Oceans

Posts Tagged ‘oceans’

Marine conservation e-Atlas marks a breakthrough in sharing data to manage the world’s oceans

Posted by admin on October 16th, 2012

The first global inventory of important sites for the conservation of migratory marine species (image: T Martin).

The first global inventory of important sites for the conservation of migratory marine species represents a major contribution to marine conservation and will prove to be a vital resource for meeting the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) target of protecting 10% of marine and coastal areas by 2020. It will also be crucial to the process of describing ecologically or biologically significant marine areas (EBSAs) and will have significant input into the siting of offshore energy infrastructure.

The e-Atlas of Marine Important Bird Areas was launched by BirdLife International at the Eleventh Conference of the Parties (COP11) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), in Hyderabad, India, on 16 October.

The e-Atlas covers 3,000 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) worldwide. It is the result of six years of effort that, to date, has involved around 40 BirdLife Partners, with the world’s leading seabird scientists from inside and outside the BirdLife Partnership, in collaboration with government departments of conservation, environment and fisheries, and the secretariats of several international conventions (CBD, EU Bird’s Directive, Nairobi Convention). Over 150 marine IBAs have already been recognised in the CBD process to identify Ecologically or Biologically Significant marine Areas (EBSAs).

The e-Atlas provides essential information for conservation practitioners and policy makers; for energy sector planners (windfarms, gas and oil exploration and drilling); for fisheries managers; for marine pollution management planners; and for the insurance industry.

Seabirds are now the most threatened group of birds. They present unique conservation problems, since many species travel thousands of kilometres across international waters and multiple Exclusive Economic Zones, and only returning to land to breed.

“Given the vast distances they cover, the long periods they spend at sea and the multiple threats they face there, identifying a network of priority sites for their conservation is vital to ensure their future survival”, said Ben Lascelles, BirdLife’s Global Marine IBA Coordinator.

The e-Atlas provides a model for inventories of areas of conservation importance for other mobile pelagic taxa, such as whales, turtles and sharks. IBAs have been found to capture a large and representative proportion of other biodiversity, providing a reliable and easily monitored way of identifying priorities for conservation. Effective management of IBAs will therefore help conserve a wider range of taxa and habitats. BirdLife has been working through the Global Ocean Biodiversity Initiative (GOBI) to link with other organisations working for the conservation of other marine taxonomic groups.

The e-Atlas represents a breakthrough in the format of BirdLife’s IBA inventories. It will be available exclusively online.

Like a Google Map, the e-atlas will be dynamically updated as new sites are identified and new data about them become available. It will be linked to other BirdLife data resources, including BirdLife’s species accounts, IBA fact sheets and State of the World’s Birds case studies.

“We hope that the e-atlas of marine IBAs will be a key resource for management of the oceans for years to come, and show the wider marine community the benefits that can be achieved when data are shared for conservation purposes”, said Ben Lascelles.

The work of the BirdLife International Secretariat to compile this inventory has been supported via generous contribution from the Lenfest Ocean Program, Boston Environmental, Tilia fund, EU LIFE, Jensen Foundation, Nippon Keidanren, Nairobi Convention, IUCN, Conservation International, Marisla Foundation, David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Canadian Wildlife Service, Wallace Research Foundation, World Seabird Conference.

Oceans Day at Nagoya Today is Oceans Day at the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Conference of Parties meeting…
Protecting marine biodiversity on International Day of Biological Diversity Marine Biodiversity is the theme for this year’s International Day for Biological Diversity, celebrated today….
Satellite Tracking Leads to Compilation of Important Conservation Data A new study on Sooty Shearwaters in the California Current shows the benefit of seabird…

BirdLife Community

Marine Conservation Institute Commends House for Passage of Bipartisan Marine Debris Bill House of Representatives Approves Bill to Address Impacts of Marine Garbage in Nation’s Oceans.

