The Beacon

Oceana’s blog about the latest ocean news, policy and science.

Fish Could Lose Their Friends Thanks to Ocean Acidification

Posted Wed, Jul 9, 2014 by Emily Tripp to carbon dioxide, fish schools, ocean acidification, tropical damselfish

Tropical damselfish (Chromis viridis) (Photo: Paul Asman and Jill Lenoble / Flickr Creative Commons)

Climate change is going to leave some fish feeling very lonely in the coming years, as new research shows that increasing carbon dioxide levels prevent them from recognizing their friends.

Chilean Devil Ray Found to be One of Oceans' Deepest Divers

Posted Wed, Jul 9, 2014 by Brianna Elliott to chilean devil ray, Portugal’s Azores islands, sharks and rays

A devil ray from the Mobula genus, which include Chilean devil rays. (Photo: Matthew Paulson / Flickr Creative Commons)

Last week, a new study revealed Chilean devil rays to be some of the oceans' deepest-divers, often taking dives deeper than a mile under the water's surface. The rays' physiology hinted at this discovery, since they do have a retia mirabilia—an organ found in other deep-divers like great white sharks. Following the study's findings, Oceana in Europe's Angela Pauly took a close look at the Chilean devil ray. This blog first appeared on Oceana in Europe's blog.

Ocean News: Japan Confirms Plans for 2015 Whale Hunt, Judge Says Seismic Research off New Jersey Can Continue, and More

Posted Wed, Jul 9, 2014 by Brianna Elliott to japanese whaling, SAR11, seismic research, snapping shrimp, whale stranding

A minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), one of the species caught during Japan’s whale hunt. (Photo: Tom Benson / Flickr Creative Commons)

- Despite a ruling by the UN’s International Court of Justice to halt whaling practices, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe confirmed this week that its annual whale hunt will continue in 2015. Japan continues to claim that the Southern Ocean annual whale hunt is for research purposes. The Dodo

Number of Slain Environmental Activists Grew Over Past Decade, Report Finds

Posted Tue, Jul 8, 2014 by Brianna Elliott to environmental activist deaths, environmental activists, natural resources

Protestors rally to protect the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. (Photo: Stephen Hass / Flickr Creative Commons)

More people are standing up for their land, water, and other natural resources as they become increasingly exploited, but not without consequences. A recent report found that murders of environmental activists have surged over the past decade—totaling 908 documented deaths in 35 countries.

Video: Disco Clam Lights up the Sea Floor

Posted Tue, Jul 8, 2014 by Madeleine Simon to bivalves, disco clam, lights, pacific ocean, seafloor

Disco Clam (Ctenoides ales). (Photo: Flickr Creative Commons / Jayvee Fernandez)

The vast ocean can appear foreboding and intimidating, but one little bivalve is lighting things up on the seafloor. The appropriately-named “disco clam” is a small mollusk that’s able to flash an array of neon lights from its lips.

Ocean News: Nicaragua Approves Massive Shipping Canal, Walking Fish Make Annual Appearance, and More

Posted Tue, Jul 8, 2014 by Brianna Elliott to coastal winds, grunion, Gulf of Maine shrimp fishery, Nicaragua shipping channel, shrimp fishery

A female grunion depositing eggs during their annual spring run. (Photo: Sahadeva Hammari / Flickr Creative Commons)

- Yesterday, Nicaragua approved a proposed route for a $40 billion shipping channel across the country that will compete with the Panama Canal. The channel, which will traverse Central America’s largest lake, will undergo environmental and social impact studies this year. Reuters

Global Issue of Marine Plastics is Gathering Significant Media Attention

Posted Mon, Jul 7, 2014 by Madeleine Simon to marine debris, marine plastics media coverage, ocean plastics, our ocean media coverage

Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) nearing a plastic bag. (Photo: Flickr Creative Commons / Bag Monster)

From the straws in your fountain drink to the soles of our shoes, plastics are a part of our daily lives, and we’re surrounded by them without often realizing it. Unfortunately, as plastic waste makes its way from our households to our oceans, fish and other marine organisms are not only surrounded by plastics too, but ingesting it.

Ocean News: Scientists Sound Alarm Over Shark Cull Program, Fabien Cousteau Returns from Underwater Mission, and More

Posted Sun, Jul 6, 2014 by Brianna Elliott to eez, fabien cousteau, mantis shrimp, sharks, western australia shark cull

A tiger shark (Galeocardo cuvier). (Photo: Willy Volk / Flickr Creative Commons)

- An international group of 301 scientists submitted a letter to Western Australia's Environmental Protection Authority expressing concern over the controversial shark cull program, saying it could effect the ecology of the oceans. The program caught 172 sharks during its trial period this past spring. The Guardian

Ocean News: National Aquarium Launches Sustainable Seafood Program, Seahorses Can Growl, and More

Posted Fri, Jul 4, 2014 by Brianna Elliott to Australian snubfin dolphin, halibut, humpback dolphin, National Aquarium, seahorses

Pacific seahorse (Hippocampus ingens) around the Galapagos Islands. (Photo: Flickr Creative Commons / Peter Liu Photography)

- The National Aquarium launched a Sustainable Seafood Program earlier this week. The program will enhance seafood education, foster links between local fishermen and local markets, and improve opportunities for restaurants to serve local seafood. The Baltimore Sun

Oceana Launches Underwater ReefCam in the Caribbean

Posted Thu, Jul 3, 2014 by Madeleine Simon to coral reef communities, coral reef footage, near-shore reefs, reefcam, St. Thomas coral reefs

Reef community (Photo: Oceana / Eduardo Sorensen)

Want to stay connected to the underwater world even when you’re not out diving or at the beach? Now you can catch a glimpse of coral reef communities all day long with Oceana’s new ReefCam. Through a partnership with the University of the Virgin Islands Center for Marine and Environmental Studies, Oceana has launched live-feed video footage that captures marine animals as they swim and forage around near-shore reefs off of St. Thomas.

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The Beacon

Fish Could Lose Their Friends Thanks to Ocean Acidification

Chilean Devil Ray Found to be One of Oceans' Deepest Divers

Ocean News: Japan Confirms Plans for 2015 Whale Hunt, Judge Says Seismic Research off New Jersey Can Continue, and More

Number of Slain Environmental Activists Grew Over Past Decade, Report Finds

Video: Disco Clam Lights up the Sea Floor

Ocean News: Nicaragua Approves Massive Shipping Canal, Walking Fish Make Annual Appearance, and More

Global Issue of Marine Plastics is Gathering Significant Media Attention

Ocean News: Scientists Sound Alarm Over Shark Cull Program, Fabien Cousteau Returns from Underwater Mission, and More

Ocean News: National Aquarium Launches Sustainable Seafood Program, Seahorses Can Growl, and More

Oceana Launches Underwater ReefCam in the Caribbean

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