Bahamian Scientist’s Turtle Research To Be Published In Major Science Journal; 'the Highlight Of My Scientific Career'
Charleston, North Carolina - Jul 20, 2009 21:43 EST
A young Bahamian scientist’s groundbreaking study on freshwater turtles has earned him the opportunity to be featured in one of the world’s leading international journals. Stefan Moss, who spent two years collecting samples and data from the reptiles he encountered...

Study: Ganges River Dolphin In Dire Straits; 'Their Habitat Is Also Being Degraded By Human Activities'
Washington, D.C. - Jul 20, 2009 21:19 EST
Dolphin hotspots must be protected if the Ganges River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica gangetica) is to survive in the Brahmaputra river system, according to a recent study. Estimates have put the total population of the Ganges River Dolphins at around 2,000. Out...

Shark Week Is Back... And Its Got Bite! Shark Week 2009 Schedule Released
Miami, Florida - Jul 19, 2009 18:54 EST
Shark Week, cable television's longest-running programming event is back for its 22nd year. Shark Week 2009 will kick off on Sunday August 2, with a two hour hair-raising special about the true story behind Jaws. During the week, Survivorman,...

Santa Margarita Shipwreck 'Ghost Trail' Reveals Broken Anchor And Rock; 'Impact Zone' Elusive
Key West, Florida - Jul 17, 2009 18:56 EST
For the past four years, Keith Webb’s Blue Water Ventures Key West, a joint venture partner of Mel Fisher’s Treasures, has been searching for – and discovering – sunken treasures of silver, gold, and pearls in the waters near the...

Scientists Say That Microbial Mats In Shallow Water Built 3.4-Billion-Year-Old Stromatolites
Pasadena, California - Jul 16, 2009 16:49 EST
Stromatolites are dome- or column-like sedimentary rock structures that are formed in shallow water, layer by layer, over long periods of geologic time. Now, researchers from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) have provided...

Researchers Reveal Sexual Habits Of The 'Dinosaurs Of The Sea'; First Evidence Of 'Complex Foreplay'
Perth, Australia - Jul 15, 2009 21:55 EST
A Perth-led international research team has found that the males of some ancient fish species — known as dinosaurs of the sea — had erectile elements used to impregnate females, just like modern day sharks. The research led by Curtin...

Scientists Report First Remote, Underwater Detection Of Harmful Algae, Toxins
Washington, D.C. - Jul 14, 2009 22:30 EST
Scientists at NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science and the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) have successfully conducted the first remote detection of a harmful algal species and its toxin below the ocean’s surface. The achievement was recently...

NOAA Bans Commercial Harvesting Of Krill; 'The Foundation For A Healthy Marine Ecosystem'
Washington, D.C. - Jul 14, 2009 22:04 EST
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) today published a final rule in the Federal Register prohibiting the harvesting of krill in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off the coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington. The rule goes into effect...

Researchers: Shark Cage Diving Operations Off Hawaii Are Safe; 'No Increase In Shark Attacks'
Manoa, Hawaii - Jul 14, 2009 21:24 EST
A study by five university researchers—including four from the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa—concludes that existing shark cage diving enterprises in Hawai‘i have a negligible effect on public safety. The paper, “Seasonal cycles and long-term trends in abundance and species composition...

Experts: Microplankton Survived Mass Extinction By Leading A Double Life, Hiding On The Seafloor
Nottingham, U.K. - Jul 14, 2009 20:54 EST
Drifting across the world's oceans are a group of unicellular marine microorganisms that are not only a crucial source of food for other marine life — but their fossils, which are found in abundance, provide scientists with an extraordinary record...

Ancient Shipwreck Found Off Dominican Coast; 'Finding Sunken Treasure Is A Fantasy'
Miami, Florida - Jul 9, 2009 16:19 EST
Marine Exploration, Inc. and joint venture partner Hispaniola Ventures, LLC recently located a previously undiscovered shipwreck on the North West Reef of the Silver Bank, Dominican Republic. The artifacts recovered during the proofing excavations have proved to date the ship...

Underwater Exploration Seeks Evidence Of Early Americans; 'We Have Found The Haystack'
Erie, Pennsylvania - Jul 9, 2009 16:16 EST
Where the first Americans came from, when they arrived and how they got here is as lively a debate as ever, only most of the research to date has focused on dry land excavations. But, last summer’s pivotal underwater exploration...

New Study Ranks 'hotspots' Of Human Impact On Coastal Areas; Mississippi River 'Hottest Hotspot'
Santa Barbara, California - Jul 9, 2009 15:32 EST
Coastal marine ecosystems are at risk worldwide as a result of human activities, according to scientists at UC Santa Barbara who have recently published a study in the Journal of Conservation Letters. The authors have performed the first integrated analysis...

Research: Freshwater Fish A Staple In Early Human Diet Even Before 'Effective Fishing Gear'
Vancouver, BC Canada - Jul 7, 2009 22:06 EST
Freshwater fish was a staple diet for humans as early as 40,000 years ago, according to a new study led by UBC anthropologist Michael Richards. Richards and a team of researchers from China and the U.S. analyzed stable isotope ratios found...

