Ocean Life News in Brief: July-01-2016

NASA New Horizons Spacecraft Data Signals to Ocean in Pluto 

Astronomy reported on June 22 that new evidence signals that Pluto may have a liquid ocean beneath its icy surface. The report published in the Geophysical Research Letters focuses on the tectonic activity revealed by NASA's New Horizons Spacecraft. 

Unpredictable Reputation of Rogue Ocean Waves Demystified by New Math Equation

Phys reported on June 21 that understanding Rogue Ocean Waves -responsible for affecting hundred of thousands of lives and causing millions in damages, may be simpler than expected. Rogue Ocean Waves have the reputation of breaking out from nowhere and being hard to predict but an International Team of Scientists developed simple mathematical models that explain how they develop. 

Gyres Calls for Greater Community Engagement to Demand Change on Ocean Pollution 

Gyres -organization leading plastic ocean contamtion actions reported on June 15 on the latest research and policies presented during their last Webinar. Gyres Founders Anna Cummins and Marcus Eriksen highlighted “the importance of having a circular economy” and described “community engagement essential to demand change”. 

Volvo Ocean Race Calls for New Onboard Reporters for “Toughest Job in Media” 

On June 6 Volvo Ocean Race made an International call for open positions to become the next “Onboard Reporter” for the coming Edition. The Volvo Ocean Race 2017-2018 is expected to be as brutal as coming editions. Volvo Ocean Race warned that professionals with media experience which consider application must understand that the race will test anyone beyond the limits. They called it the “Toughest Job in the Media”. 

Warrior Won Takes Lead of Newport Bermuda Race 

On June 22 Sailing Press reported that Warrior Won Team lead by Christopher Sheehan emerged as winner of the 2016 Newport Bermuda Race. The boat took lead over a fleet of 70 which docked port later in the night. 

World Sailing Match Racing Rankings Released

Scuttlebutt Sailing News reported on June 22 on the final World Sailing Match Race Rankings. Taylor Canfield ISV took the top once again while Camilla Ulrikkeholm from Denmark held the lead in the Women's Division. 

Global Ocean Health Partnership Presented at Stockholm Food Forum 

On June 14 The Huffington Post reported that the Leader of the Norwegian Labour Party Jonas Gahr Store called for better management of the World's Ocean to protect future supply of foods. Stockholm Resilience explained that the Global Partnership for Ocean Health was presented by Jonas Store during the 2016 EAT Stockholm Food Forum, Rockström and Störe. 

WSL Puerto Escondido Big Wave Challenge Runs with Alerts

The World Surf League WSL reported on the unfolding events which took over the Puerto Escondido Challenge Big Wave Tour in Mexico. Waves at the event led to Alerts peaking as high as 30 foot causing injuries among the challengers. 

Atlantic Storm Triggers Rough Surf in Eastern US Beaches 

International Weather Services reported on June 20 that the offshore storm tracked across the Atlantic would trigger rough surf along the eastern US beaches. Flags rose in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Duck and North Carolina throughout the weekend.

WSL Elite Surfer Stephanie Gilmore Voices Against Illegal Trade and Poaching 

On June 22 WSL reported that the Iconic Surfer Stephanie Gilmore -holding Six World Titles took to the cause of illegal trade and poaching in Africa as the WSL CT Tour reaches South Africa for the J-Bay Open Stop. "...the more I read up on the situation, the more I began to understand just how extreme it is becoming. I felt it was absolutely necessary to use my voice or the small influence I have to help the education process," Gilmore stated. 

Nottingham Scientists Discover Ancient Climate Change Mass Extinction 

Nottingham University reported on June 17 that Scientists have discovered the cause of a mass extinction of sea-floor marine organisms 800,000 years ago. The finding provides insight into how climate change can impact deep ocean environments. The paper was published in the journal of Nature Communications and was authored by scientists from from the Universities of Nottingham and Durham and the British Geological Survey BGS. 

