Apologies!

Of the huge variety! I know its been over a year since I've posted and one or two of you have told me off. Just been so busy with the other blog and setting up the first few articles, that this has unfortunately slipped. Promise that this will change! New posts to follow! In the meantime, check out this new footage of a Magnapinna squid which has been taken by an ROV. Beauty ain't she? It's species like this which make me love the ocean. It's something you would expect to see in an 80's horror movie, not in the depths of our own seas.

The video is available here with further details about the creature: http://deepseanews.com/2013/11/an-amazing-image-of-the-elusive-big-fin-squid/ (again its a copy and paste job. i have GOT to get this fixed!)

100 is the loneliest number since the number 1...

100. Actually, fewer than 100. That is the estimated number of adult cod left in the North Sea. I have been going on about overfishing for some time now, as have most marine scientists, but these new numbers are very scary. Scientists have been analysing Cod catch in fishing ports across Europe and discovered the numbers low. Not a single Cod over the age of 13 was found and considering these creatures can live up to 25 years old, this is alarming. 260,000 tons of Cod had been recorded back in 1971, but our appetite for them has been such, that numbers have declined dramatically. Last year, it was thought that there were only 600 cod in the North Sea aged between 12 and 13 - 200 of these had been caught. Without being able to reach certain ages and sizes, reproduction will decline leading to an overall decline. It also upsets the food chain; scampi are said to be on the rise. It has been suggested by the Chief Exec. of the NFFO (the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations), Barrie Deas, that "The most effective measure in rebuilding fish stocks seems to be removing vessels from service by paying owners to decommission them.” But this will no doubt cause more arguments and more problems. Plus, after all the campaigning, people are still scoffing Cod. Maybe I sound too defeatist, but this news has given me one thought only; maybe it is time we accept it; cod is going to become extinct within the next decade.

Sea Dragons

Apparently, a lot of people have heard of this glorious creature before, but it is new to me! I wanted to post a few pictures of the 'Blue Dragon', a.k.a Glaucus atlanticus. It is a sea slug, a mollusc from the Glaucidae family. They are a small, pelagic nudibranch, only reaching up to 3cm, which is found in warmer, tropical waters. The slug actually floats upside down on the surface of the water due to an air-filled sac it has inside its stomach. It also has a very interesting diet. Because it has an immunity to the stings, Glaucus atlanticus can actual feed on some very large, venomous creatures, including the Portugguese Man O'War (Physalia physalis), the Blue Button (Porpita porpita) and the violet snail (Janthina janthina). One of the main reasons why this sea slug is so spectacular though, is its appearance. The following photos show you just why this creature gets its nick name, what an exquisite organism.

Underwater cassanova's....

delay before returning to normal swimming speeds after sexual intercourse. This is actually a bit of an issue for the squids as the Australian cephalopods only live around a year, during which, they mate with a lot of partners. The squid’s speeds are actually reduced by as much as half after they have finished having sex and the act itself is no mean feat either. The male squid will 'catch' his female and will have to physically restrain her during intercourse; which can last up to 3 hours. Intercourse for both squids can be exhausting, although the males will show a lot of activity. They will change colour frequently during sex and will squirt a lot of ink and water, the latter of which will be into the female’s mantle. Naturally, even reading this sounds exhausting and the squids certainly find it so. The Dumpling Squid will not return to its full speed capacity for around half an hour after the intercourse is over. This is another fascinating insight into cephalopod mating, as scientists have discovered many of the species have interesting such as same-sex mating and sexual cannibalism. Long sex sessions have been noticed many times in squid species, so it is unsurprising that the Dumpling Squid also has a lengthy session.

When two become one...

