'More than 90% of the trade between countries is carried by ships and about half the communications between nations use underwater cables.'
The oceans have many uses....
A scary thought though, is how much of those trade products are lost through tipping off of the ships. Many people, myself included, use those huge containers to cart belongings from one side of the world to another, but I've seen too many pictures off them falling off the ships! People could have their belongings washing up on shores on complete different continents to where they expected, eek.
http://marinebio.org/MarineBio/Facts/
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Close to Home
Reading an article in the newspaper, I was surprised to find that acid rain has decimated the salmon in our southern uplands rivers, and has even killed off the stocks in 25 of these rivers. The total population has been decreased by three quarters!
The Nova Scotia Salmon Association is fighting to stop this decimation by adding tonnes of alkaline lime to the waters to neutralize the acid. This has so far made the rivers more hospitable, but as yet there is not solid evidence that it is making enough of a difference for the fish.
The acid rain comes mostly from the industrial emissions of central Canada. The rain really affects our rivers as the soils in the area have little to no capacity for holding or neutralizing the acid. This means that most of the acid is allowed to leach into the rivers. The problem got so bad, and so there were talks to limit the amount of emissions that could be allowed. But still, we see the effects of the rain, even if there is just a little.
If the rivers were left aone, and no more acid rain was able to leach into them, then the rivers would take up to 100 years to get back to normal. So the limestone is being added continually, despite the huge costs of these operations. Hopefully, it will make enough of a difference soon, so we will not lose the entire stock of salmon.
The Nova Scotia Salmon Association is fighting to stop this decimation by adding tonnes of alkaline lime to the waters to neutralize the acid. This has so far made the rivers more hospitable, but as yet there is not solid evidence that it is making enough of a difference for the fish.
The acid rain comes mostly from the industrial emissions of central Canada. The rain really affects our rivers as the soils in the area have little to no capacity for holding or neutralizing the acid. This means that most of the acid is allowed to leach into the rivers. The problem got so bad, and so there were talks to limit the amount of emissions that could be allowed. But still, we see the effects of the rain, even if there is just a little.
If the rivers were left aone, and no more acid rain was able to leach into them, then the rivers would take up to 100 years to get back to normal. So the limestone is being added continually, despite the huge costs of these operations. Hopefully, it will make enough of a difference soon, so we will not lose the entire stock of salmon.
Jellyfish
Warmer waters are attracting many types of jellyfish to the waters around the UK. Is this an effect of global warming???
Many different types have been washed up along the British shores, and whilst this is not unusual, it is occurring in record numbers. Many types are posionous, and as the site shows, they are pretty amazing to look at....
http://environment.uk.msn.com/wildlife/gallery.aspx?cp-documentid=9010326
Many different types have been washed up along the British shores, and whilst this is not unusual, it is occurring in record numbers. Many types are posionous, and as the site shows, they are pretty amazing to look at....
http://environment.uk.msn.com/wildlife/gallery.aspx?cp-documentid=9010326
Green Fuel?
At the beginning of the semester, in one of my classes, we were challenged to find how certain products are related to the oceans. My group got 'ice cream' and we found that it contains an extract called carrageenan. This comes from sea weed and is used as a thickener.
Recent studies are looking into another use for sea weed... as biomass. Sea weed is being tested as a new form of alternative energy. The hopes are that it will burn as a biomass type of fuel and produce clean energy that we need, but then the waste materials could also be used in agriculture as a fertilizer. As well as this, it is thought that the harvesting of the sea weed could have a positive impact on marine life.
Most problems with alternative energy fuels concern the loss of land due to harvesting farms (wind farms, solar panels), how the alternative energy turbines would affect their surroundings (wave energy) or what to do with the waste products (nuclear). If this research into sea weed all turns out to be proven true, then we may have found a fuel source that does not have these problems.....
Seaweed 'a green fuel alternative' http://environment.uk.msn.com/news/headlines/article.aspx?cp-documentid=10401848
Recent studies are looking into another use for sea weed... as biomass. Sea weed is being tested as a new form of alternative energy. The hopes are that it will burn as a biomass type of fuel and produce clean energy that we need, but then the waste materials could also be used in agriculture as a fertilizer. As well as this, it is thought that the harvesting of the sea weed could have a positive impact on marine life.
Most problems with alternative energy fuels concern the loss of land due to harvesting farms (wind farms, solar panels), how the alternative energy turbines would affect their surroundings (wave energy) or what to do with the waste products (nuclear). If this research into sea weed all turns out to be proven true, then we may have found a fuel source that does not have these problems.....
