Eat Your Anchovies: Fish Livers Contain Beneficial Fatty Acids
Almeria, Spain - Apr 28, 2011 15:27 EST
The fishing industry usually discards fish livers, but a team of researchers from the University of Almeria (Spain) has confirmed that they are a good source of polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are beneficial to health. Anchovies are one of the...

Through Unique Eyes, Box Jellyfish Look Out To The World Above The Water
Copenhagen, Denmark - Apr 28, 2011 14:49 EST
Box jellyfish may seem like rather simple creatures, but in fact their visual system is anything but. They've got no fewer than 24 eyes of four different kinds. Now, researchers reporting online on April 28 in Current Biology, a Cell...

Putting A Price On Sea Fish: Study Says Commercial Fishing Rights Lead To More Sustainable Fishing Methods
Gothenburg, Sweden - Apr 19, 2011 18:56 EST
Håkan Eggert's studies from Iceland and the Gullmar fjord on the Swedish west coast, reveal that when commercial fishermen are given fishing rights they voluntarily choose more sustainable fishing methods and earn far more. His research at the University of...

Researchers: Pumping Oxygenated Water Down To A Depth Of 120 Meters Can Save The Baltic Sea
Gothenburg, Sweden - Apr 18, 2011 19:43 EST
Scientists have shown that oxygenation can bring dead sea bottoms to life. This creates the necessary conditions for the establishment of new ecosystems that enable nature itself to deal with eutrophication. By conducting pilot studies in two fjords in Sweden,...

Rowing Expedition To Use First Miniature Sensors To Measure The Temperature Of The World's Oceans
Swanton Morley, UK - Apr 15, 2011 16:45 EST
The first miniature sensors designed to measure saltiness and temperature across the world's oceans will be put in use later this week on an ambitious expedition. A four-man team of officers from Swanton Morley, UK, will set off to row 3,100...

The Day After Tomorrow: Icy Meltwater Pooling In Arctic Ocean Becomes A Wild Card In Climate Change Scenarios
OOSTENDE, Belgium - Apr 5, 2011 17:27 EST
A massive, growing pool of icy meltwater in the Arctic Ocean is a wild card in future climate scenarios, European researchers said today. Estimated in 2009 at more than 7,500 cubic km – twice the volume of Africa's Lake Victoria...

Scientists: Arctic Ocean Has Become Less Salty, More Unstable
Bremerhaven, Germany - Mar 29, 2011 16:32 EST
The freshwater content of the upper Arctic Ocean has increased by about 20 percent since the 1990s. This corresponds to a rise of approximately 8,400 cubic kilometers and has the same magnitude as the volume of freshwater annually exported on...

Lab Records Sounds Of March 11 Japan Earthquake And Aftershocks From Underwater Observatories
Barcelona, Spain - Mar 23, 2011 11:04 EST
The Laboratory of Applied Bioacoustics (LAB), a unit of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), directed by Professor Michel André, has recorded the sound of the earthquake that shook Japan on Friday, March 11. The recording, now available online, was...

Study: Shallow-Water Shrimp Tolerates Deep-Sea Conditions; 'Probably Inherited From An Ancestral Species'
Southampton, U.K. - Mar 10, 2011 13:57 EST
By studying the tolerance of marine invertebrates to a wide range of temperature and pressure, scientists are beginning to understand how shallow-water species could have colonized the ocean depths. Scientists believe that climate changes at various at various times during Earth's...

Scottish Government Sanctions Cull Of Over 1,000 Seals; 'Three Seals Shot Every Single Day Is Too High A Price'
Edinburgh, Scotland - Feb 25, 2011 18:09 EST
The Scottish Government has published details on it's website of the number of seals that can be killed this year under the new seal licensing scheme introduced under the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010. Under the new scheme, 65 licenses have...

Semporna May Have Richest Marine Biodiversity In The World; Fish Species Counts Rival The Philippines, Greater Than Indonesia
Amsterdam, The Netherlands - Feb 23, 2011 18:12 EST
The preliminary results of the Semporna Marine Ecological Expedition (December 2010) indicate that Semporna may have the world's highest marine biodiversity. The expedition yielded a record number of 43 species of mushroom corals. Furthermore, some new species were discovered, among...

Archaeologists: Irish Medieval Fishing Site Will Be 'Lost To The Tide'
Dublin, Ireland - Feb 18, 2011 22:47 EST
One of Europe's best preserved medieval fishing structures located on the Fergus Estuary in County Clare, Ireland, will be washed away by tidal flows before archaeologists can reveal its secrets. A team of University College Dublin archaeologists who have been visiting...

More Deep-Sea Vents Discovered In The Southern Ocean; 'The Excitement Was Almost Overwhelming'
Southampton, U.K. - Feb 14, 2011 20:28 EST
Scientists aboard the Royal Research Ship James Cook have discovered a new set of deep-sea volcanic vents in the chilly waters of the Southern Ocean. The discovery is the fourth made by the research team in three years, which suggests...

