Scientists Discover Possible Hammerhead Shark Nursery in Ecuador's Galapagos
.The so-called "nursery" would be the first breeding site for smooth hammerheads, or Sphyrna zygaena, in the Galapagos if confirmed, the park said.The smooth hammerhead is one of nine known species of hammerhead shark. It is considered "vulnerable" on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's list of threatened species.Scientists on a Greenpeace expedition toured the Galapagos Marine Reserve several weeks ago, spotting a young female hammerhead off of Isabela Island, the Galapagos' largest island, and tagging her.Researchers will continue to monitor the shark to
All American Marine to Build Research Vessel for Cal Poly Humboldt
to receive this contract for another multi-mission research vessel that will service a variety of critical missions such as offshore research, oceanographic surveys, and ocean monitoring, as well as informing the emergent offshore wind market on the west coast. This vessel will open a new era of ocean conservation and research capabilities.&rdquo
Coral Reefs Suffer Fourth Global Bleaching Event
than 54% of the reef areas in the global ocean are experiencing bleaching-level heat stress," Coral Reef Watch coordinator Derek Manzello said.Announcement of the latest global bleaching event was made jointly by NOAA and the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), a global intergovernmental conservation partnership. For an event to be deemed global, significant bleaching must occur in all three ocean basins - the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian - within a 365-day period.Like this year's bleaching event, the last three - in 1998, 2010 and 2014-2017 - also coincided with an El Nino climate pattern
Fugro and PlanBlue Partner to Advance Habitat Mapping Technology
habitat mapping solutions, systematically studying and documenting the characteristics and distribution of critical marine ecosystems such as seagrass and corals. Habitat mapping helps in understanding their ecological importance, assessing their condition, monitoring changes over time, and informing conservation and management efforts.Roughly 75% of the ocean floor remains unexplored, and even parts that have been explored lack detailed information, especially regarding the ocean's impact on climate and food security. The development of this new capability aims to improve the speed, accuracy, and
Fugro On Call for Italy’s Ecosystem Restoration Project
marine habitats.“The MER Project represents a milestone in marine ecosystem restoration. We’re delighted with this opportunity from ISPRA to demonstrate our commitment to environmental stewardship and climate resilience.“Our Geo-data for this transformative project will support the conservation and restoration of Italy's coastal and marine ecosystems for generations to come spearheading the drive towards a sustainable future for Italy's marine heritage, for a safer and more liveable world,” said Mark Heine, Fugro’s CEO
Rice’s Whales Heard in the Western Gulf of Mexico
Mexican waters.The paper, "Rice's whale occurrence in the western Gulf of Mexico from passive acoustic recordings", was published in the Marine Mammal Science journal on February 13, 2024.What this means for Rice’s whalesThis discovery has many implications for the management and conservation of Rice’s whales. The results of this research will be used to inform management decisions for this endangered species.Three locations where Rice’s whales were detected with High-frequency Acoustic Recording Packages (HARPs, represented by black dots) in the western Gulf of Mexico
HydroSurv Funded to Commercialize Robotic Seagrass Solution
days of on-water testing and data, showing seasonal variation over the project’s 9-month duration.Dubbed SONARS (Seagrass Observation using Novel Acoustic Remote Sensing), the project will see HydroSurv work with Coastal Marine Applied Research (CMAR) from the University of Plymouth, the Ocean Conservation Trust, Falmouth Harbour and the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.The technology package has already significantly advanced seagrass mapping capabilities. HydroSurv started to develop the non-invasive solution, with Innovate UK support, in early 2022 in collaboration with the University
Voyis Provides Subsea Tech for Galápagos Coral Expedition
.This digital reconstruction will provide accessible insights for scientists and the public alike.The insights gained from this expedition will not only advance the understanding of these understudied ecosystems but also provide a critical reference point for evaluating human impact and shaping future conservation efforts
US Announces $27 Million for Pacific Salmon Research
salmon life-cycle computer models and including ecosystem parameters to inform management strategies that rely on predictions of Pacific salmon abundance.Restoration, recovery and reintroduction techniques: Assessing habitat restoration effectiveness, improving methods to determine meaningful conservation and management decisions and measuring the ability of reintroduced salmon to adapt to future environmental conditions.Habitat stressors in freshwater and estuary environments: Investigating the impacts of stormwater pollutants on salmon to include using toxicity data in management decisions.Ocean
February 2024