Florida Releases Public Health Resource Guide On Harmful Algal Blooms
Tallahassee, Florida - Jul 7, 2009 21:00 EST
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Florida Department of Health recently released a new tool to assist local health officials when responding to harmful algal blooms in Florida. The Resource Guide for Public Health Response to...

World's Largest Ocean Observatory Near Completion; 'This Is Truly Transformative Science'
Victoria, BC - Jul 6, 2009 21:25 EST
Canada is about to take the world on a 25-year non-stop research expedition—into the deep ocean. Over the next two-and-a-half months, a team of scientists and marine engineers will complete the installation off British Columbia of NEPTUNE Canada, the world’s largest...

Florida's Billfish Foundation Unveils 'Release' Certificates; 'Both An Instant Conversation And Conservation Piece'
Fort Lauderdale, Florida - Jul 6, 2009 21:11 EST
The Billfish Foundation (TBF) is proud of its signature Tag & Release program now in its 20th year, and has added a new and striking “billfish release” certificate for anglers worldwide wanting to document that special fishing moment. And now’s a...

Rescued 'Obama' Turtle Released Off Key West; 'Freedom On America's Independence Day'
Key West, Florida - Jul 6, 2009 21:03 EST
A recovered loggerhead sea turtle named after President Barack Obama was released in the Atlantic Ocean off Key West Saturday. “Obama” was rescued on Key West’s Higgs Beach Jan. 19, the day before President Obama was sworn in as the 44th...

Code Name Oceania: Shark Divers Announces World’s Newest White Shark Aggregation Site; 'Untamed Nature'
San Diego, California - Jul 5, 2009 18:32 EST
Shark Divers CEO Patric Douglas unveiled the world’s newest white shark aggregation site exclusively for film and television productions today with the release of the first ever video of these animals. “We have code-named the site ‘Oceania,’” says Douglas. “Its exact...

Scientist To Study If Tiny Nanoparticles May Pose Big Risks; 'We Are Just Beginning To Frame Questions'
Clemson, South Carolina - Jul 2, 2009 16:32 EST
Clemson scientist Stephen Klaine has been awarded two $400,000 EPA grants to study a subject that did not exist a decade ago. Klaine is part of the young field of nano-ecotoxicology: the investigation of the impact that nanoparticles have on...

All In Sight: Scientists Test Infrared System To Detect Whales; Software Searches For The Whale Spout
Bremerhaven, Germany - Jul 2, 2009 16:06 EST
A new measurement system for the detection of whales is used for the first time on board of the research vessel Polarstern. Whales are usually difficult to spot. On the one hand, they spend the greater part of their life...

Researchers: King Crab Evolution Tied To Temperature; Driven To Go Deep To Avoid Hot Water
Southampton, U.K. - Jul 2, 2009 15:59 EST
Researchers from the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, have drawn together 200 years' worth of oceanographic knowledge to investigate the distribution of a notorious deep-sea giant – the king crab. The results, published this week in the Journal of Biogeography, reveal...

Florida Coral Nurseries Snag $350K In 'Stimulus' Funding To Aid In Reef Recovery
Miami, Florida - Jul 2, 2009 13:56 EST
As the nation celebrates its birth on the 4th of July, University of Miami (UM) Professor Diego Lirman and fellow Caribbean coral reef nursery scientists will be celebrating as well. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) today announced that...

Rare Treat As Humpback Whale Spotted By Researchers Off Western Scotland
Tobermory, Isle of Mull - Jul 1, 2009 20:56 EST
The Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust’s (HWDT) research vessel Silurian had a very special encounter on the 29th June. The crew were conducting a research survey between South Uist and Coll when one of the volunteers spotted a large, bushy...

Researchers Survey Mid-Atlantic Ridge Looking For New Life Forms, Clues To Deep-sea Communities
Washington, D.C. - Jun 30, 2009 22:30 EST
An international team of researchers is surveying the Mid-Atlantic Ridge halfway between Iceland and the Azores to determine its biodiversity and perhaps discover new species and clues to deep-sea food webs. The project is part of a 16-nation effort to...

How Whales And Seals Evolved To Dive In The Sea: Study Uncovers The Molecular Traces Of Evolution
Liverpool, U.K. - Jun 29, 2009 21:41 EST
An aquatic lifestyle imposes serious demands for the organism, and this is true even for the tiniest molecules that form our body. When the ancestors of present marine mammals initiated their return to the oceans, their physiology had to adapt...

Study: Global 'Coastal Syndrome' Quickly Leading To Loss Of Coastal Seagrass Habitat
Cambridge, Maryland - Jun 29, 2009 20:38 EST
An international team of scientists warns that accelerating losses of seagrasses across the globe threaten the immediate health and long-term sustainability of coastal ecosystems. The team has compiled and analyzed the first comprehensive global assessment of seagrass observations and found...

