San Miguel Island from David R. Andrew on Vimeo.
Monthly Archives: February 2010
Petition: Help Stop Sale of Shark Products in San Francisco
Filed under Oceans
Each year tens of millions of sharks are being killed for their fins alone in the practice called shark finning, and as bycatch in industrial longline fishing. These are unsustainable practices and populations of shark cannot endure the pressure generated by a growing market demanding shark fins for soup and other shark products.
With its large and relatively affluent community, San Francisco is a significant consumer of this product. Without any certifiable sourcing, consumers of fins in shark fin soup and in the dried fish markets are responsible for creating a serious imbalance in our ocean ecosystems. Until a solution is achieved certifying that shark fins can be sourced to a sustainable shark fishery, we hereby request that the Mayor and Supervisors proclaim a ban on shark fins and shark fin products in the City and County of San Francisco, promote Shark Sanctuary San Francisco and help develop solutions for sustainable seafood practices.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/7/stop-shark-fin-and-fin-products-for-sale-in-san-francisco
BBC: Now, an Atlantic Garbage Patch Discovered….
Filed under Oceans
Scientists have discovered an area of the North Atlantic Ocean where plastic debris accumulates.
The region is said to compare with the well-documented “great Pacific garbage patch”.
Scientists and students from the SEA collected plastic and marine debris in fine mesh nets that were towed behind a research vessel.
We know that many marine organisms are consuming these plastics and we know this has a bad effect on seabirds in particular
The nets dragged along were half-in and half-out of the water, picking up debris and small marine organisms from the sea surface.
See here for more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8534052.stm
San Diego Restaurants Which Serve Shark Fin Soup
Filed under Oceans
China Max
4698 Convoy Street, C101
San Diego, CA 92111
Tel: (858) 650-3333
Fax: (858) 650-3332
Emerald Chinese Seafood Restaurant
Pacific Gateway Plaza
3709 Convoy Street, Suite 101
San Diego, CA 92111
Imperial Mandarin Restaurant
3904 Convoy St, Ste 102
San Diego, CA 92111
(858) 292-1222
Jasmine Seafood Restaurant
4609 Convoy Street
San Diego, CA 92111
(858) 268-0888
Scuba Advisor: Misleading Ethical Policy from the Marina Mandarin Hotel in Singapore
Filed under Oceans
Photo Courtesy: Natures Crusaders/Not Taken at Marina Mandarin Hotel
This hotel publicly states that it is proud to be the first hotel in Asia to support the WWF and they demonstrate their commitment by serving shark fin products in their restaurant. Is this ethical?
You decide . . .
Marina Mandarin WWF Policy
We booked this hotel for a 2 night stop-over on our way back to the UK from Indonesia. The hotel is lovely.
However, there is one very big issue which I’d like to make everyone aware of. The hotel actively promotes that it is the first hotel in Asia to support wildlife conservation with the WWF and adds a S$2 to your bill for each night that you stay (see photo of their statement).
However, that is the contribution from the guest. The hotel’s contribution to wildlife conservation is to serve shark fin products in its Peach Blossoms Restaurant.
Before checking out, we filled in the hotel feedback form and had a very quick response from their General Manager.
Here is his response:
“I appreciate your feedback on the serving of sharksfin dishes in our restaurant. Please be assured that our hotel is committed to the WWF and green environment, and we have taken many initiatives towards recylcing and reducing wastages within our hotel. However, as a business entity, we have to be sensitive to our customers’ demands and cultural differences.”
Here is the hotel’s email: marina.mms@meritus-hotels.com
See below for more: http://www.scubadviser.com/news_1.aspx?id=0:35349&id=0:35224&news=0:43103
Meagan Wylie: New AAAS Science Confirms Benefits of MLPA
Filed under Marine Life Protection Act, Oceans
Courtesy: Marine Map.org
[Sorry, above map cannot be enlarged--for more details, see: http://southcoast.marinemap.org/marinemap/]
Research unveiled at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) conference confirms that California is on the right track with the Marine Life Protection Act… Here is a selection if you all want to read more about it.
Several new studies released Monday at the American Association for the Advancement of Science conference in San Diego have found that well-designed networks of marine reserves can provide both economic and environmental benefits. Scientists from UC Santa Barbara, Scripps Institute and Stanford University were quoted over the weekend:
Steven Gaines, Dean of the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management at UC Santa Barbara said in Science Daily: “There is plenty of new evidence to show that if reserves are designed well, they can benefit both fish and fishermen,” UC Santa Barbara’s Andrew Rassweiler said in Science News that a new southern California marine reserve network could boost fishing industry profits: “People fishing can make more money with smaller impacts on the species being fished.”
Science Magazine cited the Channel Islands and Great Barrier Reef marine reserve networks to show that protecting small areas can produce big returns. A five-year study in the Channel Island found rockfish numbers up by 50%, and their size up by 80%. The Great Barrier Reef network has improved overall ecosystem health, and fears of a collapse of the recreational fishing industry have proven completely unfounded—the number of fishing licenses has grown since the reserves were established.
Several of the studies emphasized the importance of community engagement in creating an effective marine reserve network. California’s Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) is being implemented through a participatory public process. Stanford scientist Stephen Palumbi said in the San Diego Union Tribune that the MLPA is also rooted in sound science: “There are probably 120 to 150 studies of how reserves function within their borders, and even small reserves tend to give positive results.”
Scripps Institution of Oceanography’s Ed Parnell, who has proposed protect for the reef and kelp beds at south La Jolla, said: “We know what the benefit will be for the species in the reserves. They will increase in density, and they will increase in size.”
Meagan Wylie
Marine Conservation Coordinator
San Diego Coastkeeper
Nancy Caruso: Get Inspired! Marine Science Camp for Kids
Filed under Oceans
Nancy Caruso www.getinspiredinc.org
If you have children that are interested in marine science as a career, I am putting on a marine science camp this summer with scuba certifications offered. It will be a 6 day camp at White’s Landing on Catalina. I will be teaching scientific survey techniques as well as ecology, biology, with lots of hands on activities for the week. It will be loads of fun and very educational. Some of the techniques I teach are not taught until students are seniors in college but easy for all ages!
This camp is for ages 13-18. There are two trips offered during the summer.
See links below for forms or contact me directly.
Please distribute to anyone that you think would be interested.
Thank you
Nancy Caruso
Get Inspired!
Marine Biologist
www.getinspiredinc.org
714-206-5147
PDF Registration forms for download:
OK, Guys…Now, No Clowning Around in the Rain
Photo: Jackie Patay
Barb Getting Ready to Descend on the Yukon w/Video Cam
Photo: Jackie Patay