In Moreton Bay, Australia, two groups of Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops species) have lived separately; living in different areas and barely communicating. They were once thought to be members of the same pod; however something caused them to separate into two. This however, has recently all changed, after a ban on trawlers in the areas. The ban has led to a 50% reduction of fishing in the bay and a huge change on the dolphin pods. They have, in fact, united to become one large pod. This is an interesting development for the dolphins, but it is important to remember that these dolphins do live in a fluid society, also known as 'fission-fusion'. They form and divide into various groups, so it will be interesting to see how long this large group lasts or whether they will divide back into smaller groups and if they do, whether it will be the same dolphins breaking off. Dolphins are a very social animal who use both sound (up to 30 different vocalisations) and body language to communicate. Pods will generally interact with each other, sometimes for social reasons, such as breeding. However, they do not always communicate for friendly reasons. Sometimes pods will fight or even attack each other sexually. It is interesting that the dolphin’s behaviour changed after fishing was reduced and no doubt further investigation into this will take place. If it is found that less fishing has a positive impact on these mammals, it is likely that this will be used in the fight to expand no fishing zones throughout the world.

Woo!

It's been quite a while since my last post, but just a quick update today! The 2 little beaches I applied for have gone through! Still got all the form filling in to do, but hopefully after that I'll be doing my bit! Anyone else done any beach cleans?

I've applied to make a difference!

Good news this week for Bottlenose dolphins as two groups unite after a ban on fishing boats. In a previous post, I talked about the MCS beach cleans. Well, for me, they have just become more relevant.

Today I took our gorgeous dog, Lexus, for our first swim of the year off a tiny beach just outside our house. This beach really is weeny, but it is surrounded by houses and a main car park. The other side of the carpark is another tiny beach which has a busy pub right next to it. Both these beaches, which are within a 1 minute walk from my front door, often have small boats moored up as they are right in the middle of the Fal estuary. I have noticed many times they are littered with rubbish; wrappers, plastic, glass etc, but today this really hit home when me and Lex were swimming.

So what am I going to do about it? Well, I have just sent an application to the MCS to either adopt these beaches or become the Beachwatch Organiser for both! This would mean that I would have to organise year round beach cleans to ensure all the rubbish is removed and they are kept clean and tidy - just how me and Lex like it!

Wish me luck!

Happy Easter!

Beach cleans!

Beach Cleans; an excellent way for the local community to put all hands on deck and help out our marine environment. Not been part of a beach clean? Not even sure what a beach clean is? Well, keep reading to find out and maybe you can go along to help out keep our seas clean and tidy!

The beach cleans have been set up by the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) and the idea is that people adopt their local beach and basically look after it! The organised beach cleans are an opportunity to get a community of people together to clean up their local beaches and get the rubbish out of the area and disposed of properly.

By regularly dealing with some of teh rubbish that rolls up on our shores, we can start to reduce the amount of waste in our oceans. Of course, the best way to prevent rubbish in our seas is to stop dropping it! However, until that point, cleaning up our mess is the first best step.

To take part in a beach clean or even organise your own, check out the MCS website! The link below takes you straight to the MCS website, who are currently organizing a Big Beach Clean Up from 11th - 13th May. By registeraing to take part, you can also get £5 off your next M&S shop over £25!

OTEC

Back in university, I looked into a process called Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion, or OTEC. This process, in my opinion, is pretty incredible and not only does it provide renewable energy, but one of its by-products is fresh water. It has an initial expensive insertion cost, but apart from that is relatively cheap to run and is pretty much guaranteed. I strongly believe it should be further researched and taken seriously as a renewable energy source.

So what is OTEC?

As I have already mentioned, OTEC means 'Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion'. Is laments terms, this is a process which uses the thermocline to produce energy. In the sea, the water column has varying temperatures. The bottom of the water column will be cooler than the water at the top. OTEC uses this variation in temperature to produce electricity.

The idea of OTEC is by no means a recent one. It was first proposed in the 1880s by a French physicist, D'Arsonval. However it was a student of his, Georges Claude, whom built the first OTEC plant in Cuba, which produced around 20kW of electricity. Today, there are various governments around the world who are heavily researching and testing the technology, with Hawaii leading the way.

Okay, so how does it work?

Well, I am not going to get too complicated. I know that most people who read my blog aren't scientists and nor am I, so I will keep it pretty simple!