Seaweed 'a green fuel alternative' http://environment.uk.msn.com/news/headlines/article.aspx?cp-documentid=10401848
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Ocean Fact
"Each year, three times as much rubbish is dumped into the world's oceans as the weight of fish caught."
It's sickening to think about, and to be honest, I'm surprised that we haven't seen any more major effects of it as yet. People really have to start thinking harder about what we're doing to our world...
http://marinebio.org/MarineBio/Facts/
It's sickening to think about, and to be honest, I'm surprised that we haven't seen any more major effects of it as yet. People really have to start thinking harder about what we're doing to our world...
http://marinebio.org/MarineBio/Facts/
3000 Dead in 4 Years.
Another news story that ties in with my research paper. I've been researching the endangerment of two species in the Mediterranean Sea - blue fin tuna and loggerhead turtles. A news story from a few days ago highlights this issue, but along the Mexican coast. Over 3000 turtles have been washed on shore, dead, in only four years.
I think it's sad that these species are being decimated in this way. Action needs to be taken to stop the ways in which these creatures are killed. For instance, one of the journal articles I read whilst researching my paper experimented with longline fishing, trying to find a way that would be less harmful to the turtles. It turned out that a change in the hook type and bait used meant there was much less bycatch, and little change in the amount of what they actually wanted. A small change can make a big difference.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081014160507.htm
I think it's sad that these species are being decimated in this way. Action needs to be taken to stop the ways in which these creatures are killed. For instance, one of the journal articles I read whilst researching my paper experimented with longline fishing, trying to find a way that would be less harmful to the turtles. It turned out that a change in the hook type and bait used meant there was much less bycatch, and little change in the amount of what they actually wanted. A small change can make a big difference.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081014160507.htm
Overfishing in the Med.
I found a news article that ties in really well with my research paper on the state of bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean Sea. As I have been finding in all the journal articles that I have researched so far, the bluefin tuna is becoming endangered for many reasons.
This article goes further to show how fishermen have been cheating on their quotas ....
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Experts_call_for_halt_to_bluefin_tuna_fishing_in_Mediterranean_999.html
This article goes further to show how fishermen have been cheating on their quotas ....
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Experts_call_for_halt_to_bluefin_tuna_fishing_in_Mediterranean_999.html
Ocean Film Festival.
Wednesday night marks the opening of the 5th annual Santa Barbara Ocean Film Festival. At this event, 21 ocean-related films from around the world are shown and judged, and the winners of Best Ocean Adrenaline film, Best Student Ocean film, Best of Show, Best Natural History film Best Ocean Travel film and Best Marine Conservation film are announced. The awards are spread over three nights, and you can check out the finalists at http://www.ocean.com/index.asp?LocationID=311&CatId=311
Film submission for this year's event is closed now, but if you're a budding cinematographer get started for next year!
Film submission for this year's event is closed now, but if you're a budding cinematographer get started for next year!
Sunday, October 12, 2008
A Scary Thought
Little Known Facts About the Ocean (http://marinebio.org/MarineBio/Facts/) says that
'The sea level has risen with an average of 10-25 cm over the past 100 years and scientists expect this rate to increase. Sea levels will continue rising even if the climate has stabilized, because the ocean reacts slowly to changes. 10,000 years ago the ocean level was about 110 m lower than it is now. If all the world's ice melted, the oceans would rise 66 m.'
If (when?) the ice were to melt, what would the world look like? This website shows....
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/vinson/ice.html
Some scary pictures there....especially with the increasing population of our world. Would Nova Scotia still exist? Probably not....
'The sea level has risen with an average of 10-25 cm over the past 100 years and scientists expect this rate to increase. Sea levels will continue rising even if the climate has stabilized, because the ocean reacts slowly to changes. 10,000 years ago the ocean level was about 110 m lower than it is now. If all the world's ice melted, the oceans would rise 66 m.'
If (when?) the ice were to melt, what would the world look like? This website shows....
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/vinson/ice.html
Some scary pictures there....especially with the increasing population of our world. Would Nova Scotia still exist? Probably not....
The Final Fronteir
Something said in class made me wonder... why do we spend so much on exploring things that are out of reach when we know so little about that which covers 71% of our world?
'An estimated 80% of all life on earth is found under the ocean surface and the oceans contain 99% of the living space on the planet. Less than 10% of that space has been explored by humans. 85% of the area and 90% of the volume constitute the dark, cold environment we call the deep sea. The average depth of the ocean is 3,795 m. The average height of the land is 840 m.'
