New research from UiB has found that a certain kind of tunicate (marine filter feeder that lives on the ocean floor, on piers and on ship ropes) can be used as a renewable source of biofuel and fish food. If this is a successful replacement for fishmeal, aquaculture industries will greatly benefit as the struggle to find the right food for farmed fish comes to an end. This tunicate (ascidiacea) grows very quickly, isn’t important in the food chain and can be found all over the ocean, making it an ideal source for biofuel and fish food.
Check out this great blog post from a marine scientist who doesn’t think that marine protected areas (MPAs) are going to be enough to save our oceans. He talks about how we can’t just focus our efforts on certain areas of the ocean, but instead need to work together to protect the ocean as a whole.
American lobster may not be on the menu this season. Photo credit: Roberto Rodríguez.
The extended winter has driven American lobster (Homarus americanus) prices so high that many restaurants have started to remove them from their menus. The current price is more than 30 percent higher than it was at this time last year.
A new survey by Stanford’s Woods Institute for the Environment found that the majority of Americans are convinced that sea level rise resulting from climate change poses a serious threat to the United States. The survey found that most Americans want preventative action to be taken, particularly in coastal towns.
A new study has identified areas off southern California with the highest number of whales and analyzed their risk of ship strikes. By locating areas with high numbers of whales, managers may be able to alter shipping routes in order to reduce the risk of potentially fatal ship strikes. Watch the video in the post to learn more about it.
Aplysia californica, a species of sea slug. Photo credit: Genny Anderson.
It sounds gross, but it’s incredibly effective. Sea hares, a type of sea slug with ear-like appendages, squirt an inky mucus-like substance at its enemies that prevents them from smelling. When lobsters came in contact with the mucus, they were unable to sense their prey and instead tried to clean themselves, leaving plenty of time for the sea hare to get away.
Nationals Senator Ron Boswell is calling for mandatory signs to be displayed at seafood shops, cafes and restaurants, stating weather the cooked fish is “top-quality” local Australian seafood or “a cheap import”. There are already laws for uncooked seafood at markets, but currently signs for cooked fish are only required in the Northern Territory.
The title says it all. Check out this time-lapsed video of a 400 meter Maersk Triple E-class ship being built. This 65-day process is condensed into only 76 seconds. Simply amazing.
Humpback whale fluke. Photo credit: NOAA.