There are two types of OTEC systems; open cycle and closed cycle. Closed cycle OTEC uses a rotating turbine, powered by a type of fluid (i.e, ammonia, as it has a low boiling point). This fluid will be vaporized by warm seawater being pumped through a heat exchanger. At the same time, another heat exchanger will have cold water flowed through it, which will condense the vapour into liquid. This will all be recycled. Still with me? The diagram below may help! (Borrowed from the NREL website, many thanks to them)

Open Cycle OTEC works a little differently. This cycle works without a fluid and uses warm surface water. This is poured into a low pressure container, which causes it to boil, causing the steam to have the ability to power a turbine which can is linked up to a generator. This is an excellent way or doing it, because the salt will have been left behind in the container, along with any other water contaminants, which means is produces a by-product of clean water. Clean water, which is suitable for drinking. Imagine all those who could benefit from this?

Both of these cycles can be combined, to form a sort of hybrid. This uses ammonia, but will also produce fresh water.

Another good point about an OTEC system is that it can be built at various locations; land based, shelf based and floating versions have all been built. a floating plant is currently running off the coast of India.

So far so good, right?

Alright, what are the cons of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion?

Well, I'll do a table of both pros and cons, because I haven't actually mentioned all the pros so far:

PROS

- It's completely clean. OTEC does not pollute air, land or sea.
- It's reliable. Unlike wind energy, it is always there.
- A by-product is fresh water
- A plant can double up as a good artificial reef
- It can provide air conditioning!
- As mentioned, it can be built at various sites

CONS

- It can be costly. This is its biggest problem. Construction can be pricey so can transporting the electricity and the clean water.
- It still needs research. Again, this costs money.
- Not many people know about it

So far, those are the only cons I have come across. This is why the fact that we are not using seems so insane to me. We need our governments to push further with this. Our current energy resources are finite. And with a world getting busier every day, we need to search further afield to keep ourselves afloat. We need more research into OTEC and to discover economical ways of getting the energy transported out. We can't let this just slip by!

Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink..

So this week we have been told that, despite it only being March, we are facing a water ban. Currently set at a hosepipe ban, however some "experts" are predicting we may face furthers restrictions.

We are being told that this is due to rain shortage and the fact that water companies don't know how use the snow which fell only very recently. The papers also printed pictures of rivers across the U.K which have run dry. Some people reacted with outrage; how much water is being used for the Olympic stadiums? What are water companies doing to prevent the leakages they encounter from which masses amounts of water seeps? How come countries across the world, mainly Europe, don't suffer from the same situation?

Well, I can't answer the first 2 questions, but with regards to the latter, it seems that countries all over the world are encountering low water resources. The EEA (European Environmental Agency) has admitted that pressure is mounting and it has called for further legislation on water usage to prevent further wastage.

Many are blaming dry seasons for our water shortage, but personally, I don't think this is the main cause. Our population is dramatically increasing and this will automatically lead to a greater water usage. And it's good to remember; it's not just our water which will be lost, but our fish stocks will suffer too - less water will ultimately mean less fish. Something which we are already struggling with.

So how does a government tackle this problem? What suffers through lack of water? If harsher restrictions are placed upon water usage, there are bound to be businesses that will suffer, should a country already in huge financial trouble be entertaining this idea? Are we REALLY using everything to our advantage? The technology we have available could lead to some relief on our resources, so why are some of these technologies still being ignored? Why hasn't reverse osmosis been pushed further? And there is Ocean Thermal Energy conversion (OTEC) which is, in my eyes, an incredible invention. It could lead to a reliable source of renewable energy AND fresh water as a by-product.

So why are we still ignoring it?

More doom and gloom?

When I look over this blog, very little of it appears pleasant. A large proportion of it sounds like doomsday warnings - our oceans are getting worse and we are going to suffer.

Well, why stop that now? A new report has come out which sounds fairly terrifying - scientists are claiming there is a possibility the oceans may run out of oxygen. Hmm.

Our oceans are developing areas called 'dead zones'. These are areas which have lost oxygen, and therefore the organisms living in that area, sadly die out. It is thought that around 15% of our oceans are currently labelled dead zones, but scientists have so far been unsure whether global warming is having any effect on the oxygenation of the water. However, new research suggests that there may be a link between the two. In fact, it’s even more worrying than that, because scientists have determined that speed is a factor in oxygen decrease as well. Therefore, the faster the ocean warms, the larger the zone of deoxygenation, meaning that the impact of global warming could be even more devastating that we already thought.