There is more to find in the deeps of the ocean than there is on land, but we have only scartched the surface.
http://marinebio.org/MarineBio/Facts/
'An estimated 80% of all life on earth is found under the ocean surface and the oceans contain 99% of the living space on the planet. Less than 10% of that space has been explored by humans. 85% of the area and 90% of the volume constitute the dark, cold environment we call the deep sea. The average depth of the ocean is 3,795 m. The average height of the land is 840 m.'
There is more to find in the deeps of the ocean than there is on land, but we have only scartched the surface.
http://marinebio.org/MarineBio/Facts/
One-Sided Battle?
After watching Sharkwater in class, I was a little ashamed. 'Save the Whales' and 'Dolphin-Friendly products' are those that come to mind when I think of marine conservation. Thinking of sharks just brings images of Jaws. So digging a little deeper, I found this....
'Sharks attack some 50-75 people each year worldwide, with perhaps 8-12 fatalities, according to data compiled in the International Shark Attack File (ISAF). Although shark attacks get a lot of attention, this is far less than the number of people killed each year by elephants, bees, crocodiles, lightning or many other natural dangers. On the other side of the ledger, we kill somewhere between 20-100 million sharks every year through fishing activities.'
I think it's sad that most people out there have the same misconceptions that I did... knowledge really is power.
http://marinebio.org/MarineBio/Facts/
'Sharks attack some 50-75 people each year worldwide, with perhaps 8-12 fatalities, according to data compiled in the International Shark Attack File (ISAF). Although shark attacks get a lot of attention, this is far less than the number of people killed each year by elephants, bees, crocodiles, lightning or many other natural dangers. On the other side of the ledger, we kill somewhere between 20-100 million sharks every year through fishing activities.'
I think it's sad that most people out there have the same misconceptions that I did... knowledge really is power.
http://marinebio.org/MarineBio/Facts/
Mutant Catfish
Rivers and oceans are often used as dumping grounds for unwanted goods - waste, byproducts, etc. In India, it is common to dispose of the dead in their rivers. Many funerals take place along their river banks, and when the cremation is almost over, the partially-burnt bodies are left in the water. Many believe that doing this will ensure that the soul of the dead will find its way to heaven.
An unforeseen side-effect made the headlines this week... After feeding on the bodies left in the India-Nepal border river, a type of catfish has turned its attentions to people who bathe in the waters in the hopes of fulfilling religious vows. The mutated fish has become the subject of a British documentary, after claiming lives in its locality for the past 10 years.
The full story can be found at Mutant Fish 'killing people in river' http://news.uk.msn.com/odd-news/article.aspx?cp-documentid=10010049
An unforeseen side-effect made the headlines this week... After feeding on the bodies left in the India-Nepal border river, a type of catfish has turned its attentions to people who bathe in the waters in the hopes of fulfilling religious vows. The mutated fish has become the subject of a British documentary, after claiming lives in its locality for the past 10 years.
The full story can be found at Mutant Fish 'killing people in river' http://news.uk.msn.com/odd-news/article.aspx?cp-documentid=10010049
Sunday, October 5, 2008
New Place, New View?
Having lived in near-central England for most of my life, I'm pretty amazed by some of the things you can do and see in Maritime Canada. In England, you are never really that far from the sea (well compared to some places in the world), but in a different way I think I was as far from the sea as I could have been. Anywhere in England, you only have to drive for a short time to get to the sea, much the same as in Nova Scotia. Yet, I find that my attitude towards the sea has completely changed since moving here.
Back in England, where I lived for the first 18 years of my life, I can't say I ever thought about the sea. Sure, we had holidays spent at various beaches, or ferried across to France, but I never thought of the sea as more than a place to swim, or a mode of transport. Coming to Nova Scotia has opened my eyes. Living on the waterfront (or close enough), visiting fossil beaches, visiting Peggy's Cove, doing all sorts of watersports, meeting people whose lives are based around the sea... Even noticing the different tide levels of the Cornwallis River as I passed it daily over the summer. Living in a Maritime community really does give opportunity to think outside the box.
The ocean is much more than just a vacation spot, or a way to travel. It's a way of life.
Back in England, where I lived for the first 18 years of my life, I can't say I ever thought about the sea. Sure, we had holidays spent at various beaches, or ferried across to France, but I never thought of the sea as more than a place to swim, or a mode of transport. Coming to Nova Scotia has opened my eyes. Living on the waterfront (or close enough), visiting fossil beaches, visiting Peggy's Cove, doing all sorts of watersports, meeting people whose lives are based around the sea... Even noticing the different tide levels of the Cornwallis River as I passed it daily over the summer. Living in a Maritime community really does give opportunity to think outside the box.
