue of SeaSpan). The report documents a precipitous decline in open-ocean tuna and billfish over the last 50 years. The print version appears in the 26 August issue of Science. To read the report, go to http://www.sciencemag.org.

REFERENCE: Boris Worm, Marcel Sandow, Andreas Oschlies, Heike K. Lotze, and Ransom A. Myers: Global Patterns of Predator Diversity in the Open Oceans. Science 309:1365-1369, 2005.
27) VICE PRESIDENT, CONSERVATION, RESEARCH & EDUCATION—VANCOUVER AQUARIUM

The Vancouver Aquarium is a vital community resource and major visitor attraction, with a reputation for innovation and excellence in exhibits, education, community outreach and research. The annual operating budget is approximately $16 million. The Vice President for Conservation, Research and Education contributes to the strategic planning of the organization overall and leads five departments with 47 employees, including research scientists, educators and multi-media professionals. The Aquarium seeks an individual with a passion for conservation and a track record of integrative leadership in a complex environment with many priorities; a relevant post-graduate education; several years of progressive general management experience in a comparable organization; knowledge of aquatic conservation issues and the global framework for policy development andaction; familiarity with scientific research and public education; ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams to realize outcomes that support the vision of an organization with a conservation mandate; superb skills as a communicator and administrator; abundant energy and focus; the ability to engage stakeholders and to translate ambitious goals into practical actions that generate measurable and meaningful results. Apply, in confidence, quoting file #14192, to: search@janetdavid.com. Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.

28) MARINE CONSERVATION INITIATIVE LEAD--GORDON AND BETTY MOORE FOUNDATION

The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation in San Francisco seeks a Marine Conservation Initiative Lead to implement the vision and strategy for the Foundation's Marine Conservation initiative plan. The individual will oversee and execute a $146 million, 10.5 year initiative plan; manage an annual budget slated to grow from $6 to $14 million over the next three years; oversee grantmaking processes, including program and project management in support of grant and initiative strategies; adaptively manage the Marine Conservation Initiative and oversee grantmaking that explores alternative approaches to large scale marine conservation; oversee monitoring and evaluation of initiative; manage and develop initiative staff; stay current with science, policy, and political developments relevant to the initiative; engage in the management and leadership of the Foundation; coordinate with related initiatives at the Foundation; implement the vision and operating model of the Foundation; represent the initiative at international meetings and symposia; and reinforce the values of the Foundation internally and externally. Qualifications include PhD or equivalent experience related to ocean conservation and management; knowledge and understanding of social science, policy, law, and natural science related to ocean conservation; significant and relevant practitioner experience with on-the-ground conservation efforts; demonstrated track-record of success in managing complex, multi-year projects; strong communication skills, critical thinking skills, and financial analysis skills; ability to represent the Foundation and the Marine Conservation Initiative to a variety of audiences; proficiency in teamwork and delegation of program responsibilities; flexibility and willingness to travel in the United States and abroad; continued enthusiasm to make a significant and lasting impact in the field; and commitment to work toward pragmatic environmental solutions.

To apply, send cover letter and resume to jobs@moore.org with the job title in the subject line of the email. For more information about the Foundation, go to http://www.moore.org.

29) U.S. MARINE PROTECTED AREAS ADVISORY COMMITTEE SEEKS NOMINEES

The Marine Protected Areas Federal Advisory Committee is seeking nominations for two individuals to represent (1) environmental interests and perspectives on marine protected area issues (this is an extension of an earlier notice circulated in August 2005), and (2) commercial fisheries interests and perspectives. The MPA Federal Advisory Committee is responsible for providing expert advice to the Departments of Commerce and the Interior on the development and implementation of a national system of marine protected areas. There is also an open call for ongoing MPA Federal Advisory Committee nominations for future vacancies on the Committee. These nominations may be submitted for consideration at any time. For more information, go to http://mpa.gov/fac/pdf/req_nominations_061705.pdf.