So more scary news about our big blue. Maybe I should stick to posting cute sea animals instead?

Otterly gorgeous!

Just a picture to warm you up during the cold winter weather!

A change in the sea air?

So it seems that after recent discoveries about how Tuna and Shark are being fished, those in charge are finally stepping up their game! The ICCAT (International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas) are going to start monitoring Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus) using a new method - an "electronic catch documentation scheme". The scheme is thought to be a way of enforcing fisheries to be honest about their catches. It was discovered that last year and extra 140% of Bluefin tuna was sold throughout the world than was actually declared, a worrying statistic. The ICCAT hope that this new electronic method will reduce the amount of illegal fish entering the market.

The announcement came during a meeting in Turkey, held by government officials. During the meeting, Silky sharks (Carcharhinus falciformis) were also given extra protection and a minimum legal size for Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) was also decided. It was announced that in 2013, the future of Swordfish will be bought into central focus.

meetings such as these are a positive outlook for our seas. With constant bad news and fear shrouding our oceans, it is good to hear that finally important steps are being taken. Though these steps may be small, it's a start at least....

Crabtastic

New research from the 13th Congress of the European Society for Evolutionary Biology has been looking into mating processes used by crabs. Researchers created large robotic crab claws and set about waving them at nearby females, concentrating on the fiddler crab Uca mjoebergi. It was noted that female would eventually be drawn to the 'erotic' dancing. Male crabs will stand outside their burrows circling their claws to attract the ladies. If a female is interested, she will move closer, then hop down into the males burrows for some private time.

The species has a bright yellow claw to make it more attractive and stand out. However, not only are crab claws used to mating but also for fighting and protection. In fact, it has been noted that some larger crabs will actually go to the defence of their smaller male counterparts if an intruder is trying to 'pinch' their burrow. This is strange behaviour in a world of competition, but this new study hopes to discover the real reason behind it. The scientists believe that there is a possibility the larger males protect the smaller as it may help their mating success having lesser-sized males about.

Get oceanwise!

Just a quickie today, although I am aware I need to get on with the next Otter instalment as people have told me!

Today I'm just posting a link from Sympatico - a sort of Canadian MSN (Many thanks to Sympatico!). The link discusses, once again, fishies that are okay to eat and those to avoid. It also has a link to an iphone app which should help with day-to-day buying and where to buy. The app has been created by Vancouver Aquarium whom are currently aiming to encourage sustainable eating. The best bit it; they've made a cookbook. Available to buy through amazon and the aquarium direct, the book contains information on different fish, what the tastiest cuts are and how to prepare them to ensure you get good meals. What could be better?

Happy Nomming!

http://lifestyle.sympatico.ca/FoodandEntertaining/articles/oceanwise_fish.htm

Channel 4's Big Fish Fight

I’m sure anyone interested caught the weeks programs that were available recently by Channel 4. They are currently running a campaign to sort out our oceans before it is too late. All programs are available to watch on 4od and they make fascinating viewing. With cookery programs looking at ways to cook sustainable fish (maybe don’t try Heston's recipes unless you have liquid nitrogen available) as well as documentaries delving deep into what is really going on in worldwide fishing industries. Channel 4 is not the only one starting to talk this issue, as the recent Bruce Parry program also looked into fishing in Alaska, which *claims* to be completely sustainable. That program is also available on bbc iplayer, so have a watch and see if you agree with their claims. It is fantastic that these broadcasters are now brining these issues to light and letting the average man know what is happening out there, so take a look and try to pick up on their tips and ideas.

Anyone who is aware of my feelings will know that I don’t agree with persecuting fishermen. Their job is incredibly hard, so we must focus on how to manage sustainable fishing hand-in-hand with fishermen to ensure a safe future for our fish, for our fishermen and for us. Without healthy activity in our world’s oceans we would not be alive so we must all work together to ensure our seas future is a happy one.

