Ocean Life News in Brief: January-15-2016
HERO X F3 Challenge to Reduce Pressure on Fisheries
HERO X reported on December 22 that a “Game Changer” is about to revolutionize aquaculture and the food industry. Working under the project F3: Fish Free Feed Challenge they are looking aquaculture advancements and assure that “the answer may be coming along a lot faster than we ever thought!”
“Hawaii’s Humpback Whales Have Gone Missing” Smithsonian Magazine Says
Smithsonian Magazine reported on January 4 that despite scientists expected about 10,000 whales to visit Hawaii's tropical waters this season they seem to be “taking their time”. Every year two-thirds of the North Pacific humpback whale population reach the islands. Reports reveal that whales have not been showing up in schedule and linked the event to climate change and El Niño.
Project CARMENES Initiates Search for Earth-Like Planets
Spanish National Research Council CSIC communicated December 17 that the CARMENES Instrument has concluded successfully the test phase and initiated its search for Earth-like planets. Hydric footprint and oceans is the first element to look for in the search for Earth like planets.
Enews Releases Dead Whale String for West Coast US, Canada and Mexico
Enews late December released a string of local news from diverse locations of the West Coast of Mexico, United States and Canada which reported diverse dead whales appearing on shore. Individuals ranged in age and size. Cause of death is still unknown for many species.
Two Thousand Swimmers Plunge into Frozen Waters of New York
To celebrate New Year over 2 thousand New York locals plunged into the cold waters in the Annual Coney Island Polar Bear Plunge. NOAA reported water temperatures of 4.5 degree Celsius during the event.
Giant Polar Sea Spiders Studied by US Antarctic Programs and Hawaii University Experts
On January 1 International Press reported that the experts are studying the mysteries of giant sea spiders which live in polar waters. Experts from the National Foundation for Science of the Antarctic Program of the US and the University of Hawaii in Manoa and University of Montana say that high oxygen is the cause of their massive size.
Giant Squid Visits Center of Japan on Christmas Eve
News JS reported on December 30 on the sightings registered in the Bay of Toyama -center of Japan where a giant squid was spotted. Witness were able to eye view the specimen from port and shore. Diver Akinobu Kimura owner of a local dive shop took the opportunity to submerge and swim with the giant squid. “Curiosity was greater than fear so I jumped into the water and approached it,“ the diver told the media.
America´s Cup Spirit On Right Track? Tradition vs Sailing Technology Debate
Roger Vaughan -Internationally published journalist and writer with two books on the America’s Cup assures that the America's Cup Spirit has been dimmed out by technology, foiling multihulls and high profile event. Fans of the America's Cup disagree and assure evolution is the way forward.
Jules Verne Trophy – IDEC Sport and Spindrift 2 Will Push to the Finish
Sail World reported on January 3 on developments of the Jules Verne Trophy -a prize for the fastest circumnavigation of the World by any type of yacht. International Sailing Press agree that the Jules Verne Trophy Around the World Record will not be beaten this year but it seems that other things have been obtained during the sail out. IDEC Sport and Spindrift 2 Teams assure assure they will sail until the finish line.
Hydric Infrastructure Masters Deploy 100 Meter Dutch Clean Up Ocean Barrier
On the first days of 2016 news from the Dutch project which will test the First Clean Up Ocean Barrier broke internationally. The Ocean Cleanup will be deploying a 100 meter-long barrier segment in the North Sea, 23 km off the coast of The Netherlands. The barrier will capture and concentrate plastic debris.
NASA Gravity Ocean Floor Map Takes Detail to Another Scale
NASA scientists used a new method to map the ocean’s floor revealing what some describe as “the most complete map of the ocean's floor to the date”. “Taking existing satellite data of the ocean, researchers used sea surface heights and gravity to find the most intricate details of the ocean’s mountains, valleys and crevices,” Media reported.
Small and Glowing Deep Ocean Dwelling Shark Discovered
Fox News reported on December 28 on a new specie of shark which was discovered. The tiny shark which fits inside a hand was named Etmopterus benchleyi in honor of shark conservationist and “Jaws” author Peter Benchley. The small shark is also reported to glow in deep ocean waters from 2.7 thousand to 4.7 thousand feet of depth.
Soil Machine Dynamics Constructs Mining Robots for Ocean Gold, Silver and Copper
Tech Insider reported on December 31 on developments made by Soil Machine Dynamics -company dedicated to Robotic Ocean Vehicles. Teaming with Toronto Based Company Nautilus Minerals the company constructed robotic miners. With an interest in the Bismarck Sea near Papua new Guinea the robots could collect gold, silver and copper deposits in the near future.
Oceana 2016 Goals Aim to Restore Oceans and Say It Could Feed 1 Billion People
“Right now 1 billion people on this planet suffer from hunger, and we don’t have enough arable land and freshwater to feed 2 billion more without incurring severe losses to the natural world.But there is a solution,” OCEANA Campaigns. 2016 OCEANA´s 10 Priority go from protecting and managing vulnerable habitats and species to catching no more than the quota, avoiding the killing of unwanted sea life, the end of illegal fishing and those who profit, conservation for the ocean floors and depths, action against Climate Change, ocean contamination actions, clean energy shift, investment in marine research and spreading the word.
