Study: Countries In Africa, South America And Asia Will Suffer The Most As Climate Change Imperils Fisheries
Penang, Malaysia - Feb 5, 2009 15:47 EST
With climate change threatening to destroy coral reefs, push salt water into freshwater habitats and produce more coastal storms, millions of struggling people in fishery-dependent nations of Africa, Asia and South America could face unprecedented hardship, according to a new...

Study: One-third Of World's Fish Catches Are Being Wasted As Animal Feed; 'It Defies Reason'
Stony Brook, New York - Oct 29, 2008 19:31 EST
An alarming new study to be published in November in the Annual Review of Environment and Resources finds that one-third of the world’s marine fish catches are ground up and fed to farm-raised fish, pigs, and poultry, squandering a precious...

Scientists Find Evidence Of Tsunamis On Indian Ocean Shores Long Before 2004; 'Infrequent And Catastrophic'
Tokyo, Japan - Oct 29, 2008 19:13 EST
A quarter-million people were killed when a tsunami inundated Indian Ocean coastlines the day after Christmas in 2004. Now scientists have found evidence that the event was not a first-time occurrence. A team working on Phra Thong, a barrier island along...

U.S. Pledges $40 Million To Protect Asian Coral Reefs; 'We Can Save These Extraordinary Marine Ecosystems'
Manila, The Philippines - Oct 23, 2008 17:31 EST
The United States Thursday pledged 40 million dollars to help save the Coral Triangle, the world's largest expanse of mangrove, coral reef and fish biodiversity, covering six nations. US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney made the announcement at the on-going...

Trouble In The Pipeline For Grey Whales Off Russia's Coast; Sakhalin Island Lagoon At The Center Of Dispute
Sakhalin, Russia - Oct 12, 2008 16:45 EST
The fate of the world’s few remaining Western Grey Whales now rests on the outcome of appeals to Russian authorities and courts following the refusal of an oil consortium to consider alternatives to a proposal to lay an oil pipeline...

Scientists Eye Marine Mollusks For New Drugs, Biofuels In Tropical Seas; 'A Truly Unique Effort'
Portland, Oregon - Oct 7, 2008 20:40 EST
The National Institutes of Health has awarded $4 million to a group of Philippine and American scientists led by Oregon Health & Science University to aid in the discovery of new molecules and biofuels technology from marine mollusks for development...

First As Malaysian Eco Resort Stops Serving Shark's Fin Soup; Finning 'Despicable And Shameful Practice'
Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia - Sep 27, 2008 16:32 EST
At least one resort here has started the ball rolling to prevent sharks being cruelly mutilated for their prized fins at sea. In doing so, it has become the first tourism establishment in the State - and perhaps the nation...

85 Tonnes Of Imported Whale Meat May Soon Be Abandoned; 'Helping Out Our Friends In Iceland'
Tokyo, Japan - Aug 27, 2008 19:14 EST
A Greenpeace investigation has revealed that around 85 tonnes of whale meat, sent to Japan in late May 2008 from Northern Europe, and for which the Japanese government has not yet received an application for import procedures, may have to...

Chinese Fisherman Reel In 'Record' 3,300-pound 'Stingray'
Hainan Sanya, China - Aug 11, 2008 18:06 EST
Early in the morning around 2:00am a fishing boat near Hainan Sanya in China caught what is likely to be one of the largest stingrays ever caught. Casting nets, the fishermen caught a 3,300 lbs Stingray, which took about 3 hours...

Skull Of India's Largest Estuarine Crocodile Preserved At Museum; 'We Cannot Keep Wildlife Skulls At Home'
Kendrapara, India - Jul 31, 2008 19:15 EST
The skull of an estuarine crocodile, the country's largest, preserved at a miniature museum at Orissa's Kendrapara district continues to attract reptile researchers. Shibendu Narayan Bhanjadeo, the scion of erstwhile Kanika Zamindari that ruled the river-locked Rajkanika region for over a...

