NEWSLETTER APRIL 2009
 
Dear UN Atlas Member,

The UN Atlas partnership is pleased to welcome our 10,000th member to the UN Atlas of the Oceans community! Since the Atlas was just a glimmer of hope among the UN agencies with ocean programmes over ten years ago, to its launch nearly seven years ago, our content and membership growth has been steady. We look forward to continuing service to the oceans community, providing an exceptional source of unbiased information for everyone interested in our oceans and their sustainable use.

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The UN Atlas of the Oceans Editors

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Recently added content:
  • IMO: Revised MARPOL Annex VI and NOx Technical Code published by IMO : A new publication is now available from IMO Publications on the revised international regulations on preventing and reducing harmful emissions from ships, such as sulphur oxides (SOx) nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter. (News)
  • IMO: Africa SAR coverage extended with commissioning of regional search and rescue sub-centres in Tanzania and Seychelles : Further key links in the plan to provide effective search and rescue (SAR) coverage off the coast of Africa have been established, with the commissioning of two search and rescue sub-centres that will operate in conjunction with the existing regional Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Mombasa, Kenya. (News)
  • Earth Hour. 8.30 pm local time Saturday 28 March 2009 : Earth Hour. 8.30 pm local time Saturday 28 March 2009. Hundreds of millions of people in over 4,000 cities and towns in 88 countries joined the Earth Hour. They turned off their lights and reduced their carbon footprint on planet Earth. They plan to make changes all year long. More at earthhour.org (News)
  • FAO/WHO Expert Consultation on the risks and benefits of fish consumption : call for experts and information & data : FAO/WHO are planning an expert consultation on the risks and benefits of fish consumption for January 2010 and are seeking: scientific experts to participate -- specifically looking at the risks associated with methylmercury and dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs in fish and the health benefits of fish consumption. information and data to submit -- in particular relevant recent studies and benefit/risk assessments. (News)
  • Regional Fishery Body Secretariats Network addresses United Nations body : The Regional Fishery Body Secretariats Network (RSN) delivered a statement during the eighth round of Informal Consultations of States Parties to the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement (the Agreement), taking place 16-19 March 2009 at UN headquarters in New York. The RSN emphasized that it can provide a valuable international resource for disseminating information relating to the Agreement and for contributing information on regional and sub-regional experiences associated with its implementation. (News)
  • Regional Fishery Body Secretariats Network (RSN) : Information on the Regional Fishery Body Secretariats Network (RSN) (Website)
  • Regional Aquaculture Information System (RAIS) : Aquaculture information of the Regional Commission for Fisheries in the Gulf States (Website)
  • RECOFI Regional Aquaculture Information System (RAIS) online : The Regional Aquaculture Information System (RAIS) Web site, created by the FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department under the aegis of the Regional Commission for Fisheries (RECOFI), is now online. RAIS aims to facilitate the exchange of aquaculture information in the Gulf area among regional experts and stakeholders and to promote and develop a sustainable aquaculture industry. (News)
  • EAF-Nansen : EAF-Nansen highlights a five-year project to strengthen regional and country efforts to reduce poverty and create favorable conditions for food security through development of sustainable fisheries management regimes -- specifically by applying the EAF principles. The initial focus is on Sub-Saharan Africa. (Website)
  • EAF-Nansen Web site online : A new Web site promoting the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAF) in developing countries is now available online. EAF-Nansen highlights a five-year project to strengthen regional and country efforts to reduce poverty and create favorable conditions for food security through development of sustainable fisheries management regimes -- specifically by applying the EAF principles. The initial focus is on Sub-Saharan Africa. The EAF-Nansen project is executed by FAO in close collaboration with the Institute of Marine Research (IMR) of Bergen, Norway and funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad). (News)
  • Deep-sea corals may be oldest living marine organism : Deep-sea corals from about 400 meters off the coast of the Hawaiian Islands are much older than once believed and some may be the oldest living marine organisms known to man. (News)
  • Black Sea Pollution Could Be Harnessed As Renewable Future Energy Source : The Black Sea harbours vast quantities of hydrogen sulfide, the toxic gas associated with the smell of rotten eggs which could be used as a renewable source of hydrogen gas to fuel a future carbon-free economy. (News)
  • Climate 2009: world online climate change conference : Climate 2009 aims to present the latest findings on scientific research on climate change, including elements related to its environmental, social, economic and policy aspects. Enter this platform on 2-6 November 2009 and read about new projects and innovative initiatives being undertaken in both industrialised and developing countries by universities and scientific institutions, government bodies, NGOs and other stakeholders. (Event)
  • IMO: Major progress on energy efficiency for ships during intersessional IMO meeting : Major progress was made in developing measures to enhance energy efficiency in international shipping, and thereby reduce greenhouse gas emissions, when the second intersessional meeting of IMO's Working Group on Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) from Ships was held at IMO's London headquarters from 9 to 13 March 2009. (News)
