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This month we celebrate World Oceans Day on 8 June with the theme Our oceans: opportunities and challenges. There will be many observances to mark the day, including lighting of the Empire State Building in New York City from white, blue to purple to signify the entirety of the oceans from the shallows to the darker depths. See other planned World Oceans Day events.
The Gulf of Mexico oil spill, the largest in the history of the United States, continues to spew oil into the Gulf waters, threatening fragile ecosystems, fishing grounds and livelihoods. This spill underlines the vital need for timely damage assessments, emergency response and restoration actions to minimize and control the disaster as much as possible. Read more from NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration.
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Thank you,
The UN Atlas of the Oceans Editors
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Comments? Please write to UN-Atlas-Oceans-Project@fao.org
- European Atlas of the Seas : The European Commission today launched a pilot version of a new European Atlas of the Seas – a dynamic online atlas where users will be able to learn more about Europe's seas, its maritime sectors, the interaction between them and the maritime policy which brings them all together. (News)
- European Atlas of the Seas : European Commission Atlas of the Seas (Website)
- Thalassa Series 5. Carteret Islands Part 2 : The residents of the low-lying Carteret Islands have the sad claim to be the planet’s first climate change refugees; either the sea level is rising or their island is sinking. (Multimedia)
- The need to think before you drink : A discussion of the legal issues covering seafarers and alcohol in the UK and more general health and safety issues applicable worldwide. (Document)
- IMO: IMO safety committee adopts historic ship construction regulations : IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) has instigated an historic change in the way international standards for ship construction are to be determined and implemented in the future. The adoption of so-called "goal-based standards" (GBS) for oil tankers and bulk carriers by the MSC, yesterday (20 May 2010), means that newly-constructed vessels of these types will have to comply with structural standards conforming to functional requirements developed and agreed by the Committee. This means that, for the first time in its history, IMO will be setting standards for ship construction. (News)
- The International Day for Biological Diversity 22 May 2010. Biodiversity, Development and Poverty Alleviation : The theme for the International Day for Biodiversity (IDB) in 2010 is Biodiversity, Development and Poverty Alleviation. This year, IDB is part of the International Year of Biodiversity 2010. (News)
- MCA crackdown on seafarer fatigue : Owners threatened with prosecution for significant breaches of rest time regulations. The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) warned that shipping companies could find themselves in court if checks discovered that they were flouting the regulations. Tiredness caused by long working hours and low manning is dangerous to both ships and their crews, whether engaged in scientific or commercial cruises. (News)
- ‘Greening’ global fisheries could boost fish stocks, new UN report says : An $8 billion investment annually in rebuilding and ‘greening’ the world’s fisheries could both increase fish catches and generate $1.7 trillion in long-term economic returns over the next four decades, according to a new United Nations report. (News)
- IMO: Maritime security set for boost with entry into force of 2005 Protocols on Suppression of Unlawful Acts in July 2010 : Maritime security has been boosted with the latest ratification of the 2005 Protocol to the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Maritime Navigation (SUA), 1988, thereby meeting the criteria to bring it into force in 90 days time, on 28 July 2010, along with the related 2005 Protocol to the Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Fixed Platforms Located on the Continental Shelf, 1988. The Republic of Nauru deposited its instrument of ratification of the 2005 Protocols on 29 April 2010, becoming the 12th country to ratify the 2005 SUA Protocol and the 10th to ratify the 2005 Fixed Platforms Protocol. (News)
- IMO: International Conference on the Revision of the HNS Convention, 26 – 30 April 2010 : A Protocol to the International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea, 1996 (HNS Convention), aimed at bringing that Convention into effect, has been adopted by consensus by a Diplomatic Conference convened by IMO at its Headquarters in London. The Protocol of 2010 to the HNS Convention addresses practical problems that have prevented many States from ratifying the original Convention, which, despite being adopted in 1996, has, to date, only 14 ratifications and is some way from meeting the conditions for its entry into force. (News)
- Setting Time Limits for Hunting and Fishing May Help Maintain Wildlife Populations : Setting limits on the number of days allowed for hunting and fishing rather than the number of trophies would be a more effective way to ensure continued supply and to prevent extinction, according to a new study published in Science. (News)