Posted by admin on August 2nd, 2012

Washington, DC (August 1, 2012) – Tonight, the House of Representatives passed the Marine Debris Reauthorization Amendments of 2012 (H.R. 1117), a bill that reauthorizes the existing marine debris program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). With less than 15 staff, the program seeks to address the adverse impacts of trash in the ocean on marine life, beaches, coastal waterways and navigation. The bill was introduced by Rep. Sam Farr (D-CA) and initially cosponsored by Republican Representatives Don Young (R-AK) and Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA). The bill passed the House by a voice vote.

While the bill reauthorizes an existing program, lawmakers, the public, and states have grown increasingly concerned about the daily impact from trash in the ocean and the potential impacts from a pulse of trash swept into the Pacific by the tsunami that hit Japan in 2011. Recently, floatable marine debris from the tsunami has begun to land on American shores, and more is expected. While tsunami debris is a concern, the larger chronic problem is the estimated 14 billion pounds of trash and debris added to the world’s oceans each year. The public has become fascinated with stories about the huge garbage gyre in the Pacific near Hawaii that results from this huge input of trash into the oceans.

According to Michael Gravitz, Director of Policy and Legislation at the Marine Conservation Institute, “The House bill is a good small step in dealing with the global marine trash problem that injures and kills sea life, smothers the bottom, litters our beaches, and hurts our economy. The marine debris program can continue to combat ocean trash, and study ways to prevent it, but with a small staff and less than $ 5 million per year, the program can’t produce miracles”.

He continued, “Almost every week there is a new scientific report finding bits of plastic somewhere else in our oceans or ingested by sea life. Thousands of marine mammals including seals, sea birds, and sea turtles die every year from eating plastic and being entangled in debris. If we want to seriously take on the issue of preventing and reducing marine debris globally and cleaning up from emergencies like the Japanese Tsunami, we’ll have to supplement this current bill with a more strategic and well-funded program.”

About the Marine Conservation Institute
Marine Conservation Institute is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting marine ecosystems. We work with scientists, politicians, government officials and other organizations around the world to fashion sustainable solutions compatible with healthy, living oceans. www.marine-conservation.org

Contact Info: Mike Gravitz, Director of Policy & Legislation
(202) 546-5346
[email protected]
www.marine-conservation.org

Website : Marine Conservation Institute

ENN Network News – ENN

“theBlu” Celebrates World Oceans Day

Posted by admin on June 7th, 2012

Joint Effort Focuses on Empowering a Global Audience to Protect and Preserve the World’s Ocean

VENICE, CA–(Marketwire – Jun 7, 2012) – Today, “theBlu,” the world’s first social digital ocean app, and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, announced a cause collaboration effort to raise awareness and funds for ocean conservation, education and advocacy. The announcement comes on World Oceans Day, June 8, as both organizations work to build greater understanding of the crucial role oceans play in our lives and to identify important ways people can help.

Currently a downloadable app for PC and Mac, theBlu will soon be available on phones, tablets and smart TVs.

theBlu turns the internet into a globally-connected 3D digital ocean wherein every species and habitat is an original work of art created by a worldwide community of artists, animators, students and developers, including Academy Award® winners Andy Jones and Kevin Mack.

Exploring theBlu is as easy as browsing the web and includes information about species, exploration of geo-located habitats, in-ocean tagging of fish, the purchase of species to grow your collection and customize your experience, social activity streams, event and photo sharing, and ocean life, swimming from user to user across the internet, creating real time social interaction.

theBlu enables a connected social exploration across eight ocean habitats, including more than 100 life forms with new habitats and species released monthly, and 15 “ambassador” species, sponsored by non‐profit cause collaborators, to raise awareness and funds for ocean conservation and education.

“I am grateful and honored for the meaningful relationship we have established with the Smithsonian,” said Neville Spiteri, co-founder of theBlu. “theBlu reflects the very special and powerful intersection of art, technology, and social change.”