30) POST-DOCTORAL POSITION IN ECOSYSTEM-BASED MANAGEMENT

The National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) has initiated a three-year program of activities. The program will involve the analysis and synthesis of existing data and the development of new tools to address gaps in knowledge that are critical to successful implementation of ecosystem-based management (EBM) in coastal marine systems. The program will support working groups, postdoctoral fellowships, graduate students, and a distributed graduate seminar. NCEAS seeks applications for a 2-year postdoctoral position to address one of the following three research projects: 1) valuation systems for coastal marine ecosystem services, 2) ecological, sociological, and/or economic indicators for coastal marine EBM, or 3) institutional mechanisms for implementing EBM. Review of applications will begin September 30 and continue until the position is filled. For full descriptions of these research topics and job announcement, go to http://www.ebm.nceas.ucsb.edu/.

31) PUBLIC INVITED TO COMMENT ON PROPOSED LOBSTER REGULATIONS

COMMENTS DUE: 17 October 2005

NOAA Fisheries Service is proposing revised U.S. federal regulations for the American lobster fishery, to increase protection for egg-bearing female lobsters and brood stock lobsters. This proposed rule is consistent with recent revisions to the interstate fishery management plan. In most state waters with lobster fisheries, similar measures have already been implemented. Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, and North Carolina are not required to implement the plan revisions in state waters, because landings there are minimal. However, federal permit holders who land in these states would be required to abide by the proposed changes. Read the proposed rule at http://www.nero.noaa.gov/nero/hotnews/lobster/index.html.

Send e-mail comments to Lob0305@noaa.gov.
Please include in the subject line: "American Lobster Proposed Rule Comments."

32) U.S. CORAL REEF TASK FORCE SEEKS PUBLIC COMMENTS

MEETING DATES: 4-7 November 2005
LOCATION: Koror, Palau
COMMENTS DUE: 22 October 2005 (unless attending meeting)

The U.S. Coral Reef Task Force is seeking public comments on the first day of the public Business Meeting, November 5, 2005. The public comment period provides a time to share your coral reef concerns, ideas, and program goals and successes, with the 19 federal state and territory members of the Task Force. You must sign up in advance to provide public comment. To sign up, send email with your name, affiliation, and email address, to beth.dieveney@noaa.gov. If you are unable to attend the meeting but would like to provide public comments, please send them to beth.dieveney@noaa.gov by October 22 for presentation at the Task Force meeting. For more information about the Task Force or the meeting, go to http://www.coralreef.gov.

33) THIRD INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON DEEP-SEA CORALS

DATES: 28 November - 2 December 2005
LOCATION: Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, FL

This symposium will focus on scientific exchange and establishing collaborative partnerships. As several publications have recently stated, deep-sea corals are "out of sight but no longer out of mind." The meeting will bring together scientists, resource managers, students, and policy-makers from around the world who are actively involved in the monitoring and research management of deep-sea corals and other deep-sea habitats. For more information, go to http://www.conference.ifas.ufl.edu/coral.

34) ACTION ALERT FOR BAHAMIAN MARINE HABITAT

The non-profit group Global Response has been campaigning for several months to stop construction of a huge tourist/casino/golf course resort in the Bahamas that is destroying a unique mangrove forest and marine habitat. Recently it was reported that a subsidiary of Hilton Group has contracted to operate this resort project. Global Response has developed model letters to send to Hilton officials, urging them to withdraw from this project. For more details, please go to http://www.globalresponse.org/emailcampaigns.php?record=2111.

35) ACTION ALERT FOR BAHAMIAN MARINE HABITAT

Green Media Toolshed (GMT) is a nonprofit organization that works with the environmental community to provide online media and communications tools for an affordable price. GMT tools include access to a comprehensive, searchable online media database that features over 350,000 domestic media contacts and more than 150,000 international media contacts. The media database also features email and fax outreach abilities and custom pitching tips to help groups build relationships with reporters. GMT also provides access to over 6,000 photos that members can use in their media work as well as on their own website, a fully branded online press room, a community calendar and several web enhancement tools that allow groups to manage campaigns and volunteers in a secure, online area.