- Rare Toxic Algae Identified : Scientists have identified an unusual species of pathogenic algae that causes human skin infections. (News)
- Killer Seaweed: First Proof That Chemicals from Seaweeds Damage Coral on Contact : Field studies have shown for the first time that several common species of seaweeds in both the Pacific and Caribbean Oceans can kill corals upon contact using chemical means. (News)
- Algae Advances as a 'Green' Alternative for Improving Water Quality : Algae -- already being eyed for biofuel production -- could be put to use right away to remove nitrogen and phosphorus in livestock manure runoff, according to an Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientist. (News)
- Coral and Global Warming: Diversity in Some Coral Populations May Affect Their Survival : An international team of marine biologists has found that existing diversity in some coral populations may significantly influence their response to extreme temperature disturbances -- such as those predicted from climate warming. (News)
- Researchers Investigate Fishy Sense of Smell With Hammerhead Shark Model : Research led by the University of Bath is using the latest technology to find out how these fish are able to sniff out their prey. (News)
- Shedding light on child labour in fisheries - workshop examines underlying causes, makes recommendations : More attention should be paid to the plight of child workers in the fisheries sector, according to a group of experts convened by FAO and the International Labour Organization (ILO) in order to shine light on this often-overlooked problem. (News)
- Global Conference on Aquaculture 2010 - Farming the Waters for People and Food : The FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department, the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia and the Pacific (NACA) and the Department of Fisheries of the Royal Thai Government will co-sponsor the "Global Conference on Aquaculture 2010". It will be held from 22-25 September 2010 in Phuket, Thailand and back-to-back with the 5th Session of the FAO Committee on Fisheries, Sub-Committee on Aquaculture to take place from 27 September to 01 October 2010. (News)
- FAO launches anti-hunger petition : FAO today unveiled a major online petition calling on people to get angry at the fact that around a billion people suffer from hunger. (News)
- 1billionhungry project : Online petition calls upon governments to make the elimination of hunger their top priority. Get angry at the fact that around a billion people suffer from hunger and sign the petition now. (Event)
- Locating Tsunami Warning Buoys : Australian researchers describe a mathematical model in the International Journal of Operational Research that can find the ten optimal sites at which tsunami detection buoys and sea-level monitors should be installed. (News)
- FAO: More countries back treaty to deter illegal fishing - signature by Russian Federation brings total to 16 : Five more nations have signed the FAO-brokered treaty that once it enters into force will deny access to fishing ports to ships involved in illegal fishing. (News)
- Oceans Day at Nagoya : Oceans Day in Nagoya will draw high-level policy attention to the need to address the major drivers of ocean and coastal biodiversity loss, take stock of progress (or lack thereof) in the achievement of global biodiversity targets, and outline the next steps in the global oceans agenda through the launch of the Nagoya Oceans Mandate. (Event)
- International Conference: Environment and Resources in the South Pacific : The South Pacific is the largest oceanic area on our planet but also the least known. This international conference will be particularly focused on studies related to subjects such as Atmosphere, Oceanography, Aquaculture, Fisheries and Non-Renewable Resources in the South Pacific. (Event)
- Fifth International Symposium on GIS/ Spatial Analyses in Fishery and Aquatic Sciences : to emphasize GIS as a tool for conducting spatial analyses in aquatic sciences, which encompasses the ecosystem approach to fisheries management and the interrelationships between inland and marine fisheries and aquaculture, and the aquatic and terrestrial environments in which the activities take place. (Event)
- IMO: IMO SG Mitropoulos meets EC Commissioner Damanaki : At the invitation of IMO Secretary-General Efthimios Mitropoulos, Mrs. Maria Damanaki, European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, visited the Organization’s Headquarters on Thursday, 29 April, to discuss issues of mutual concern. Following their appointment in February 2010, other Commissioners, whose portfolios include matters of interest to IMO, have been sent similar invitations. The visit provided an opportunity for Mr. Mitropoulos and Mrs. Damanaki to establish a good working relationship, reflect on recent developments and future trends and set a course to better serve the global maritime community from the particular perspectives of IMO and the European Commission (EC). (News)
- NOAA Closes Fishing in Oil-Affected Gulf of Mexico : NOAA is restricting fishing for a minimum of ten days in federal waters most affected by the British Petroleum (BP) oil spill, largely between Louisiana state waters at the mouth of the Mississippi River to waters off Florida’s Pensacola Bay, gulf of Mexico (USA). The closure is effective immediately. Details can be found here: http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/. (News)