Researchers Find Piece In Eel Puzzle; 'Their Migration To The Coast Is Very Risky For Them'
Charlottenlund, Denmark - Feb 9, 2011 18:09 EST
Researchers in Denmark and Norway are on a quest to uncover the truth behind the dwindling number of eel stocks. The study is funded in part by the EELIAD ('European eels in the Atlantic: assessment of their decline') project, which...

Rowdy Residents Warn Crustaceans Away From Perilous Reefs; 'Clicks, Pops, Chirps And Scrapes'
Bristol, UK - Feb 8, 2011 23:04 EST
Coral reefs present a treacherous wall of mouths to flea-sized planktonic crustaceans, but the clamor generated by animals on the reef may act like a foghorn to warn them away from danger. In the first study to examine the response to...

Scientists Warn Of Damage To Deep Seabed; 'It Is A Very Serious Problem'
Southampton, United Kingdom - Feb 8, 2011 21:58 EST
More regulation is needed before the ocean floor suffers even more widespread damage, the scientists say. Better data on human activities – where they're taking place and how much harm they are causing – is also vital to let us...

Researchers Publish Ocean Fertilization Summary For Policymakers; 'Modest' Impact?
Stockholm, Sweden - Jan 31, 2011 17:42 EST
Failure to tackle rising greenhouse gas emissions effectively has led to intensifying debate on geoengineering - deliberate large-scale schemes to slow the rate at which Earth is heating up. The public debate often mixes opinion with fact so scientists have...

Researchers: Monk Seal And Hump-Backed Dolphin Are Threatened By Fishing Activities Off Coast Of Mauritania
Madrid, Spain - Jan 21, 2011 19:03 EST
Catalan researchers have studied the marine trophic network in Mauritania, on the northwest coast of Africa, which is an extremely heavily exploited fishing area, as well as being home to two of the world's most threatened species of marine mammal...

New Species Of Crustacean Discovered In The El Cachucho Marine Protected Area
Madrid, Spain - Jan 20, 2011 14:24 EST
Researchers at the Spanish Intitute of Oceanography (IEO) have described a new species to science, the third species described to date in the El Cachucho Marine Protected Area. After scientific community acceptance of the isopod Haplomesus longiramus and the amphipod...

Research: Dramatic Ocean Circulation Changes Caused The Climate To Warm And Cool For Centuries At A Time
Cardiff, Wales - Jan 14, 2011 17:02 EST
The unusually cold weather this winter has been caused by a change in the winds. Instead of the typical westerly winds warmed by Atlantic surface ocean currents, cold northerly Arctic winds are influencing much of Europe. However, scientists have long...

Ammonites' Last Meal: New Light On Past Marine Food Chains; 'The Bigger Mouth Facilitates Feeding On Smaller Prey'
Grenoble, France - Jan 6, 2011 15:54 EST
Scientists have discovered direct evidence of the diet of one of the most important group of ammonites, distant relatives of squids, octopuses and cuttlefishes. The discovery may bring a new insight on why they became extinct 65.5 million years ago,...

Catfish Study Reveals Importance Of Being 'Similar But Different'
Bangor, Wales - Jan 5, 2011 16:36 EST
Peer into any stream in a South American rainforest and you may well see a small shoal of similar-looking miniature catfish. But don't be fooled into thinking that they are all the same species. An extensive investigation of South American Corydoras...

Research: Jellyfish Counterattack In Winter; 'They Can Reproduce Rapidly If The Conditions Are Right'
Madrid, Spain - Dec 14, 2010 17:37 EST
A study carried out over 50 years by an international team, with the participation of the Balearic Oceanography Centre of the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO) has confirmed an increase in the size and intensity of proliferations of the jellyfish...

Aussie University Completes World's First Climate Change Reef Experiment Facility
Brisbane, Australia - Dec 7, 2010 17:16 EST
In a world first, a new 'state of the art' climate change experimental facility has been completed at the University of Queensland's Heron Island Research Station. The Climate Change Mesocosm (CCM) project led by Associate Professor Sophie Dove and Dr....

Scientists Measure Air-Sea Exchange Of Carbon Dioxide In The Open Ocean; 'Bubbles In Whitecaps Play A Significant Role'
Southampton, Hampshire - Dec 6, 2010 21:00 EST
A team led by scientists at the United Kingdom's National Oceanography Centre have measured the air-sea exchange of carbon dioxide in the open ocean at higher wind speed then anyone else has ever managed. Their findings are important for understanding...

Unprecedented Shark Conservation Action Taken By Atlantic Tuna Commission; 'Particularly Pleased'
Paris, France - Nov 27, 2010 18:32 EST
Shark Advocates International is welcoming progress toward conserving sharks made at this week's annual meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). After considering a record number (six) of proposals for shark measures, the...

Pew: Governments Incapable Of Managing Tuna; Fisheries Management 'Flawed And Inadequate'
Paris, France - Nov 27, 2010 18:20 EST
Dr. Susan Lieberman, director of international policy for the Pew Environment Group, issued this statement today in response to decisions made at this year's meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas. "ICCAT member governments today adopted...

