Ocean Roundup: Dolphins Use Whistles as Names, Conservationists Call for Removal of Queensland Shark Nets, and More - Oceana USA
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November 24, 2014

Ocean Roundup: Dolphins Use Whistles as Names, Conservationists Call for Removal of Queensland Shark Nets, and More

– A new study has unlocked a key to dolphin communication: The Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin and the common bottlenose dolphin use whistle sounds as names for each other, even in the wild. The researchers say this is an important step to understanding how human activity may be affecting these species. Phys.org

Australian conservationists are calling for shark nets—intended to catch sharks and reduce the number of shark attacks—off Australia’s Queensland Coast to be removed in an effort to reduce bycatch. So far, eight whales have become caught in the nets this whale migration season, as well as multiple turtles, dolphins, and rays. ABC News

A Philippines court delivered hefty fines to nine Chinese fishermen accused of poaching and catching 555 endangered sea turtles this past May at Half Moon Shoal. China says the fishermen were in their own waters, but the Philippines say they were in their Exclusive Economic Zone. The Associated Press

Long Read:

– As more coral reef communities die off from ocean acidification and other effects of climate change, scientists are busy searching for techniques to save and rejuvenate corals. At the Mote Tropical Research Laboratory, scientists are testing microfragmenting—a process of planting small coral reef fragments to later transfer to dead or dying reefs. The New York Times

– For the past few years, a group of governors from coastal states has worked through a group called the Outer Continental Shelf Governors Coalition to push for offshore oil and gas exploration, but it turns out that they have drawn on resources of an oil industry-funded advocacy group. In this long read, the Center for Public Integrity looks at the role corporate interests have played in the push for offshore oil and gas exploration off the Atlantic Coast. Time