GMT currently has more than 165 members that range in budget, scope of outreach and size of staff. Current members include Alaska Marine Conservation Council, Blue Frontier Campaign, Coastal Oceans Coalition, Coral Reef Alliance, Marine Mammal Center, Sea Turtle Restoration Project, SeaWeb, and The Ocean Project. You can view a complete list of current members at http://www.greenmediatoolshed.org/aboutus/membersandusers.acs.
GMT was created to provide the environmental movement with access to a host of high quality communications tools for an affordable cost. Yearly membership fees are a sliding scale based on budget and scope of outreach. This includes access, training and technical support for any member of an organization's staff. Yearly membership fees start at $50 for groups with budgets of $100,000 or less.

If you're interested in learning more, please visit www.greenmediatoolshed.org. If you would like to take an online tour of GMT, contact Bobbi Russell from the GMT staff at 202-326-8709 or bobbi@greenmediatoolshed.org. If you contact Bobbi, please be sure to mention that you heard about GMT through The Ocean Project.

36) COASTAL SOCIETY CALL FOR PAPERS; CHANGING BEHAVIORS TRACK

The Coastal Society is pleased to announce that it is now actively accepting abstracts for the Coastal Society Conference, Charting a New Course: Shaping Solutions for the Coast, in St. Pete Beach, Florida, May 14-17, 2006. They would like to call your attention to the following track: Solutions for Changing Behaviors: Professionals and the Public. You are invited to submit an abstract on your work that would contribute to provocative sessions that will provide ideas and foster discussion on how to integrate science, management, and outreach into better stewardship both on the part of coastal managers and the public. They would like to emphasize the role of leadership in coastal stewardship as well as the role of science and management in changing behaviors and bettering the state of our coasts. The official deadline for submission of abstracts has just passed but should still be accepted if sent asap. For additional details, please visit www.thecoastalsociety.org.

37) MEASURES PROPOSED TO PREVENT OVERFISHING OF TUNA IN PACIFIC ISLANDS

COMMENTS DUE: 14 September 2005

A new rule proposed by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration would implement management measures to prevent overfishing of the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean tuna stocks, consistent with recommendations by the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC). This rule would close the U.S. longline fishery in the IATTC Convention Area in 2005 and 2006 if the catch of bigeye tuna reaches the estimated level of 2001 (150 metric tons). In addition, the purse seine fishery for tuna in the Convention Area would be closed from 20 November through 31 December in both 2005 and 2006. A closure late in the fishing year minimizes the disruption of planned fishery operations, which are not traditionally active during the winter, while meeting the conservation goals for tunas in the area. Send comments to 0648-AT33@noaa.gov.

38) SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION SEEKS MARINE SCIENCE CHAIR FOR OCEAN PROGRAM

The National Museum of Natural History is building upon its substantial foundation in marine science to establish a comprehensive Ocean Science Initiative. This will include a new ocean hall, a dynamic ocean web portal, and a multi-disciplinary Center for Ocean Science. The Ocean Science Initiative is directed toward both increasing public knowledge and facilitating and communicating scholarly research. The Sant Chair for Marine Science will provide intellectual leadership for the new Center for Ocean Research. As a critical component of the Ocean Science Initiative, the Center will expand knowledge of the oceans' physical and biological composition and interactions through scholarly research.

The Center's goal is to foster interdisciplinary research and provide a venue to share the knowledge with the research community, conservationists, and policymakers. Requirements include a Ph.D. with a record of superior achievement in collections-based research in the marine sciences including systematics, ecology, evolutionary biology and paleobiology; demonstrated ability to initiate and pursue multidisciplinary or collaborative research projects; a record of involvement with scientific or professional organizations concerning marine science, marine conservation, and/or management of ocean resources; and a defined interest in increasing public knowledge of marine science and the importance of oceans. For the complete job description, go to http://www.sihr.si.edu/vac/EX-05-12.pdf.

