Dear UN Atlas Member,
This month, world attention will focus on the United Nations Global Climate Change Conference, known as COP-15, in Copenhagen. It will be a decisive meeting as government leaders, negotiators, ministers and scientists seek to find agreement on the challenges of climate change, including its implications for our oceans, for fisheries and for aquaculture. PaCFA, the Global Partnership Climate, Fisheries and Aquaculture, representing 20 international organizations, as well as the Global Forum on Oceans, Coasts and Islands, will be participating, along with many others, to explain and voice the risks and opportunities for all those who depend on our world's oceans.Climate change also featured in many discussions at last month's World Summit on Food Security held at FAO headquarters in Rome which resulted in a pledge by world leaders to reverse the declining trend of public investment in agriculture, food security and rural development.
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Contribute to and participate in the growing Atlas community by becoming an active Member of the UN Atlas today.
Thank you,
The UN Atlas of the Oceans Editors
Visit the UN Atlas of the Oceans Web site
Comments? Please write to UN-Atlas-Oceans-Project@fao.org
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Recently added content:
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IMO: Mr. Alberto Alemán Zubieta (Panama) receives International Maritime Prize
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The prestigious International Maritime Prize for 2008 has been presented to Mr. Alberto Alemán Zubieta, Administrator of the Panama Canal Authority, for his contribution to maritime safety, security and prevention of pollution from ships. Previous winners
Previous winners of the prize since 2000: - 2007 Mr. Jørgen Rasmussen (Denmark)
- 2006 (two prizes awarded) Mr. Alfred Popp (Canada) and, posthumously, Mr. Igor Ponomarev (Russian Federation)
- 2005 Dr. Tom Allan (United Kingdom)
- 2004 Mr. Luis Martínez (Mexico)
- 2003 Mr William O'Neil (Canada)
- 2002 Mr. Frank Wall (United Kingdom)
- 2001 Mr. Giuliano Pattofatto (Italy) (posthumously)
- 2000 Mr. Heikki Juhani Valkonen (Finland)
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Healthy Oceans Can Help Save Us From Climate Change
: A large international coalition urged the United States to support marine conservation options that will help mitigate climate change.
(News)
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Oceanic Crust Formation Is Dynamic After All
: Scientists discover that the oldest oceanic crust is only about 200 million years old, as new crust is continually forming at midocean ridge spreading centers.
(News)
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IMO: IMO Assembly elects new 40-Member Council
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The Assembly of the International Maritime Organization has elected the following States to be Members of its Council for the 2010-2011 biennium: Category (a) 10 States with the largest interest in providing international shipping services: China, Greece, Italy, Japan, Norway, Panama, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, United States; Category (b) 10 States with the largest interest in international seaborne trade: Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden; Category (c) 20 States not elected under (a) or (b) above, which have special interests in maritime transport or navigation and whose election to the Council will ensure the representation of all major geographic areas of the world: Australia, Bahamas, Belgium, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Nigeria, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey.
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Momentum for climate deal strong and growing, Ban tells Commonwealth leaders
: e momentum for a deal at next month's United Nations climate change summit is strong and growing, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today, urging world leaders to make the extra push to achieve a firm foundation for a legally binding treaty as early as possible in 2010.
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PaCFA - Global Partnership Climate, Fisheries and Aquaculture
: Gateway on PaCFA - 20 organizations that comprise the Global Partnership Climate, Fisheries and Aquaculture
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FAO and Norad to Undertake Value-Chain Analysis of Fish Sector
: FAO and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) have signed an agreement to undertake a comprehensive value-chain analysis of international fish trade with an impact assessment of the small-scale sector.
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Élaboration des semi-conserves d’anchois: aspects économiques, techniques et hygiéniques
: Economic, technical and hygiene aspects in the preservation of anchovies
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IMO: Republic of Korea continues financial support for IMO’s technical co-operation agenda
: The Republic of Korea has continued its long-term support for IMO’s technical co-operation activities with another generous financial donation. On Tuesday, 24 November 2009, Mr Choi Jang Hyun, Vice-Minister of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs, handed over a cheque for more than US$650,000 to IMO Secretary-General Efthimios E. Mitropoulos, comprising US$50,000 from the Korean Shipowners’ Association, US$100,000 from the Korean Register of Shipping and US$508,683 from the Government of the Republic of Korea.