Carbon XPrize Global Challenge on Registration Countdown

On June 21 XPrize reported that the countdown for registration for the Carbon XPrize is almost over. The Carbon XPrize is  a global challenge to address climate change by incentivizing innovators to convert carbon dioxide CO2  emissions from power plants and industrial facilities into valuable every day products. Teams have until July 15 to register. 

International Team of Scientists Discover Global Coral Reef “Bright Spots” 

Stanford News reported on June 15 on a new Global Coral Reef reported published in Nature which assures that some Coral areas in the World are striving. The Global Coral Reef Bright Spot Paper studied over 6 thousand Reef Surveys in 46 countries across the globe and discovered 15 “bright spots”. Scientists of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University in Queensland, Australia who authored the paper explained that “Bright Spots” are areas where against all the odds, there were a lot more fish on coral reefs than expected. The study involved 39 scientists from 34 different universities and conservation groups, including three affiliated with Stanford’s Center for Ocean Solutions.

Hawaii US Senator Calls for Creation of World´s Largest Marine Protected Area

The Natural Resources Defense Council NRDC reported on June 16 on the proposition of the US Senator Brian Schatz from Hawaii which calls for the expansion of a Marine National Monument in Hawaii. Senator Schatz sent a proposal to the White House asking President Obama to exercise his authority under the Antiquities Act to expand the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument PMNM. The proposal if given green light would create the World's Largest Marine Protected Area. 

NOAA Expedition Hawaii Papahanaumokuakea Reveal New Species and High Coral Death

ABC News reported on June 16 that NOAA the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration discovered three new species of fish while on an expedition in the protected waters of the Marine National Monument of Papahanaumokuakea in Hawaii. NOAA added that the expedition is revealing coral mortality in significance as a result of the mass bleaching event which started in 2014 and is expected to last until 2016. 

Ocean Clean Up Projects Tests Prototype for Rough Water Impacts

On June 26 Engadget reported on the latest advances made by the Ocean Cleanup Project -one of the only projects which is already operating to remove contamination from the oceans. The program recently launched a 328 foot-long prototype floating barrier that will collect trash floating in the North Sea. The prototype is being tested for rough water impacts. 

Worldfish Opens Shop in Egypt to Work Fish Production, Nutrition and Local Fish Feed 

AquaFeed reported on June 23 that Worldfish has partnered with Skretting to focus in feed efficiency in Egypt. With a new facility on location the Worldfish program will focus on Tilapia nutrition and testing new local fish feed ingredients including agricultural by-products. Egypt is the World’s second largest producer of farmed Tilapia. 

World's Poor and Developing Nations to be Impacted by Declines in Global Fish Supply 

On June 21 The Commercial Pine Bluff reported that the declines in fish supply will threaten developing countries. The paper “Fall in Fish Catches Threatens Human Nutrition” was published in Nature. The study was possible thanks to a collaboration of several universities including the Harvard School of Public Health, University of Washington, University of California-Santa Barbara, University of British Columbia and UAPB.

Oceana Speaks Up on Shark Fin Trade Elimination Act

Oceana reported from the US on mid June on the introduction by the US Congress of the Shark Fin Trade Elimination Act. The Act would ban the trade of shark fins in the United States. “While the act of shark finning is illegal in US waters, shark fins continue to be bought and sold throughout the United States,” Oceana explained. Oceana´s new report assures to answer why the ban on shark fins trade should be passed. 

Oceana´s Reports Turtle Excluder Devices Environmental and Economic Importance

On June 23 Oceana reported that Turtle Excluder Devices TEDs -device added to fishing gear that provides an escape hatch for sea turtles, helps prevent sea turtle deaths in nets and decreases wasted catch. Oceana added that bycatch accounts for approximately 63 billion pounds of wasted seafood every year, but also includes animals that are threatened or endangered. The Oceana new report reveals how Turtle Excluder Devices make sense from an environmental and economical point of view.