For more about the Ocean Science Initiative, go to www.mnh.si.edu/ocean.

39) COMMENT PERIOD EXTENDED ON CHANGES TO U.S. OVERFISHING GUIDELINES

NEW DEADLINE: 21 October 2005.

NOAA Fisheries Service is extending for an additional 60 days the public comment period on its proposed modifications to the National Standard 1 Guidelines of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, which requires fishery managers to prevent overfishing and rebuild stocks in federal waters while achieving the optimum yield from each fishery. After seven years of experience since the last revisions were made, the agency is proposing changes to end overfishing more immediately, establish more conservation oriented rebuilding schedules and catch levels, and establish an assessment process for stocks about which little data exists. To read the proposed rule, type in the words 'Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; National Standard Guidelines' under Keyword, at http://www.regulations.gov/index.cfm.

Submit email comments to: nationalstandard1@noaa.gov, or, for an online comment submission form, go to: http://comments.regulations.gov/EXTERNAL/Comments.cfm?DocketID=05-16119 &CFID=91626&CFTOKEN=25236774.

SOURCE: FishNews, 12 August 2005, http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/.

40) NOAA STUDY OF U.S. CORAL REEF ECOSYSTEMS

The nation's coral reef ecosystems continue to face numerous stressors from both natural and human sources, including overfishing, disease, pollution and climate change, according to a new national assessment of the condition of U.S. shallow coral reef ecosystems. The report, The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States and Pacific Freely Associated States: 2005, was released by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The more-than-500-page report was authored by teams in 14 jurisdictions where the corals are found. More than 160 scientists and managers contributed to the report, as part of a growing coral reef integrated observing system. Chapters cover coral reef conditions in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Navassa, Florida, the Flower Garden Banks, the Main Hawaiian Islands, the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, American
Samoa, the Pacific Remote Island Areas, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the Republic of Palau. The report brings together quantitative results of monitoring data and information collected by federal, state, territory, commonwealth, non-governmental, private, and academic partners to provide an overall status report on the condition of U.S. coral reef ecosystems. The report is available at http://ccma.nos.noaa.gov/ecosystems/coralreef/coral_report_2005/.

SOURCE: NOAA Press Release, 18 August 2005, http://ccma.nos.noaa.gov/ecosystems/coralreef/coral_report_2005/CoralReport_PR_National.pdf.

In related research, the September issue of the journal Geology features a historical study on the coral reefs of Belize, which suggests that coral populations were healthy and vibrant for several thousand years until the 1980s, when they were killed by disease and high sea temperatures. To read the abstract, click on Geology at http://www.gsajournals.org/gsaonline/?request=get-current-issue.

41) ONLINE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF MARINE LIFE

NOAA's National Marine Sanctuary Program has announced a new free online resource that highlights the diverse marine life of America's oceans and Great Lakes. The Encyclopedia of the Sanctuaries offers photos, streaming video and important facts for more than a hundred key animal and plant species from the national marine sanctuaries. The Encyclopedia allows users to search for species or browse the wildlife of each sanctuary by category. The encyclopedia entry for each species includes a photo, quick facts, information about its diet, habitat, distribution and status, and links to outside resources for more information. Many of the entries also include video clips of species in their natural habitats. The encyclopedia was developed by NOAA in partnership with the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation and the Ocean Channel, Inc., a California-based new-media corporation. Access the encyclopedia at http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/education.

42) DIRECTORY OF MEDITERRANEAN MPAs

A new directory of marine protected areas (MPAs) in the Mediterranean Sea contains information on more than 70 MPAs. Published in June 2005 by World Wildlife Fund--France, the Global Directory of Marine Protected Areas in the Mediterranean provides contact information for each site and general site features, including area, principal marine species present, and IUCN management category. The directory should help MPA managers in different Mediterranean countries to communicate with each other, as most of them face similar management issues. The directory is available at http://www.wwf.fr/pdf/RepertoireAMP.pdf.