To see the programs or read more, go to channel 4's website:

http://www.channel4.com/4food/the-big-fish-fight

To join the fight, head here:

http://www.fishfight.net

Otters - part deux

So! It's been a long time since I last posted, over 6 months! But I promise to start updating regularly, as I have had some people ask where I've been, so I apologise.

So in this second part I am going to look at pollution - mainly oil spills, and the impact they are causing on otter numbers.

Oil spills are now considered the most significant threat to sea otters. They are very dangerous because the otter fur becomes matted and problematic; losing is properties - insulation and its ability to retain heat. Oil can cling and cause suffocation and can prevent the otter’s ability to float. Eventually, if the problem isn’t rectified, the otter will die due to low temperatures. Oil can also cause problems internally. If oil particles are in the water column, then the otters may unknowingly consume them. There is also a risk of this if the oil has been consumed by any food that the otter consumes. If the oil particles get into an otters lungs, liver or digestive system, it can cause grave damage.

Oil spills are often an issue in the marine world, with big spillages causing miles worth of damages to our oceans. We have seen many spillages and the damage it can do to all the marine species, and it can wipe out many numbers of creatures. Oil spills can leave behind very long periods of destruction. Scientists say that the Exxon Valdez oil spill is still causing problems to otters over 10 years on. Research has shown that numbers still haven’t regained to their full amount since the spill and otters were still dying due to factors the spill had produced.

In the last 10 years, scientists monitoring otter populations have noticed a decrease in numbers in certain areas. Many claim this is not due to a slow birth-rate but a high mortality rate, and the killer it seems, is the amount of toxins which are coming from the local coasts and running into the water. The problem with these toxins, is they may not always be the primary reason why the otter dies. Sometimes, a toxin can get into the system and lower or even destroy an otters immune system, so it dies or bacteria, parasite or disease that it contracts. If this cause is highly infectious then it can spread very quickly and all otters affected will not be able to combat it. In America, the parasite Toxoplasma gondii which tends to affect cats has been found in dead otters along the coast. This parasite is passed on through the faeces of the cat, and the fear is that waste dumped at sea or the coast which contains cat faeces with this parasite present is now starting to affect the otters through their food; mainly made up of mollusca. It isn’t just America who are finding that their otters are starting to display diseases which come from inland. Otters whom live amongst kelp forests are also at risk as inland pathogens are being found there, as well as in the otter systems. Otters are vital to the management of kelp forests, so scientists are trying to act to protect them in case the whole habitat collapses. River otters can also run into problems with pollution from the land. Giant River Otter's suffer from run off of local mines which effects the water going into the river. This then gets into the otter's systems and causes issues.

What can you do?

There is very little you can do about oil spills, however should one occur, you can volunteer to help with the clean up as it is often a huge job which will need lots of hands on deck. You can also ensure that you never release any rubbish or toxins into the sea, water or any bodies of water which may contain animals. You can also contact any of the organizations on the previous post whom help otters as they can direct you where to help out. Should there be any places or issues that you know about, try and raise awareness to get water pollution stopped, or lobby the government to change their ways and try to save all our species, not just the otters. Although it is very difficult, you can research the eco value of the products you buy. Many household and beauty products are part of the reason why our ecosystem suffers, so try to buy economically friendly products which try to help the environment, not cause it to suffer.

Totters!

I'm writing this post because the plight of Otters is something that is recently starting to weigh heavily on my mind. They are my favourite animal so I think that people should understand how they are suffering. Im going to write it as a 3-parter as it is an extensive subject.

Who doesn't love Otters? They are so important to us and iconic of our wildlife so..why are they starting to become endangered? Otters are very important to the ecosystem. They tend to catch sick, slow or injured fish and help to keep over-population of fish down. Not only that but they are very iconic and EXTREMELY cute so why would we want to hurt them? They face many problems in the wild such as hunting, lack of food, destruction of habitats and oil spills.