Hero Dolphin Seen Trying To Rescue Filipino Fisherman From Drowning; Survivor Swears Off Dolphin Meat
Masbate, The Philippines - Jun 26, 2008 14:27 EST
A dolphin rescued a fisherman after his fishing boat capsized Saturday in the wake of typhoon "Frank" off Negros, although both of them died upon reaching the shore of Burias Island in Masbate. Online news site Visayan Daily Star reported Thursday...

Official Olympic Fish Killed By Barracuda Attack At Hong Kong Aquarium; Sturgeon Death 'Natural Phenomenon'
Hong Kong - Jun 24, 2008 17:40 EST
Chinese officials gave Hong Kong a ticking off Tuesday after one of five "Olympic" fish presented to the city by China ended up dead within days. The rare Chinese sturgeon, one of China's five Olympic symbols, died Monday, just four days...

Fate Of Eastern Pacific Tuna May Hinge On Historic Meeting; 'Tragedy Of The Commons'
Arllington, Virginia - Jun 19, 2008 11:35 EST
A historic meeting next week may decide the fate of tuna in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, one of the world's most important marine resources. The Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) has an opportunity at its annual meeting June 23 –...

'Dara', World's Only Captive Hairy-nosed Otter, Gets New Home; Search For 'Wife' Starts
Phnom Penh, Cambodia - Jun 18, 2008 19:34 EST
The world's only known hairy-nosed otter in captivity, one of the rarest and little known of otter species, got a new home and a Buddhist blessing today. Dara, a frisky young male rescued when his mother was killed by a...

Ouch: Boy Hospitalized After Angry Puffer Fish Goes Nuts
Phnom Phen, Cambodia - Jun 17, 2008 18:28 EST
A Cambodian teenager was recovering in hospital after an angry puffer fish attacked him in the groin, local media reported. The Khmer-language Koh Santepheap daily ran a picture of the unnamed 13-year-old in a hospital bed with heavy strapping around his...

Singapore Resort Mostly Drops Shark Fin Off Menus, Launches Conservation Fund; High Roller Exceptions
Singapore - May 29, 2008 09:32 EST
Resorts World at Sentosa (RWS) today launched a fund to sponsor research, education and conservation efforts related to marine life, to further the marine conservation cause. The RWS Marine Life Fund will dispatch up to S$100,000 each year in 2008...

Global Warming Affects World's Largest Freshwater Lake; Siberia's Lake Baikal Previously Thought Immune
Arlington, Virginia - Apr 30, 2008 20:41 EST
Russian and American scientists have discovered that the rising temperature of the world's largest lake, located in frigid Siberia, shows that this region is responding strongly to global warming. Drawing on 60 years of long-term studies of Russia's Lake Baikal, Stephanie...

Gharials, Monarchs Of Indian Rivers, Under Grave Threat; 'A National Crisis'
Delhi, India - Feb 13, 2008 18:11 EST
More than 90 gharials (Gangeticus gavialis) have been reported dead in the last 2 months in the National Chambal Sanctuary in India for yet-to-be diagnosed reasons. The monarch of Indian rivers is under severe threat. A team of international veterinarians...

Scientists Obtain Core Samples From Subsea Fault System Off Japan; New Data Source For Earthquake Research
Washington, D.C. - Feb 5, 2008 17:09 EST
The third expedition of the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program’s Nankai Trough Seismogenic Zone Experiment (NanTroSEIZE) completed its mission off the Kii Peninsula today. The expedition science party, 26 scientists representing 10 countries, set forth on Dec. 19, 2007, aboard the...

Starfish Outbreak Threatens 'corals Triangle' Off Indonesia; 'We Witnessed A Number Of Active Outbreaks'
New York, New York - Jan 14, 2008 18:06 EST
Outbreaks of the notorious crown of thorns starfish now threaten the “coral triangle,” the richest center of coral reef biodiversity on Earth, according to recent surveys by the Bronx Zoo-based Wildlife Conservation Society and ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral...