“The really interesting thing about theBlu is how it brings together the biology, the activism of conservation, the beauty and the artistic elements as well as the grassroots, participatory social media movement. I’m very excited about the possibilities ahead,” said Joichi Ito, director of the MIT Media Lab and advisor to theBlu.

“We believe that ‘theBlu’ is a natural and powerful complement to the Smithsonian Institution’s Ocean Portal,” said Nancy Knowlton, Sant Chair of Marine Science at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. “We’re pleased to be able to expand our reach globally and further our mission to increase the public’s ocean understanding and stewardship.”

World Oceans Day Event

theBlu is holding a global online celebration at theblu.com, in honor of World Oceans Day, Friday, June 8. Entitled, “If You Love The Ocean, Download It!” the event will unite individuals, communities, and organizations all over the world in a globally shared moment celebrating the beauty and significance of the world’s ocean. On June 8, the “Big Blu” whale, created by Academy Award winner Andy Jones (for Avatar), will be seen for the first time, and Ambassador Species sponsored by cause collaborators will be available for purchase.

ABOUT theBlu
“theBlu” is produced by Wemo Media, an entertainment studio based in Venice, Calif., and 2012 winner of the SXSW Accelerator Award for best entertainment start-up. The company was co-founded in 2010 by Neville Spiteri, a media creative executive formerly at EA, Square and Digital Domain, and Scott Yara, a successful repeat entrepreneur and president/cofounder of EMC|Greenplum. The team includes Andy Jones, Academy Award® winner for Avatar, and on the board of advisors, Joichi Ito, Director of MIT’s Media Lab, and Sylvia Earle, Time Magazine’s Hero of the Planet. Additionally, as a global social art and entertainment project, “theBlu” team includes a growing community of artists, animators and developers worldwide.

Marketwire – Environment

World Oceans Day Events at AZA-accredited Aquariums and Zoos Raise…

Posted by admin on May 8th, 2012

Silver Spring, MD (PRWEB) May 08, 2012

The Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) invites the public to dive in to ocean conservation on June 8th, World Oceans Day. As leaders in ocean conservation education and science, AZA-accredited aquariums and zoos are the perfect place to connect with nature and ocean conservation in local communities.

The world’s oceans cover 70% of the Earth’s surface and are facing threats including pollution, habitat damage, overfishing, coral reef bleaching, and species loss. AZA-accredited aquariums and zoos play a critical role in research, education, advocacy, and action to address these threats.

“By participating in the World Oceans Day event at your local AZA-accredited aquarium or zoo, you are helping to support conservation locally and worldwide,” said AZA’s Senior Vice President of Conservation Paul Boyle.

WHO: YOU and your AZA-accredited aquarium and zoo

WHAT: World Oceans Day

WHEN: June 8th, 2012

WHERE: To find the World Oceans Day celebration nearest you, please visit http://www.aza.org/world-oceans-day.

CONTACT: Elise Waugh, AZA

(301) 562-0777 x236

AZA invites families who are passionate about education, and interested in learning more about wildlife conservation, to enter the Rhythm of Conservation Sweepstakes.

From April 1st through June 15th, families can enter the Sweepstakes online at the official Rhythm of Conservation Sweepstakes website and return once daily to enter again and learn about a different animal each day. On the site, visitors may also browse interactive educational activities and lessons about conservation.

About AZA

Founded in 1924, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation. Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting an institution dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation, and your link to helping animals in their native habitats. For more information, please visit http://www.aza.org.

Environment

Helping to better manage the world’s oceans

Posted by admin on May 4th, 2012

Authors:
; World Bank

Publisher:
World Bank, 2012

This brief published by The World Bank presents the sectoral results for sustainable ocean ecosystem management and the Bank’s role in the creation of the Global Partnership for Oceans. It highlights investments between 2007 and 2011 to improve the long term sustainability and health of ocean ecosystems, including by addressing overfishing, pollution, the impacts of climate change and loss of biodiversity.

