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The tragedy of the devastating earthquake in Haiti has been compounded by the logistical problems of a small island reliant on sea transport. As the country now prepares for the rainy season and the subsequent hurricane season, the United Nations is encouraging many residents of the overcrowded capital to return to the countryside. World Wetlands Day, celebrated on 2 February, reminds us of the importance of wetlands along the ocean coasts. The World Wetlands Day theme for this year is wetlands, biodiversity and climate change, with the slogan: Caring for wetlands – an answer to climate change.
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- Brazil's Northeast Under the Vagaries of the Oceans : Research on the relationships between climate and agriculture will at least enable farmers in the North-East to judge better the most appropriate time for sowing, estimate forthcoming yields and as far as possible prevent bad harvests. (News)
- Bubble Physicist Counts Bubbles in Ocean to Answer Questions About Climate, Sound, Light : The bubbles in your champagne that appear to jump out of your glass and tickle your nose are exhibiting a behavior quite similar to the tiny bubbles found throughout the world's oceans, according to bubble physicist Helen Czerski. (News)
- Red Grouper to Be 'Frank Lloyd Wrights of the Sea' : To the casual observer in the Gulf of Mexico, the red grouper seems sluggish but a new study led by researchers at the Florida State University reveals the fish to be both architect and ecosystem engineer. (News)
- Fish Oil Given Intravenously to Patients in Intensive Care Has Many Benefits, Study Finds : A randomised controlled trial of fish oil given intravenously to patients in intensive care has found that it improves gas exchange, reduces inflammatory chemicals and results in a shorter length of hospital stay. (News)
- Wilder Weather Exerts a Stronger Influence on Biodiversity Than Steadily Changing Conditions : An increase in the variability of local conditions could do more to harm biodiversity than slower shifts in climate, a new study has found. (News)
- Tsunami alerts must be tailored to people : The Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System (IOTWS), established after the devastating tsunami of December 2004, will fail unless attention is paid to how local governments and people respond to such warnings, says a report. (News)
- The 'hidden hunger' caused by climate change : Understanding how carbon dioxide impacts food quality is vital to tackle malnutrition effectively, says agricultural researcher. (News)
- First Study to Show That Seismic Imaging Detects Ocean's Internal Tides : Internal tides, waves below the ocean's surface that propagate at tidal frequencies, play an important role in ocean mixing but can be difficult to detect and study. (News)
- Perrin's outstanding film Oceans launched on 542 screens : Jacques Perrin and Jacques Cluzaud present the film Océans, supported by the Census of Marine Life (CoML), and launched today by Pathé Distribution on 542 screens in France and Belgium. Will be screened world wide. (News)
- Fish for the People 2020 : Fisheries is widely accepted as one of the important sectors providing substantial contribution to food security for countries in the Southeast Asian region. Next year, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC), plan to coorganize the “ASEAN-SEAFDEC Conference on Sustainable Fisheries for Food Security Towards 2020”. (News)
- England’s first Marine Conservation Zone announced : Lundy Island, one of England’s most spectacular marine habitats, has today become England’s first Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ). (News)
- UN climate change official calls for united global action to forge rapid accord : The failure of last month’s United Nations summit in Copenhagen to agree on ambitious and immediate global action to combat climate change means that the task has become more, not less urgent, a senior UN official said in an opinion piece published today. (News)
- Tilapia Found to be Invasive in Fiji : The poster child for sustainable fish farming—the tilapia—is actually a problematic invasive species for the native fish of the islands of Fiji, according to a new study by the Wildlife Conservation Society and other groups. (News)
- Ocean Industries To Tackle Ambitious Program at Sustainable Ocean Summit : The World Ocean Council will convene a wide range of ocean industries at the Sustainable Ocean Summit - the first international, cross-sectoral business conference on ocean sustainability (Belfast, UK, 15-17 June, 2010). (News)
- Sustainable Ocean Summit : The only international, cross-sectoral industry conference on business leadership and sustainable development of the marine environment. A World Ocean Council event, by and for industry, designed for senior representatives from companies and industry associations. Conference Theme: “Reducing Risk, Increasing Sustainability: Solutions Through Collaboration” Conference Goals: · To bring together senior representatives from a wide range of industries using on ocean space and resources. · To develop cross-sectoral leadership and collaboration in addressing global marine environment issues. · To identify ocean sustainability priorities and programs to reduce ocean industry risk and develop the business benefits of Corporate Ocean Responsibility. (Event)
- 2009: Second Warmest Year on Record; End of Warmest Decade : 2009 was tied for the second warmest year in the modern record, a new NASA analysis of global surface temperature shows. The analysis, conducted by the Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) in New York City, also shows that in the Southern Hemisphere, 2009 was the warmest year since modern records began in 1880. (News)
- UNESCO launch of International Year of Biodiversity : UNESCO launches the International Year of Biodiversity in its Paris headquarters today, 21 January 2010. The Qatar office of UNESCO concluded 2009 with the Doha Green Conference, Eco-Schools and the launch of the Gulf Network of Arid Land Environments. The work aims to reduce environmental crisis based on science and education. The Gulf is dependent on seawater desalination. (News)
- IMO: Groundwork completed for Manila conference to adopt revised STCW Convention and Code : Draft amendments to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (the STCW Convention), and its associated Code, have been approved by the Sub-Committee on Standards of Training and Watchkeeping (STW) and are ready for submission to a Diplomatic Conference that will meet in Manila, Philippines, from 21 to 25 June 2010, for adoption. (News)
- UN News Focus: Haiti Earthquake : Latest developments and updates on the earthquake which devastated Haiti (News)
- Haiti earthquake: ICRC rushes to get water and medical supplies to survivors : Significant amounts of emergency aid have arrived in quake-struck Port-au-Prince. The challenge now is to get it to survivors as quickly as possible. Further assessments confirm that the damage is widespread and immense. Very few neighbourhoods have been spared, while local infrastructure and services have been wiped out. (News)