Malaysian Angler Catches 'Lucky' Horned Snakehead Fish; 'It's Not For Sale'
Sarawak, Borneo - Jan 9, 2008 19:11 EST
A Malaysian fisherman, Saibi Ramli, is looking forward to good times this year because he has caught what he calls his lucky fish -- a snakehead fish with a 2cm horn on its head. Saibi says he has never seen...

UN Report: Prospect For Rehabilitation 'Good' After Korean Oil Spill
New York, New York - Dec 27, 2007 14:44 EST
The prospects for rehabilitation after the worst oil spill in the history of the Republic of Korea (ROK) are good, thanks to quick and effective action by the Korean authorities, according to a joint United Nations-European Commission Assessment Team. Although emergency...

Global Warming Blamed For Drop In Philippines Tuna Catch; Sea Temps 'A Notch Higher'
General Santos City, The Philipines - Dec 14, 2007 15:51 EST
Admitting that there has been a steep decline of tuna catch over the last few years, one of the city's biggest tuna producers on Wednesday blamed global warming as among the reasons for the drop in tuna production. Marfenio Tan,...

Ukraine Godzilla Croc Dies After 6 Months On The Run; 'He Simply Cannot Be Buried'
Donetsk, Ukraine - Nov 30, 2007 14:10 EST
A crocodile that escaped from a travelling circus in Ukraine and evaded capture for six months died on Friday after two days back in captivity, officials said. "The crocodile was lying in the water and suddenly he just floated to the...

High Tide Flood Disrupts Flights, Forces Thousands To Flee Indonesia's Capital
Jakarta, Indonesia - Nov 27, 2007 15:50 EST
High tides flooded parts of the Indonesian capital with sea water, forcing tens of thousands of people to flee inundated homes and cutting off a toll road leading to the international airport, officials and media reports said Tuesday. Authorities installed...

Chef: Fake Shark Fins May Be Infiltrating The Taiwan Market, Endangering Consumers Health
Taiwan - Nov 24, 2007 15:04 EST
A chef specializing in shark fin soup warned consumers that many shark fins bought in Taiwan are fake and might pose a hazard to their health. Wang Chia-chuan, who works for a restaurant in Taichung, noted that the supply of shark...

Korean Expert Offers Explanation Of The Mysterious Chinese Lake 'Tianchi Monster'; Could Be 'Tianchi Trout'
China - Nov 15, 2007 13:58 EST
A senior researcher from the National Academy of Science of The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said the "Tianchi monster" a Chinese photographer caught on film last month is probably the mutated offspring of trout stocked by the North...

Marine Researcher Discovers New Species Of Sea Slug Off Taiwan Coast; 'Little Strawberry'
Taipei, Taiwan - Nov 14, 2007 15:01 EST
A new species of sea slug was discovered last month off the coast of Green Island by Taiwanese marine biologist Chen Ming-huei. It has been temporarily nicknamed "little strawberry" until an official name can be determined. Chen, a research assistant at...

Strange 'Prehistoric' Creature Pulled From Russian Pond Baffles Locals
Chelyabinsk, Russia - Nov 14, 2007 05:54 EST
According to a local report, A strange prehistoric creature has been found in the Russian city of Chelyabinsk. The creature, still unidentified, appeared in a flooded ditch at a construction site. Evidently the deep ditch was inundated by...

'Coral Mountains' Discovered Off Thailand Eyed As New Tourist Attractions
Phetchabun, Thailand - Oct 23, 2007 16:01 EST
Chon Daen district Tuesday announced the discovery of two "coral mountains", which are being touted as new tourist attractions. District chief Chartchai Petcharadhburanin said the survey team stumbled upon two limestone mountains in Ban Sappakai, 3-4 kilometres off Chon Daen-Nong...