  • Antarctic and Southern Ocean - Physical Processes : Special issue of the Indian Journal of Marine Science devoted to the Southern Ocean. Abstracts available online. (Document)
  • International Symposium on Aquaculture and Fisheries Education : The International Symposium on Aquaculture and Fisheries Education (ISAFE), jointly organized by the Asian Institute of Technology, Shanghai Ocean University and Asian Fisheries Society, will bring together experts from all over the world to discuss issues on aquaculture and fisheries education and how education can support the industry. (Event)
  • Effects of naturally acidified seawater on seagrass calcerous epibionts : Surface ocean pH is likely to decrease by up to 0.4. This article shows the response of calcareous seagrass. (Document)
  • New Research: Effects Of Ocean Acidification Revealed : A major scientific breakthrough reveals the ecological effects of ocean acidification for the first time - using volcanic carbon dioxide vents. (News)
  • Tsunami-2004, other natural processes and anthropogenic impact on Hydro biogeochemistry of Coastal Ecosystem : Special issue of the Indian Journal of Marine Science devoted to the Asian tsunami 2004. Abstracts available online. (Document)
  • 'Coral lab' offers acidity insight : Ocean acidification is a term used to describe the changes in the chemistry of the world's seas, primarily as a result of burning fossil fuels. (News)
  • Europeans pioneer ocean acidification research : European scientists are carrying out pioneering research into ocean acidification. As CO2 is released into the atmosphere it is absorbed by our seas, upsetting the delicate balance of marine life. (Multimedia)
  • Celebrate the Sea 2009 : Celebrate the Sea Festival is comprised of international underwater film and photographic competitions, workshops on underwater photography, seminars about our ocean environment, painting competitions for children and a Shoot Out competition. Philippines, 12-14 June 2009. More info. (Event)
  • D4Science participated in the recent FAO's Committee on Fisheries : D4Science is relevant to COFI as it provides an enabling infrastructure for the FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department to lead the development of information partnerships with organizations that have complementary mandates. (News)
  • NOAA Report Uncovers Why Some People Don’t Heed Severe Weather Warnings : In September 2008 dozens of people died when Hurricane Ike struck Galveston, Texas, even after the weather forecast office in Houston issued a dire warning to residents to heed evacuation orders. NOAA has recently issued a report, Service Assessment of the Super Tuesday Tornado Outbreak of February 5-6, 2008, which addresses a key area of concern: why some people take cover while others ride out severe weather. (News)
  • Sharks and Rays of Australia. Second Edition : This book provides in-depth descriptions of 322 species of sharks, rays and chimaerids, accompanied by full-colour illustrations, descriptions, line illustrations and distribution maps. (Book)
  • The Energetics of Mangrove Forests : Describes the functional processes of a mangrove ecosystem, whether disturbed by man or nature or both. (Book)
  • IMO: Intersessional Working Group meeting to further develop GHG reduction mechanisms : The Second Intersessional Meeting of IMO's Working Group on Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) from Ships will be held next week at IMO Headquarters (9 to 13 March, 2009); more than 200 delegates, comprising experts from all over the world, are registered for attendance. (News)
  • UN set gold standard for reducing seabird bycatch : The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has agreed a ground-breaking set of best practice guidelines to reduce the accidental deaths of seabirds in fisheries. (News)
  • Turtle Trials. The story of a sea turtle's migration : A 12 minute video about the migration of sea turtles and the dangers they face on land and in the ocean - marine debris, beach disturbance and light pollution (Multimedia)
  • Turtle: The Incredible Journey : This film, to be released worldwide later in 2009, reaches beyond the life of a sea turtle and her battle to survive to the heart of the ocean around her. Sponsored by Save Our Seas Foundation (SOSF) an international marine conservation non-profit. (Multimedia)
  • Coral disease found to have similar microorganism to cholera : The complexities of coral disease are starting to be unravelled with the key revelation that a similar mechanism that causes cholera in humans may be causing White Syndrome (WS) in coral. (News)
  • Brazil signs on to high seas fishing agreement : FAO compliance agreement is a unique effort to improve management of high seas fishing and fight illegal fishing (News)
  • IMO: Dr. Björn Kjerfve appointed new WMU President : The International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the World Maritime University (WMU) have announced the appointment of a new President to head the University - Dr. Björn Kjerfve. (News)
  • IMO: IMO/UNDP Joint Press Release: United Nations agencies partner with shipping corporations to minimize global environment threat : Newly formed global industry alliance aims to prevent marine bio-invasions caused by ships' ballast water

    A Global Industry Alliance (GIA) was launched today (2 March, 2009) at the Headquarters of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London, to tackle the threats of marine bio-invasions caused by the transfer of alien plants and animals in ships' ballast tanks. (News)

  • World fisheries must prepare for climate change : FAO releases new "State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture" report. (News)
 
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