Wadden Sea And Philippines's Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park Added To UNESCO's World Heritage List
New York, New York - Jun 26, 2009 18:27 EST
The World Heritage Committee, chaired by María Jesús San Segundo, the Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Spain to UNESCO, has inscribed the Wadden Sea on the World Heritage List as a transboundary property for Germany and the Netherlands. The Committee also...

Underwater Voyeurs Encouraged To View Florida Keys' Annual Coral 'Love Affair'
Miami, Florida - Jun 26, 2009 18:22 EST
Underwater voyeurs are to vie for spots to dive Florida Keys reefs to view the annual coral "love affair" traditionally sparked by the August and September full moons. This rare exchange of reproductive cells fascinates divers for the sheer volume...

New Fossil Tells How Piranhas Got Their Teeth; 'So What Happened To The Seventh Tooth?'
Durham, North Carolina - Jun 25, 2009 17:06 EST
the legendary freshwater fish with the razor bite — get their telltale teeth? Researchers from Argentina, the United States and Venezuela have uncovered the jawbone of a striking transitional fossil that sheds light on this question. Named Megapiranha paranensis, this...

Georgia Aquarium Welcomes 10 Millionth Guest; 'Everyone Can Appreciate The Majesty Of The Earth's Oceans'
Atlanta, Georgia - Jun 25, 2009 17:00 EST
When Bernie Marcus cut the ribbon on the Georgia Aquarium in November 2005, he envisioned millions of people coming to visit and experiencing the treasures of the oceans, rivers and seas. On Thursday, June 25, the Georgia Aquarium welcomed its...

Research: High Carbon Dioxide Levels Cause Abnormally Large Fish Ear Bones; Departure From 'normality Is An Abnormality'
San Diego, California - Jun 25, 2009 15:29 EST
Rising carbon dioxide levels in the ocean have been shown to adversely affect shell-forming creatures and corals, and now a new study by researchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego has shown for the first time that...

Research: Close Relationship Between Past Warming And Sea-level Rise; C02 Suggests 25 Meter Sea Level Rise
Tübingen, Germany - Jun 25, 2009 15:20 EST
In a paper in Nature Geoscience, a team from the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton (NOCS), along with colleagues from Tübingen (Germany) and Bristol presents a novel continuous reconstruction of sea level fluctuations over the last 520 thousand years. Comparison of...

Study: Third Of Open Ocean Sharks Threatened With Extinction By Overfishing; 'Virtually Unprotected On The High Seas'
Gland, Switzerland - Jun 24, 2009 21:46 EST
The first study to determine the global conservation status of 64 species of open ocean (pelagic) sharks and rays reveals that 32 percent are threatened with extinction, primarily due to overfishing, according to the IUCN Shark Specialist Group. The percentage...

Scientists At Florida University Collaborate With Egypt To Advance Marine Research In The Red Sea
Miami, Florida - Jun 24, 2009 20:54 EST
Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at FAU Pledge to Cooperate on Oceanographic Research and Education--Scientists will work jointly to advance marine research in the Red Sea. Florida Atlantic University and the Egyptian Ministry...

'Bycatch' Whaling A Growing Threat To Coastal Whales Off Japan, Korea; $100,000 For A Minke
Newport, Oregon - Jun 23, 2009 22:01 EST
Scientists are warning that a new form of unregulated whaling has emerged along the coastlines of Japan and South Korea, where the commercial sale of whales killed as fisheries "bycatch" is threatening coastal stocks of minke whales and other protected...

How Can The World's Fisheries Be Sustainable? 'One Of The Most Important Natural Assets To Humankind'
Halifax, Nova Scotia - Jun 22, 2009 21:51 EST
According to the most recent report on the status of the world's fisheries by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, fisheries supply at least 15% of the animal protein consumed by humans, provide direct and indirect employment for nearly...

Scientists Study Subseafloor Sediment In South Pacific Gyre; 'We Deliberately Went Where No One Ever Goes'
Narragansett, Rhode Island - Jun 22, 2009 21:28 EST
An international oceanographic research expedition to the middle of the South Pacific Gyre – a site that is as far from continents as it is possible to go on Earth's surface – found so few organisms beneath the seafloor that...

Polar Bear And Walrus Populations In Trouble: Federal Studies Show Tenuous Future For Arctic Icons
Anchorage, Alaska - Jun 22, 2009 18:19 EST
Today, responding to a court-ordered deadline, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released long-overdue reports documenting the status of polar bears and Pacific walrus in Alaska. The reports confirm that polar bears in Alaska are declining and that Pacific walrus...

Serial Killers: Geographic Profiling Applied To Track Hunting Patterns Of Great White Sharks In South Africa
Virginia Key, Florida - Jun 22, 2009 08:52 EST
Predation is one of the most fundamental and fascinating interactions in nature, and sharks are some of the fiercest predators on Earth. However, their hunting pattern is difficult to study because it is rarely observed in the wild. As a...