The ocean is much more than just a vacation spot, or a way to travel. It's a way of life.
Two Different Uses - Collide or Coexist?
A recent story that ties in with something I was thinking about in class a while ago.... We have many uses for the oceans, but do they all coexist? For example, I wouldn't want fishermen hauling trawlers and leaving long-lines anywhere near where my ocean cruise was to run through. Florida is having an issue with this - an ocean industry and ocean recreation collision.
When I think of Florida, I think of beaches. Parks and sports based around water. Swimming, tanning, etc. Oil slicks of the petroleum kind don't really mesh with that idea. Florida officials are debating whether building oil rigs just off their coast would be benificial or detrimental to their state.
On the one hand, as just said, industry and recreation of those kinds should be kept separate. Florida is hugely tourism-based. Hotels and resorts abound. Many, many people visit the area. So if there were to be an accident, an oil slick or something similar, how much would that cost? What would the risk be to marine life? How much damage would blasts create?
On the other hand, there is the money. Gas prices soared this past summer. More resources would bring in a lot of money. Sadly, with a lot of people, the attraction of the money outweighs the risks that the oil rigs could bring.
Personally, I think that investing in more non-renewable resources is a mistake. We should devote the money it would cost to develop these rigs to coming up with viable alternatives and using them. Alternatives that would not pose huge threats to life (human and marine) if something was to go wrong. Alternatives that are cleaner, that would not produce waste that harms our already-wounded environment.
Clearly, industry and tourism do not mix. A small mistake on the industry side could lead to a huge disaster on the tourism side. Likewise, humans being too close to things they do not understand, or cannot control, is never a good idea. Like on our oceans, these things should be kept apart as much as possible.
For more info on the Florida debate visit
http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/tourism/article836896.ece
When I think of Florida, I think of beaches. Parks and sports based around water. Swimming, tanning, etc. Oil slicks of the petroleum kind don't really mesh with that idea. Florida officials are debating whether building oil rigs just off their coast would be benificial or detrimental to their state.
On the one hand, as just said, industry and recreation of those kinds should be kept separate. Florida is hugely tourism-based. Hotels and resorts abound. Many, many people visit the area. So if there were to be an accident, an oil slick or something similar, how much would that cost? What would the risk be to marine life? How much damage would blasts create?
On the other hand, there is the money. Gas prices soared this past summer. More resources would bring in a lot of money. Sadly, with a lot of people, the attraction of the money outweighs the risks that the oil rigs could bring.
Personally, I think that investing in more non-renewable resources is a mistake. We should devote the money it would cost to develop these rigs to coming up with viable alternatives and using them. Alternatives that would not pose huge threats to life (human and marine) if something was to go wrong. Alternatives that are cleaner, that would not produce waste that harms our already-wounded environment.
Clearly, industry and tourism do not mix. A small mistake on the industry side could lead to a huge disaster on the tourism side. Likewise, humans being too close to things they do not understand, or cannot control, is never a good idea. Like on our oceans, these things should be kept apart as much as possible.
For more info on the Florida debate visit
http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/tourism/article836896.ece
Not Just A Human Infestation....
It's a good thing that I am doing this blog.... research into ocean news stories and issues has definitely opened my eyes already! For insance, I did not know that fish can have lice?! It seems so strange to me. But a headline caught my attention...the lice are the source of a huge scandal on the West Coast.
The amount of lice recorded at a BC fish farm has decreased, but a scientist claims that the lice are still having an effect - almost driving the local salmon population to extinction! Scientist Alexandra Morton is using this information to try to switch the responsibility of the fisheries from provincial to governmental control, claiming that the government has guidelines and procedures in place already that BC does not. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans may be able to put an end to the lice infestations that are playing havoc on the multi-million dollar industry. However, Morton may have a fight on her hands....
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=2d6228d2-5940-42ca-abbf-8b9c9bb73dfc
The amount of lice recorded at a BC fish farm has decreased, but a scientist claims that the lice are still having an effect - almost driving the local salmon population to extinction! Scientist Alexandra Morton is using this information to try to switch the responsibility of the fisheries from provincial to governmental control, claiming that the government has guidelines and procedures in place already that BC does not. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans may be able to put an end to the lice infestations that are playing havoc on the multi-million dollar industry. However, Morton may have a fight on her hands....
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=2d6228d2-5940-42ca-abbf-8b9c9bb73dfc
Noisier Ocean Environment!