Greenpeace Genetic Tinned Tuna Tests Reveals Trail Of Fishy Secrets; Industry 'Hoodwinking Both Consumers And Retailers'
Vienna, Germany - Nov 25, 2010 15:28 EST
The first independent, public genetic tests into the contents of popular tinned tuna brands from twelve countries have uncovered evidence of the tuna industry's complete disregard for both consumers and the future sustainability of tuna stocks said Greenpeace today [1]....

Geometry And Energy Conservation: Whale Sharks Do The Math To Avoid That Sinking Feeling
Swansea, U.K. - Nov 25, 2010 15:10 EST
They are the largest fish species in the ocean, but the majestic gliding motion of the whale shark is, scientists argue, an astonishing feat of mathematics and energy conservation. In new research published today in the British Ecological Society's journal...

Seeing Through The Bubbles: Scientists Develop New 'TWIPS' Sonar Inspired By Dolphins
Southampton, U.K. - Nov 17, 2010 17:55 EST
Scientists at the University of Southampton have developed a new kind of underwater sonar device that can detect objects through bubble clouds that would effectively blind standard sonar. Just as ultrasound is used in medical imaging, conventional sonar 'sees' with sound....

Great White Sharks Ended Up In The Mediterranean After Taking 'Wrong Turn' 450,000 Years Ago
Aberdeen, Scotland - Nov 17, 2010 17:21 EST
A navigational error, possibly by a few pregnant females, around 450,000 years ago during a time of global climate change, probably prompted them to take a 'wrong turn', according to research published today (Wednesday, November 17) in Proceedings of the...

No Red Herrings As Scot Zoo Sea Lions Switch To Certified Sustainable Diet
Edinburgh, Scotland - Nov 15, 2010 19:00 EST
Sea lions at the Edinburgh Zoo are now enjoying a full diet of MSC certified sustainable herring. The move comes after the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) made it their goal to source all of its marine animal food...

How Diving Leatherback Turtles Regulate Buoyancy: By Holding Their Breath
Swansea, United Kingdom - Nov 12, 2010 17:12 EST
A group of Welsh scientists have shed light on a mystery of the oceans: how do turtle regulate their buoyancy when diving deep? Their research has revealed that leatherback turtles control their buoyancy by the amount of air the...

Ecologists Get Fish Eye View Of Sexual Signals; 'New Insights Into How Females May Use Color To Choose The Best Mates'
Exeter, Devon - Nov 9, 2010 19:24 EST
Carotenoid pigments are the source of many of the animal kingdom's most vivid colors; flamingos' pink feathers come from eating carotenoid-containing shrimps and algae, and carotenoid colors can be seen among garden birds in blackbirds' orange beaks and blue tits'...

To Punish Or Not To Punish: Lessons From Reef Fish And Saber-Tooth Blennies
Cambridge, Massachusetts - Nov 4, 2010 21:22 EST
Researchers have experimentally shown that some species of reef fish will enact punishment on the parasitic saber-tooth blennies that stealthily attack them from behind and take a bite, even though their behavior offers no immediate gain. The study, published online...

King Crab Distributions Limited By Temperature 'Thermal Barrier' In The Southern Ocean
Southampton, UK - Nov 1, 2010 20:18 EST
Invasions of voracious predatory crabs due to global warming could threaten the unique continental-shelf ecosystems of Antarctica, according to newly published findings. "King crabs are ecologically important predators and form the basis of economically significant commercial fisheries," said Dr Sven...

Vacuum Cleaners Made Of Recycled Sea Garbage Unveiled, Addressing 'The Need For Better Plastic Karma'
Stockholm, Sweden - Oct 28, 2010 12:01 EST
Electrolux has unveiled five vacuum cleaners made from plastic waste collected from the world's oceans. The launch of the unique vacuums marks the next chapter and continuation of the "Vac from the Sea" initiative that aims to raise awareness around...

Scientists: Mysterious Seal 'Corkscrew Killers' Are Likely Boats; 'Sucked Through Large Ducted Propellers'
St Andrews, Scotland - Oct 27, 2010 18:33 EST
Scientists investigating the mysterious spate of fatal 'corkscrew' injuries to seals in the UK believe that boats are to blame. The preliminary findings from a report by experts at the University of St Andrews reject previous claims that the unusual fatalities...

Research Proves 'Gender-Bending' Chemicals Affect Reproduction; 'Linked With Human Health Impacts Too'
Exeter, Devon - Oct 26, 2010 18:50 EST
New research has provided the first evidence that 'gender bending' chemicals which find their way from human products into rivers and oceans can have a significant impact on the ability of fish to breed in UK Rivers. The findings from the...

Research: First As Female Fish Shown To Flaunt Fins To Attract A Mate
Bonn, Germany - Oct 8, 2010 19:38 EST
For the first time, biologists have described the evolution of the size of a female trait which males use to choose a partner. The research, published in the open access journal BMC Evolutionary Biology, shows that male cichlid fish prefer...