43) NOAA'S CORAL BLEACHING E-MAIL ALERT SYSTEM

The NOAA Coral Reef Watch Satellite Bleaching Alert System is an automated e-mail system designed to monitor the status of thermal stress conducive to coral bleaching. The Alert System was developed by the NOAA Coral Reef Watch satellite team as a tool for coral reef managers, scientists and the interested public. Currently, messages are available for 24 coral reefs around the world. For more information on the alert system or the other Coral Reef Watch satellite products, visit http://coralreefwatch.noaa.gov/satellite/index.html.

44) REPORT ON INTERNATIONAL INTERNET TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES

The International Fund for Animal Welfare has published a new report and a video on the use of the Internet to facilitate trade in live wild animals (including endangered species of aquarium fish and other marine creatures). The report, 'Caught in the Web,' highlights the damaging consequences of Internet trading for both conservation and animal welfare and makes concrete recommendations for action. Although the report is written from a UK perspective and focuses on UK law, it reflects the global nature of the Internet. Thus the findings, conclusions and recommendations are highly relevant to other countries.

For more information, go to http://www.caughtintheweb.co.uk/site/c.omL4KkN2LtH/b.951745/k.736C/Caught_in_the_Web__Home.htm

45) FISHING AND CONSERVATION COALITION REPORT ON GULF OF MEXICO

TA coalition of conservation and fishing organizations has published a new report analyzing fisheries management in the Gulf of Mexico. The report, 'Every Fish Counts,' highlights failure to minimize bycatch--wildlife caught accidentally when other species are targeted. To download the report, go to http://healthygulf.org/fisheries/issuesBycatchReport.htm.

46) NEW FOSTERING SUSTAINABLE BEHAVIOR LISTSERV

The "Fostering Sustainable Behavior" listserv will provide the opportunity for program managers to easily dialogue with one another regarding a wide range of behavior change programs (e.g., waste reduction, energy and water efficiency, watershed protection, modal transportation shifts, etc.) If you would like to subscribe, do one of the following:
  • To receive each message sent to the listserv simply send an email to web@cbsm.com with "Subscribe" in the subject, or
  • To receive one email per day that contains all of the messages sent to the listserv that day simply send an email to web@cbsm.com with "Subscribe Digest" in the subject.
The listserv discussions are archived at the Fostering Sustainable Behavior website.

47) SEA OTTER AWARENESS WEEK FOLLOW-UP

Defenders of Wildlife collaborated with sea otter researchers, marine institutions, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the Seymour Marine Discovery Center, Monterey Bay area schools, Morro Bay Museum of Natural History, Morro Bay National Estuary Program, the Community Environmental Council of Santa Barbara, and many others to celebrate sea otters and the integral role that they play in the nearshore marine ecosystem at the 3rd annual celebration of Sea Otter Awareness Week, last week.

Mayors from Santa Barbara, Morro Bay, Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Francisco officially proclaimed Sea Otter Awareness Week in their cities. They also broadened their outreach beyond Monterey Bay this year to include events in Santa Barbara and Morro Bay; and aquariums and zoos throughout North America, and one in Holland.

For follow up opportunities and more information, please visit http://www.defenders.org/seaotter/awareness/.

The Ocean Project Feature of the Month

October is “Energy Awareness and Efficiency” Month on www.SeastheDay.org! Visit this dynamic site each month for a new conservation theme, with lots of related ideas and tips on how individuals can make a real difference. The Ocean Project launched this site earlier this year as a means to complement, enhance, and expand our work with our partner network, now 700 plus organizations in 60 countries. Remember to order your Seas the Day conservation calendar for 2006 online, too!
The Ocean Project
Phone: +1.401.709.4071
PO Box 2506
Providence, Rhode Island 02906 USA

www.TheOceanProject.org – learn more
www.SeastheDay.org – take action today
www.WorldOceanDay.org – celebrate our ocean.