Here at the Atlas, we will be featuring marine biodiversity throughout the year reminding our members that our common resources can be managed collectively, through cooperative means.

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The UN Atlas of the Oceans Editors

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• Formation of the Gulf of Corinth Rift, Greece : A study of the Gulf of Corinth rift in central Greece will increase scientific understanding of tectonic mechanisms underlying seafloor spreading and deformation of the Earth's crust. (News)
• Story of 4.5-Million-Year-Old Whale Found in Spain : Results of the study of a team of Spanish and American researchers who found the fossil remains of a whale 4.5 million years old in Spain now published. (News)
• Ancient Pygmy Sea Cow Discovered : A researcher from McGill University has discovered a near-complete skull of a primitive "dugong" illuminating a virtually unknown period in Madagascar fossil history. (News)
• Turtles' Christmas Journey Tracked by Scientists : The journeys of two marine turtles around the world's oceans are available to view online, thanks to a new research project launched by the University of Exeter. (News)
• France Was Once Home to the Atlantic Sturgeon, Previously Unknown on Its Territory : Until now, only one species of sturgeon was known in France: the European sturgeon but now it has been shown that another species previously unknown in France used to be present in French waters: the Atlantic sturgeon. (News)
• Moderate Fish Consumption May Lower Risk in Patients With a History of Heart Failure : Including fish in a balanced diet has long been associated with the prevention of heart disease, and scientists now believe that it can help preserve heart function in patients who have experienced heart failure. (News)
• At Copenhagen global warming conference, alarms on ocean acidification : At the Copenhagen global warming conference, researchers have been seeking attention to what's often been an "orphan" issue in the climate change debate: increasing ocean acidity and its risks for fisheries. (News)
• Fisheries advisory panel offers recommendations on CITES proposals : An advisory panel of independent experts convened by FAO has issued recommendations regarding six proposals to limit international trade in a number of commercially exploited aquatic animals under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). (News)
• Copenhagen Climate Talks. Islands make progress on non-CO2 strategies, the fast, forgotten 50% of climate warming : Island States gained ground at the climate talks in Copenhagen for their fast-action campaign to reduce non-CO2 forcers, including hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and black carbon, which are responsible for 50% of climate forcing. (News)
• United action on global scale needed to clinch new climate pact : Acknowledging that the climate change deal reached on 18-19 December in Copenhagen was not ideal for all nations, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today exhorted world leaders to act in concert to ensure that a legally binding treaty is reached next year (2010). (News)
• The Plastiki Expedition from San Francisco to Sydney : A hand-picked crew will set sail in 2010 from San Francisco to Sydney on a 60 foot catamaran made entirely of reclaimed plastic bottles. Their mission is to inspire sustainable solutions and highlight the damage being done to the world's oceans. Named after the Kon Tiki raft built by Thor Heyerdahl in 1947. (News)
• Unique "Climate One Stop" Web Site Unveiled in Copenhagen : A group of US and international organizations, including NASA, USAID1, the National Science Foundation, the Institute for the Application of Geospatial Technology, the University of Alabama-Huntsville, and CATHALAC2 in Panama, developed the site as a "one-stop shop" for the low-down on Earth with a particular emphasis on international development applications. (News)
• Climate 1-Stop : The Climate 1-Stop provides a single location to share and access climate change tools, resources and information, with a primary focus on adaptation in developing countries. (Website)
• Zoning the Ocean May Help Endangered Whales to Recover : Scientists in Scotland, Canada and the US have proposed a new method to identify priority areas for whale conservation. (News)
• FAO Fishery and aquaculture statistics 2007 : The FAO Yearbook of Fishery and Aquaculture Statistics is a compilation of data on capture production, aquaculture production and commodities. (Document)
• "Climate accord offers some grounds for hope" say analysts : The UN Climate Change Conference ended on Saturday (19 December) with frustration and verdicts of failure from many delegates because it did not reach a binding agreement on how to tackle climate change - or any agreement at all on targets for carbon emissions. (News)
• A Review of Underwater Stereo-Image Measurement for Marine Biology and Ecology Applications : Review of the status of underwater stereo-image measurement since the 1960s and illustration of applications of this technique for marine biology and ecology. Photographs and diagrams. (Document)
• The Future of Diving. 100 Years of Haldane and Beyond : Publishes results of the symposium convened by the Baromedical and Environmental Physiology Group of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. (Book)
• Benthic Amphipoda (Crustacea: Peracarida) of the Great Barrier Reef : The amphipod fauna of the Great Barrier Reef is the richest known from any tropical area, with 256 species. An interactive key is available as a CD with the book or on the crustacea.net website. (Document)
• Ecological Connectivity among Tropical Coastal Ecosystems : This authoritative book provides a first-time comprehensive review of the major ecological interactions across tropical marine ecosystems that result from the mutual exchange of nutrients, organic matter, fish, and crustaceans. (Book)
• Coral Reefs and Climate Change. A Guide for Education and Awareness : This book concerns the impacts of climate change on coral reefs. It is ideal for educators, students, reef enthusiasts, professionals and interested people. Includes activity CD and Coral Health Colour Chart. Contact info@coralwatch.org English, Chinese, simplified Chinese, Japanese and French. More languages soon. (Book)
• Marine Biodiversity Review of the Arafura and Timor Seas : Authoratative book from Indonesia on changes in diversity, distribution and abundance of marine organisms in the Arafura and Timor Seas. (Book)
• Turning the Tide. Sustaining Earth's Large Marine Ecosystems : A 25 minute documentary film, directed by Francois Odendaal Productions for GEF IW:LEARN, available as DVD and on Google videos. (Multimedia)
• Marine Life Collected to Inventory DNA Sequence of All Pacific Island's Living Species : University of Florida researchers are collecting marine invertebrates on the French Polynesian island of Moorea as part of a massive effort to inventory the DNA sequence of every living species there. (News)
• Live Saver for the Gulf Stream? Climate Changes Supplies More Saline Waters from Indian Ocean : The Gulf Stream system is known for its impact on Europe's mild climate whose strength could decline due to the climate change. Unexpected help could come from the ocean currents south of Africa as the Agulhas Current transports more saline waters into the Atlantic to possibly help stabilize the Gulf Stream system. (News)
• Marine Aquaculture Could Feed Growing World Population : Marine aquaculture could play a large role in feeding humanity in the coming decades, although substantial changes will be needed to reduce its reliance on terrestrial agriculture and other external feed subsidies. (News)
• CSI Sharks: New Forensic Technique Gives Clues About Sharks from Bite Damage : Hit-and-run attacks by sharks can be solved with a new technique that identifies the culprits by the unique chomp they put on their victims, according to a University of Florida researcher and shark expert. (News)
• Glimpse at Earth's Crust Deep Below Atlantic Ocean : Long-term variations in volcanism help explain the birth, evolution and death of striking geological features called oceanic core complexes on the ocean floor. (News)
• IMO: Mr. Alberto Alemán Zubieta (Panama) receives International Maritime Prize : 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. (News)