November 17, 2014
Ocean News: Loggerhead Sea Turtles Can Get the Bends, Global Sea Surface Temperatures at Highest Point, and More
– The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) announced that it was adding Pacific bluefin tuna to their “red list” of threatened species during the 2014 World Parks Congress in Sydney. The group cited its massive demand in Asian sushi and sashimi markets as reasons for population declines over the past 22 years. Business Insider
– A new British-based study found that the public has low awareness of ocean acidification, with only one in five Brits knowing what ocean acidification is. The survey also found that the public’s understanding of the issue did not significantly increase after the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released reports on the issue last April. Phys.org
– New research shows that loggerhead sea turtles, like humans, can get Decompression sickness (DCS), or more commonly known as the bends. This new study shows that sea turtles that may appear lively and healthy after getting caught in commercial fishing nets may actually die after their release back into the water. The Zoological Society of London
– Last week, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) reversed a previous decision on Pacific bluefin tuna—which have declined by 96 percent after commercial fishing began—allowing California fishermen to keep 2,204 pounds of Pacific bluefin tuna each fishing trip. NMFS had previously closed the fishery in September after catches exceeded quote limits to prevent overfishing. Center for Biological Diversity
– University of Hawaii researchers say global sea surface temperatures have reached their warmest point since record keeping began in 1854. Researchers attribute record-breaking greenhouse gas emissions and weak North Pacific trade wins as causes of temperature increase. Quartz