There are 13 species of Otters;

Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra)
Cape Clawless otter (Aonyx capensis)
Asian small clawed otter (Aonyx cinerea)
Sea otter (Enhydra lutris)
Marine otter (Lontra felina)
Neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis)
Spotted necked otter (Lutra maculicollis)
Giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis)
Southern river otter(Lontra provocax)
American river otter (Lontra canadensis)
Smooth coated otter (Lutragale perspicillata)
Hairy nosed otter (Lutra sumatrana)
Congo otter (Aonyx congicus)

and all are now finding thier names creeping onto the threatened and endangered lists - 85% of all otters in serious danger. There are many contributing factors and Im going to concentrate on what I think are the most important.

It is important to remember that Otters do not reproduce very often. They tend to partner for life, living in family units with a female and male partnership in charge, however the breeding female is the ultimate boss. Otters will tend to produce one or two litters a year, of up to about 6 pups at most. Their life span in usually between 10 and 15 years, although there are some older otters on record. This means their population is at a steady growth rate when it has no interference, however it also means that when threatened, population numbers will severely drop.

The first main reason why otters are suffering is hunting. Hunting is generally frowned upon for most animals, however Otters are still regularly hunted all over the world. The reason for this is their fur. Otters have very special fur - it is made up of 2 layers a short under layer for insulation and a longer layer on top which is dense and waterproof. This durable fur is highly sought after to make coats, scarfs, hats and other fur pieces. It is incredible warm and long-lasting.
This hunting has been going on for hundreds of years, and when it first came about, there were many reports on the subject which told of how easy otter hunting was as they were friendly and had no fear of humans. Otters have a naturally curious and playful nature, and many reports recorded tales of otters coming onto shore to actually meet their killers to investigate who they were. The killing was easy as the otters didn’t understand the danger they were walking into, and some of the reports are extremely chilling. One famous report by a traveller in Russia described the gruesome meeting of hunters and Sea Otters as such; "They covered the shore in droves; they would come up to our fires and would not be driven away. They rubbed their noses against the legs of sailors, who immediately bludgeoned them to death". One hunter said "When it receives a vigorous blow upon the head, it falls upon the ground, covers its eyes with its paws, and keeps them so, no matter how many times it is struck."

In the years that have passed, Otters have grown to be more fearful of humans, and thankfully their very sharp teeth and strong jaws, which they use to chomp through bone and shells, they can be a fearsome creature. There are several reports of Otters (Sea) actually killing humans when in packs due to fear and protection, however this is incredibly rare.

Since Otter hunting started in the 1800s, many places have banned hunting and groups have formed to protect them, however it is still continuing, the main problem being that laws aren’t always enforced. Due to our awareness and a drop in the fur trade, hunting has dropped. However, many fashion labels and "gurus" do keep trying to reintroduce fur onto our catwalks and into our shops. Please always be aware of what you are buying and go for faux-fur if you really have to have a piece (fur is expensive and nightmare to care for anyway).

What can you do?

Please, NEVER buy otter fur in any form, as every purchase of it is a reason to go out and kill another otter. If there is no call for the fur, there is no reason for them to be hunted.

You can also help to sponsor otters, donate, keep up to date with information, support any work and sign any petitions in various places in the UK who work for Otters:

http://www.shetlandotters.com
http://www.otter.org
http://www.tamarotters.co.uk
http://www.otternet.com/saving
http://www.sealsanctuary.co.uk/protectotterso.html
Like anything, if you come across otters in the wild please do not disturb them, watch them from a distance. This will help keep both them, and you, safe.

MCS pocket guide

I know I already produced a list of what marine species are okay to eat/not eat, but the MCS have produced many web pages to help people to buy more environmentally smart.

http://www.fishonline.org/buying_eating/purchasing_guide.php
- this page is a purchasing guide which instructs what is best to buy and when.

http://www.fishonline.org/search/simple/
- this page is a basic search engine where you can look up your marine species of choice and find out all the facts you need to know about it, before trotting off to the supermarket.

http://www.fishonline.org/information/faqs/
- this is a page of FAQ's all fully answered with links.

http://www.fishonline.org/information/MCSPocket_Good_Fish_Guide.pdf
- this is the pocket guide for simple information, fast.