Environment

IUCN teams up with America’s Cup to protect the world’s oceans

Posted by admin on April 28th, 2012

IUCN is working with the prestigious America’s Cup sailing event to encourage the world to rediscover our oceans and make greater efforts to protect them.

IUCN – News

Oceans Need Mobile Marine Protected Areas

Posted by admin on February 20th, 2012

Designated marine protected areas’ boundaries should be more flexible and more closely follow the movements of nature, according to the latest scientific thoughts.

While marine protection zones are currently fixed, establishing mobile zones that follow the real-life progress of birds and sealife represents a better way of looking after them, says Professor Larry Crowder – a US-based marine biologist – and others.

The scientists’ theory was put forward at the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s Annual Meeting, which began on 16 February and concludes today. Here, they explained how the idea of banning fishing in certain, fixed oceanic areas was out of date and didn’t mirror the dynamic movement of certain types of sealife, especially in response to the effects of climate change.

Mobile Marine Protection

Therefore, new mobile marine protected areas are necessary, they said, and there’s a wealth of animal tracking study data to support this notion. The development of these types of areas could better safeguard the likes of sharks, turtles, albatrosses and more, they added.

“Less than one per cent of the ocean is protected at this point, and these marine parks tend to be built around things that sit still like coral reefs and seamounts”, Professor Crowder explained.

He continued: “But tracking studies show that many, many organisms…respond to oceanographic features that don’t have a fixed point. These features are fronts and eddies that may move seasonally, from summer to winter, and from year-to-year based on oceanographic climate changes like El Nino or the Pacific Decadal Oscillation.”

Protected Ocean Areas

Overall, the scientists are pushing for the adoption of a seasonal approach to creating new protected ocean areas and not one based on geography alone. For example, there’s an area of water in the middle of the Pacific Ocean known as the White Shark Cafe, renowned as a meeting place for great white sharks. This patch is expected to move in years to come and, if a traditional marine protected area had been established, it could fall outside its boundaries.

However, with a mobile marine zone in place, the White Shark Cafe would remain protected. The situation would undeniably limit fishermen in some ways but it’s been pointed out that they’d benefit, too: with rich new trawling areas set to open up as the mobile zones move onto new locations.

“People might say the only way to achieve conservation for some marine life is to protect it everywhere in the ocean”, Crowder added. “But if we know where they move to, we don’t need to close the entire Pacific Ocean, we just need to close this place where they are really concentrated. The time is right for this idea. We are scientifically primed to do it.”

MEDIAmobz Named as Multi-Media Partner to The Economist’s World Oceans Summit

Posted by admin on February 17th, 2012

SAN MATEO, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–MEDIAmobz
announces their selection as Multimedia Partner to the World
Oceans Summit hosted by The Economist on 22, 23 and 24
February 2012 at Capella Singapore. The Economist’s World Oceans Summit
will examine how the increasing activity in and around the oceans can be
managed sustainably and what this means for business and other key
stakeholders.

“The Economist is pleased to be working with MEDIAmobz to bring
this important event to a global audience”

Chaired by John Micklethwait, Editor-in-chief of The Economist, the
summit will bring together more than 200 global leaders from various
sectors and disciplines, including government, business, international
organisations, NGOs, think-tanks and academia to participate in a
unique, outcome-driven dialogue; all captured and committed to
multimedia by MEDIAmobz.

MEDIAmobz is dedicated to the health of the ocean, environmental
sustainability and actively contribute by amplifying messages supporting
these causes through digital storytelling exemplified by the
award-winning Students
Saving the Ocean documentary and many other similar and
successful projects.

“The Economist is pleased to be working with MEDIAmobz to bring
this important event to a global audience,” said Charles Goddard,
Editorial Director, Asia Pacific, Economist Intelligence Unit. “World
Oceans Summit is designed to engage a wide group of
stakeholders—including the business community—in a dialogue about the
future of the oceans and how we use them responsibly, sustainably, with
benefit to all.”