I'll admit that I'm not the most educated on matters concerning global warming. I know the basics, but I recognize that that's not enough. Whilst browsing the net, I found some articles that gave me a little more knowledge...and a bit of a shock!
Firstly, I found an article on Arctic Ice. Apparently, these last few years have seen record lows in the amount of ice coverage at the Pole. Scary thought, but it's to be expected really...the ocean is being heated more than ever. The changes brought by global warming are showing themselves here.
A second article I found showed another change brought by global warming. One which an uneducated mind would never have expected! Not only are we heating the oceans, but we're making it noisier for the mammals and ocean creatures. If someone told me that, I would expect that the noise was solely due to increased activity on the waves. This time a century ago, there were fewer reasons to be on the oceans, and less need for it. Today, we have offshore oil rigs, huge fishing vessels, commercial and vacational monsters, communications lines... So it would be expected that there would an increase in noise reaching the ocean creatures. Makes sense to me. But, scientists have found that as well as this increased ocean usage, global warming is also making it noisier for the creatures. I would never have made this connection! But it has been researched - global warming creates an increased-acidic ocean. I guess this ties in with acid rain. But apparently, the increased acid makes it easier for sounds to travel underwater. Making our noise travel further and faster. We're not only making it difficult to survive underwater (I'm sure a change in acidity must kill or maim some of the ocean creatures) but we're making it unlivable as well......
It makes me wonder what other unbelievable affects we are having on this world.
Sounds Travel Farther Underwater As World's Oceans Become More Acidic http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080929144116.htm
Arctic Sea Ice Hits Second-lowest Recorded Extent, Likely Lowest Volume
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081002172436.htm
Firstly, I found an article on Arctic Ice. Apparently, these last few years have seen record lows in the amount of ice coverage at the Pole. Scary thought, but it's to be expected really...the ocean is being heated more than ever. The changes brought by global warming are showing themselves here.
A second article I found showed another change brought by global warming. One which an uneducated mind would never have expected! Not only are we heating the oceans, but we're making it noisier for the mammals and ocean creatures. If someone told me that, I would expect that the noise was solely due to increased activity on the waves. This time a century ago, there were fewer reasons to be on the oceans, and less need for it. Today, we have offshore oil rigs, huge fishing vessels, commercial and vacational monsters, communications lines... So it would be expected that there would an increase in noise reaching the ocean creatures. Makes sense to me. But, scientists have found that as well as this increased ocean usage, global warming is also making it noisier for the creatures. I would never have made this connection! But it has been researched - global warming creates an increased-acidic ocean. I guess this ties in with acid rain. But apparently, the increased acid makes it easier for sounds to travel underwater. Making our noise travel further and faster. We're not only making it difficult to survive underwater (I'm sure a change in acidity must kill or maim some of the ocean creatures) but we're making it unlivable as well......
It makes me wonder what other unbelievable affects we are having on this world.
Sounds Travel Farther Underwater As World's Oceans Become More Acidic http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080929144116.htm
Arctic Sea Ice Hits Second-lowest Recorded Extent, Likely Lowest Volume
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081002172436.htm
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Old Ships Saving Lives....
It's strange to think that on a planet covered around 70% by water, there are people who do not get enough to drink. Many people, especially in third-world countries, die because of this. The problem is that our sea-water needs to be de-salinized before it is fit to be drinking water. I found a recent news article that shed a little light on how the salt can be easily removed from sea water - apparently, ships such as those used by the US Navy have their own ways to do this. I've never thought about this before, but makes sense - sailors are at sea for long periods of time, and it's not always easy to accomodate all the necessities for a 'normal' way of life. It's not really sensible for them to store away gallons of fresh water, along with food and supplies. So they make their own.
The news article also explained how, after a while, these ships are retired from use. Whilst decommisioning the ships saves money, it means the ships are a literal waste of space, just cluttering up warehouses. They could be put to use. I like to recycle cans of soda...but wouldn't recycling these old ships (or just parts of them) be even more helpful to our planet? The de-salinization equipment could be sent to parts of the world where fresh water is needed. These old ships could save many lives.....
To read more, visit From Mothballs to Mobilization http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080930135307.htm
The news article also explained how, after a while, these ships are retired from use. Whilst decommisioning the ships saves money, it means the ships are a literal waste of space, just cluttering up warehouses. They could be put to use. I like to recycle cans of soda...but wouldn't recycling these old ships (or just parts of them) be even more helpful to our planet? The de-salinization equipment could be sent to parts of the world where fresh water is needed. These old ships could save many lives.....
To read more, visit From Mothballs to Mobilization http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080930135307.htm
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