- African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD): 2010 AWARD Fellowships : African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD): 2010 AWARD Fellowships now being accepted. African women working in agricultural research and development from Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia who have completed a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree in selected disciplines are invited to apply. Applicants must be nationals of the above listed countries and be available in Africa throughout the fellowship period. (News)
- Life in the Mid Atlantic : Describes one of the first projects of the Census of Marine Life (CoML), which was dedicated to the study of the mid-Atlantic Ridge and called Mar-Eco. (Book)
- Port-au-Prince port in Haiti crippled following earthquake : Liner operators cancel calls in Haiti after the massive earthquake makes Port-au-Prince port facilities unusable, but relief shipments are promised. (News)
- Energy Use in Fisheries: Improving Efficiency and Technological Innovations from a Global Perspective : The symposium from 14-17 November, 2010 in Seattle, WA (USA) will address both the direct and indirect effects of global energy costs on the seafood harvesting, processing, and marketing sectors. The desired outcomes will include a set of alternative strategies to reduce the carbon footprint of commercial and recreational fishing fleets, the associated financial gain to these industry participants, examples of the government’s role in reducing its imprint, and a set of metrics to measure the level of energy reduction or improved environmental efficacy of different fuel types used by fishing fleets. This is an important and timely issue for the future of United States and world fisheries. (Event)
- IMO: IMO to study the outcome of COP 15 : Commenting on the outcome of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 15), IMO Secretary-General Efthimios E. Mitropoulos said: “Like many others, who have made comments on the outcome of COP 15, I have viewed the end result of the Copenhagen Conference with mixed feelings: with concern that the target initially pursued, following the 2007 Bali Conference, of a legally binding instrument, was not achieved; with measured satisfaction that, through the Accord tabled at the end of the deliberations, a step in the right direction was taken enabling progress to be made towards a legally binding instrument; and with hope that, following new rounds of consultations to be held post-Copenhagen, the required consensus on action needed to be taken to save the planet will be reached at the next Conference – possibly in Mexico one year from now. (News)
- IMO: A message to the world’s seafarers : The International Maritime Organization has decided to dedicate next year to you by choosing, as the theme for World Maritime Day, "2010: Year of the Seafarer". Our intention is to pay tribute to you, the world's 1.5 million seafarers - men and women from all over the globe - for the unique, and all too often over-looked, contribution you make to the wellbeing of all of us. (News)
- IMO: Secretary-General opens new branch of the Arab Academy in Port Said : "I could not think of a better way to formally start the “Year of the Seafarer” other than by commissioning a new training centre, such as the new branch of the Arab Academy in Port Said." So said IMO Secretary-General Efthimios E. Mitropoulos on Saturday, 9 January, as he formally opened an extension to the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT) on a new 77-acre site allocated for that purpose by the Governor of Port Said, who also officiated during the ceremony together with other senior officials of Egypt and Dr. Mohamed Farghaly, President of the AASTMT since October 2007. (News)
- IMO: IMO launches “Year of the Seafarer” : The International Maritime Organization (IMO) “launched” the theme for this year’s World Maritime Day – “2010: Year of the Seafarer” – at an event held at its London headquarters yesterday (11 January 2010), co-hosted with the International Shipping Federation (ISF) and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF). (News)
- The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) study : A major international initiative to draw attention to the global economic benefits of biodiversity. (Website)
- World Wetlands Day, 2010 : 2 February each year is World Wetlands Day. It marks the date of the signing of the Convention on Wetlands on 2 February 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea. World Wetlands Day theme is wetlands, biodiversity and climate change, and the 2010 WWD slogan: Caring for wetlands – an answer to climate change. (News)
- Norwegian cod researcher awarded Outstanding Young Investigator funding : Nofima researcher Marit Seppola has been awarded funding from the Norwegian Research Council’s programme for Outstanding Young Investigators for her work on 'Francisella', a relatively new fish disease in Norway, which constitutes a major threat to Atlantic cod farming. (News)
- UN opens Biodiversity Year with plea to save world's ecosystems : In a bid to curb the unprecedented loss of the world's species due to human activity – at a rate some experts put at 1,000 times the natural progression – the United Nations is marking 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity, with a slew of events highlighting the vital role the phenomenon plays in maintaining the life support system on Planet Earth. (News)
- Impact of Unsettled Summer Weather on UK Marine Life : A recent scientific conference, the 'South West Marine Ecosystems', has provided new evidence for the effects of unseasonal summer storms on a variety of spectacular marine life, including deadly jellyfish, basking sharks and oceanic seabirds. (News)
- Roe of Marine Animals Is Best Natural Source of Omega-3 : The roe of hake, lumpsucker and salmon is the best dietary source of Omega 3, according to a study carried out by researchers at the University of Almería (UAL). (News)
- Scientists Probe Mystery of Loop Current in Eastern Gulf of Mexico : A study examines the circulation in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico (GOM) and sheds new light on the behavior of the Loop Current (LC) and Loop Current Eddies (LCEs), the relation between the upper- and lower-layer currents, and the variability of water mass characteristics in deepwater. (News)
- Scientists and Fishermen Join Forces on Fisheries Science : A study to record the wealth of knowledge possessed by fishermen for the better management of fish stocks is underway on the prawn grounds around the Aran Islands in Galway Bay. (News)
- Indian Ocean Climate Event Recurs Quicker With Global Warming : The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), an oscillation of sea surface temperatures in the Indian Ocean, has become a major influence on the weather variations in the Indian Ocean region. (News)