“MEDIAmobz is pleased to be working with The Economist to tell
their digital media story about the World Oceans Conference. It is
critical to increase awareness and support of the economics of ocean
sustainability and we are proud to bring our team and skill to help
amplify this important story,” Dave Toole, Founder & CEO, MEDIAmobz.

The
Economist Group, is the leading source of analysis on
international business and world affairs. What ties us together is the
objectivity of our opinion, the originality of our insight and our
advocacy of economic and political freedom around the world. Our brands
include, The Economist, Economist Intelligence Unit, Intelligent
Life, Eurofinance, Roll Call, European Voice
and Congressional Quarterly.

MEDIAmobz, a Silicon Valley technology company, has developed a
software platform that augments the multimedia and video creation
process, enabling collaborative creation, management and distribution of
multimedia assets across your company, the globe and for all digital
channels.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50172570&lang=en

Business Wire Environment News

Tara Oceans expedition arrives in NewYork

Posted by admin on February 2nd, 2012

The French scientific research vessel Tara will arrive in New York on 5th February for a week-long stay. Tara Oceans is a three-year, 70,000-mile mission across the Atlantic, Pacific, Antarctic and Indian oceans to investigate the impact of global warming on biodiversity and marine life.

The 118-foot schooner is sponsored by private sponsors and a scientific consortium including the French National Centre for Scientific Research and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory. This research expedition is taking place under the auspices of the United Nations Environmental Program and in partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO.

Researchers from Tara will be sharing their message of a sustainable future for all at the United Nations Rio+20 Conference in June.

Scientists on board Tara are investigating the role played by plankton in the earth’s life-support system; the effects of climate change on this critical base to the marine foodchain; the preservation of marine biodiversity and ways of combatting pollution and overfishing. Artists and journalists on board are helping to promote public awareness of these important issues. Twenty-one laboratories in 10 countries are collaborating with the mission, and research findings are published immediately on free access databases.

“Tara’s visit to New York is a great opportunity for us to think deeply and raise awareness of the issues that will be discussed in Rio,” said Kiyo Akasaka, Under-Secretary General and head of the United Nations Department of Public Information. “The aims of the Tara Oceans expedition are completely in tune with our own campaign for The Future We Want and they will resonate with everyone who cares about the ocean and the environment.”

Press Conference
Thursday 9th February 3pm
DHL Auditorium,

United Nations

agnes b. (Fashion designer and main sponsor of Tara)

Dr. Eric Karsenti (Senior scientist EMBL/CNRS, Scientific Director of the expedition)

Philippe Kridelka (UNESCO/IOC)

Andrew Hudson (UN Oceans)
Representatives of the press are welcome on the boat, Monday 6th February, from 9am to 3pm.

During her visit, Tara will be docking at Battery Park, North Cove Marina. Planned events
include school visits, lectures and a reception at the French Consulate.

Researchers and crew are available for interview on location or in the studio.

For more information: Tara Oceans website (http://oceans.taraexpeditions.org/)

and www.un.org/sustainablefuture.

Contact Info: United Nations : Robin Della Rocca, [email protected], +1 212 963 71 65

Tara Expeditions : Eloïse Fontaine, [email protected] + 33 6 12 13 04 67

Website : Tara Oceans

Full content generated by Get Full RSS.
ENN Network News – ENN

GLOBAL SCIENTIFIC CRUISE THAT STUDIED HEALTH OF OCEANS IS SUBJECT OF EXPLORERS CLUB PUBLIC LECTURE Meet Tara Ocean’s Crew, View Art Inspired by the Mission 7 p.m., Monday, February 6, 2012, 46th East 70th Street, New York City

Posted by admin on January 31st, 2012

NEW YORK, N.Y. (Jan. 31, 2012) — The crew of Tara Oceans, a 118foot schooner visiting New York’s East River from February 5 to 11, will be the focus of a public lecture at The Explorers Club, 46th East 70th Street, at 7 p.m., Monday, February 6, 2012. Tara Oceans is dedicated to diagnosing the health of the worlds’ oceans, and providing crucial information for future generations.