Scientists: New Species Found In Philippines Waters; 'It's Going Back To The Source'
Manila, The Philippines - Oct 16, 2007 10:23 EST
U.S. and Philippine scientists may have discovered new marine species in the world's most biologically diverse region, their expedition leader said Tuesday. Dr. Larry Madin, who led the Inner Space Speciation Project in the Celebes Sea south of the Philippines, said...

Report: Illegal Divers Forced To Bomb, Dive Deep Reefs As Shallows Wiped Out; 'Many Have Died'
Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia - Oct 2, 2007 17:57 EST
The recent case of a Pulau Gaya fisherman getting the bends (bubbles in his veins) for descending to 52 metres (170ft) a fortnight ago is another sad statement on the state of Sabah's marine resources, according to Datuk Wilfred Lingham,...

Hundreds Of Fish Poisoned At Malaysia's Largest Aquarium; 'Not A Work Of Negligence'
Langkawi, Malaysia - Sep 26, 2007 14:47 EST
The main section of Malaysia's largest aquarium has been shut after about 600 fish died mysteriously, possibly because of deliberate poisoning, officials said Wednesday. The fish, including sharks, stingrays and groupers, died within hours Monday evening at the Langkawi...

Filipino Fishermen Alarmed As Past 2 Month's Tuna Hauls 'Worst In The Past 20 Years'
Mindanao, The Philippines - Sep 26, 2007 12:18 EST
Tuna canneries in Mindanao have cut production because of a global drop in the catch of the fish, with local fishermen saying that the yield in July and August alone was the worst in the past 20 years. "There was a...

Giant Whale Shark Caught, Slaughtered In China; 'Money Shark'
Lianjiang, China - Sep 21, 2007 06:36 EST
On September 13, 2007, early morning, fishermen from Lianjiang, Fujian Province caught a giant whale shark. It weighed 8.5 tons and was 8.5 meters long. After the whale shark was slaughtered, it was delivered to Zhejiang Province. There, it was...

Citing Conservation, Malaysian Environment Ministry To No Longer Serve Shark Fin Soup
Putrajaya, Malaysia - Sep 14, 2007 15:52 EST
Natural Resources and Environment Ministry and its agencies will no longer serve shark fin's soup at their functions. Minister Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid said this was the ministry's commitment to the Malaysian Nature Society's Selangor branch marine group's effort to encourage...

'Extinct' Baiji Dolphin Spotted In The Yangtze River; 'A Big White Animal'
Beijing, China - Aug 31, 2007 16:26 EST
The reported sighting of a Yangtze River dolphin, or Baiji, means there is still a chance for people to take further action and protect the cetaceans in the Yangtze from extinction, according to World Wildlife Fund. The Chinese media reported that...

Open Water: Japanese Diver Survives Ten-hour Ordeal At Sea Off Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Aug 22, 2007 17:38 EST
A Japanese man was plucked out of the waters off Malaysia after 10 hours adrift at sea after he went missing on a diving trip, news reports said Tuesday. The 32-year-old, whose family name was given as Miyazawa, was pulled...

Russian Agency Seeks 'Extremely Tight State Monopoly' Over Sturgeon, Black Caviar Trade
Moscow, Russia - Aug 21, 2007 14:32 EST
Russia's Federal Agency for Fisheries (Rosrybolovstvo) unveil a draft law on August 31 to introduce a state monopoly on trade in sturgeon and black caviar. The bill would be introduced at a meeting in the city of Astrakhan of the...

Indian Tourists Cautioned Over Killer Croc On The Prowl
Kendrapara, India - Aug 17, 2007 17:55 EST
Perturbed over reports of a giant 18-feet-long crocodile running amuck, the wildlife officialsl of Bhitarkanika National Park have cautioned the tourists and the locals settlers on possible attacks by the reptile. Lately the reptile has ensconced along the Khola water...