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FAO: Groundbreaking treaty on illegal fishing approved
: A new treaty that aims to close fishing ports to ships involved in illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing has been approved by FAO's governing Conference.
(News)
UN Gateway on Climate Change
: Gateway to UN system's work on climate change
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FAO: Stronger world food security governance agreed
: FAO’s top governing body has cleared the way for setting up a stronger and more effective system of global food security governance.
(News)
IMO: France becomes first to sign Hong Kong Recycling Convention
: France has become the first country to sign, subject to ratification, the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009.
(News)
IMO: IMO diligent and thorough, Secretary-General tells delegates as 26th IMO Assembly opens
: The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has worked diligently and thoroughly towards the goals and objectives identified in its Strategic and High-Level Action Plans, and has also been able to react swiftly and decisively to whatever new problems and unforeseen challenges have emerged, Secretary-General Efthimios E. Mitropoulos told delegates at the opening (on Monday, 23 November) of the 26th session of the Organization's governing body, the Assembly. The meeting is being attended by more than 1,000 delegates from IMO Member States as well as international governmental and non-governmental organizations.
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IMO: 2009 IMO Awards for Exceptional Bravery at Sea presented to a rescue swimmer and American sailors
: The 2009 IMO Awards for Exceptional Bravery at Sea have been presented to a professional rescue swimmer who, in Arctic conditions, single-handedly rescued eight crew members of a foundered vessel in the Bering Sea, and to two amateur sailors who rescued three people from a sunken yacht in very heavy weather off a remote South Pacific coral reef.
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Africa must act to tackle water crisis, says report
: Africa's freshwater resources are under serious threat from climate change and urgent adaptation measures are needed, says a study.
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On World Fisheries Day new website launched on fisheries and fishing communities in India
: To coincide with this year's World Fisheries Day (also called World Fishworkers' Day), 21 November, the International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (ICSF) has launched a website, 'Fisheries and Fishing Communities in India'
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Fisheries and Fisheries Communities in India
: International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (ICSF) site provides overview of fisheries sector - marine and freshwater - in India
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Building a Sustainable Fisheries Future: World Fisheries Day 2009
: Canadian Minister of Fisheries states that World Fisheries Day 2009 offers us all an opportunity to truly reflect on the economic, social and cultural importance of fishing and to recognize Canada's contributions to the sustainable management of domestic and international fisheries.
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The Deep Sea World Beyond Sunlight
: By the time the 10-year Census of Marine Life concludes in October 2010, the five deep-sea projects will have collectively fielded more than 210 expeditions. Revealed via deep-towed cameras, sonar and other vanguard technologies, animals known to thrive in an eternal watery darkness now number 17,650, a diverse collection of species ranging from crabs to shrimp to worms.
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Melting sea ice dilutes water, endangers sea life
: Melting of the Arctic sea ice due to global warming is diluting surface waters and this is endangering some species of shellfish which need minerals in the water to form their shells and skeletons, scientists have found.
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Climate change increases vulnerability of poor communities
: Climate change, along with local environment degradation, is pushing vulnerable farming and fishing communities in Pakistan towards increased poverty and suffering.
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Caribbean Coral Reefs Wiped Out by Climate Change
: Global warming is devastating coral reefs in the Caribbean, according to a study conducted by researchers from the University of East Anglia, England and Simon Fraser University in Canada, and published in the journal Biology Letters.
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Marine Reserves Can Be An Effective Tool For Managing Fisheries
: Studies conducted in California and elsewhere provide support for the use of marine reserves as a tool for managing fisheries and protecting marine habitats.
