July 4, 2014
Ocean News: National Aquarium Launches Sustainable Seafood Program, Seahorses Can Growl, and More
– The National Aquarium launched a Sustainable Seafood Program earlier this week. The program will enhance seafood education, foster links between local fishermen and local markets, and improve opportunities for restaurants to serve local seafood. The Baltimore Sun
– This week, The New York Times Upshot column looked at a 1964 article on halibut when it was in peak season—and catches were much higher. The article highlights that 2012 catch quotas for Pacific halibut are just over half of the 1964 catch, and the Atlantic population is so depleted it’s mostly off-limits to commercial fishing. The New York Times
– It’s long been known that seahorses make clicking noises during courtship or feeding, but new research shows that seahorses also growl. Scientists think the seahorses make this noise when threatened—such as being chased by a predator—to alert other seahorses to the danger, or to startle the predator. io9
– Scientists say that the Australian snubfin and humpback dolphins, two little-known Australian dolphin species, are at risk of localized extinction from coastal development. Tissue samples found that populations within the species have limited gene flow, making them particularly susceptible to dredging, construction, and increased shipping. The Guardian
Infographic:
– Want to get a sense of how deep the ocean really is? This new infographic from Xkcd.com maps out the deep ocean for you—from the depth of the Mariana Trench to the maximum diving depth of sperm whales. Business Insider