Inspired by Darwin’s legendary 1820 expedition of the HMS Beagle, Tara’s team of international scientists and explorers have spent the last few years collecting and categorizing plankton (responsible for half the oxygen on the planet) in order to discover the oceans’ relationship to climate change.

The schooner is owned by French fashion designer and activist agnès b. and Etienne Bourgois, her son and Tara’s visionary leader. The boat, designed to work as an ice breaker in

Polar regions, has also sailed in temperate waters and equatorial zones throughout the planet for the past two and a half years.

The evening, which will emphasize the critical importance the oceans play in the health of the planet, includes lectures from Tara Ocean’s chief scientist and mastermind Eric Karsenti, and Romain Troublé, French sailor and chairman of Tara Foundation for Marine Research USA.

In addition, Explorers Club Member Mara G. Haseltine, an artist and environmentalist, will unveil La Boheme: A Portrait of Today’s Ocean’s in Peril, her latest sculpture based on her discoveries on board Tara Oceans. She received the honor of returning the Club’s flag number 75 at the 2011 Explorers Club Annual Dinner for her voyage on Tara Oceans off the coast of Chile.

The Explorers Club is located at 46 East 70th Street, New York, NY 10021. Tickets are $ 20 ($ 5 students with valid i.d.) and seating is limited. Advance reservations are required by calling 212 628 8383.

For more information on Tara Oceans, please visit www.taraexpeditions.org. For information on The Explorers Club, log onto www.explorers.org. The website for artist Mara Haseltine is www.calamara.com.

About The Explorers Club

The Explorers Club was founded in New York City 1904 by a group of the world’s leading explorers of the time. It is a multidisciplinary, not for profit (501c3) organization dedicated to scientific exploration of land, sea, air, and space by supporting research and education in the physical, natural and biological sciences. The Club’s members have been responsible for an illustrious series of famous firsts: first to the North Pole, first to the South Pole, first to the summit of Mount Everest, first to the deepest point in the ocean, first to the surface of the moon. With 3,000 members worldwide, the organization is headquartered at 46 East 70th Street, New York, N.Y. 10021. Tel. 212 628 8383; www.explorers.org

Contact Info:

Explorers Club Media Contact:

Jeff Blumenfeld Director of Communications The Explorers Club [email protected] 203-655-1600, c 203-326-1200

Tara Oceans Media Contact:

Eloïse Fontaine (located in Paris) Director of Communications Tara Expéditions [email protected]
+33 (0)142013857

Website : Tara Foundation for Marine Research

Full content generated by Get Full RSS.
ENN Network News – ENN

Posts Tagged ‘oceans’

Marine Conservation Institute Commends House for Passage of Bipartisan Marine Debris Bill House of Representatives Approves Bill to Address Impacts of Marine Garbage in Nation’s Oceans.

“theBlu” Celebrates World Oceans Day

World Oceans Day Events at AZA-accredited Aquariums and Zoos Raise…

Helping to better manage the world’s oceans

IUCN teams up with America’s Cup to protect the world’s oceans

Oceans Need Mobile Marine Protected Areas

Mobile Marine Protection

Protected Ocean Areas

MEDIAmobz Named as Multi-Media Partner to The Economist’s World Oceans Summit

Tara Oceans expedition arrives in NewYork

GLOBAL SCIENTIFIC CRUISE THAT STUDIED HEALTH OF OCEANS IS SUBJECT OF EXPLORERS CLUB PUBLIC LECTURE Meet Tara Ocean’s Crew, View Art Inspired by the Mission 7 p.m., Monday, February 6, 2012, 46th East 70th Street, New York City

Latest Articles

Pages

Posts Tagged ‘oceans’

Related posts:

Mobile Marine Protection

Protected Ocean Areas

Latest Articles

Pages