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World Ocean Census. A Global Survey of Marine Life
: Focuses on the Census of Marine Life, a 10-year global project to investigate our oceans and the creatures that live there. Examines how the Census was carried out and what the researchers discovered.
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FAO: Margarita Lizárraga Medal award 2008-2009
: FAO has awarded the Margarita Lizárraga Medal to the Honourable Dr Abraham Iyambo, Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources of Namibia
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How Fish Is Cooked Affects Heart-Health Benefits of Omega-3 Fatty Acids
: If you eat fish to gain the heart-health benefits of its omega-3 fatty acids, baked or boiled fish is better than fried, salted or dried, according to research presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2009.
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Oceans' Uptake of Human-Made Carbon May Be Slowing
: The oceans play a key role in regulating climate, absorbing more than a quarter of the carbon dioxide that humans put into the air.
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FAO: Renewed commitment to end hunger
: World Food Summit declaration vows better governance, increased investment and proactive climate change strategy.
(News)
FAO online 'end hunger' petition
: Sign and promote the FAO online petition to end hunger.
(News)
How Much Water Does the Ocean Have?
: The calculation of variations in the sea level is relatively simple. It is by far more complicated to then determine the change in the water mass. A team of geodesists and oceanographers have now, for the first time succeeded in doing this.
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UN report calls on policymakers to boost investment in ecosystems for higher profits
: Governments that invest in natural resources and ecosystems are likely to yield stronger economic growth and higher rates of return, according to a new United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
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UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and World Food Programme (WFP) launch food security strategy
: Leveraging the combined expertise and comparative advantages of the three Rome-based UN food agencies.
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New Book on Protection of Reefs for Future Generations
: A new book demystifies the science surrounding coral reefs and climate change. The illustrated soft cover “Coral Reefs and Climate Change: the guide for education and awareness” has been published by CoralWatch.org, The University of Queensland, Australia. Language and conceptual diagrams are understandable from age 10 upwards. Numerous photographs.
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IMO: IMO Assembly to meet for 26th session
: The 26th Assembly of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) will meet in London at the IMO Headquarters from 23 November to 4 December 2009. All 169 Member States and three Associate Members are entitled to attend the Assembly, which is IMO's governing body. The intergovernmental organizations with which agreements of co-operation have been concluded and non-governmental organizations in consultative status with IMO are also invited to attend.
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Great Barrier Reef: 50 per cent chance of survival
: The Great Barrier Reef has only a 50-50 chance of survival if global emissions are not cut by at least 25 per cent by 2020, according to the FASTS GBR Climate Change Alliance. Media release, audio and video.
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Japanese skipjack tuna fishery first to attain MSC approval
: The Japanese Tosakatsuo Suisan Group pole and line skipjack tuna fishery has been awarded the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certificate for sustainable and well-managed fisheries.
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New Insights Into Marine Ecosystems And Fisheries Production
: NOAA and Norwegian researchers recently completed a comparative analysis of marine ecosystems in the North Atlantic and North Pacific to see what factors support fisheries production, leading to new insights that could improve fishery management plans and the ecosystems.
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Inquiry on Timor oil disaster now fire extinguished
: The Australian Government says an inquiry into a massive oil leak off the north-west coast of Australia will be announced in the next few days now that the leaking well has been sealed.
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IMO: IMO to support Somalia to repress piracy
: International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Mr. Efthimios Mitropoulos has reiterated IMO’s assurance to the Prime Minister of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia, Mr. Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke, that the Organization stands ready to assist Somalia in repressing piracy off its coast and in the Gulf of Aden, following a meeting at IMO Headquarters in London on 27 October.
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Oil Rig may Collapse with Fire out of Control
: Thailand’s PTT Exploration & Production Pcl said a blazing oil rig off northwest Australia may collapse into the Timor Sea. The rig sits above a well that has been leaking oil and gas for the last 10 weeks. The Montara well is in waters 80 metres deep, in an area described as one of the world’s last true wilderness areas, due in part to the humpback whales. See previous coverage in the UN Atlas. Photo credit: PTTEP ERG Media
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