Ocean Roundup: Giant Cuttlefish Decline Remains a Mystery, President Obama Creates World's Largest MPA, and More - Oceana USA
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September 25, 2014

Ocean Roundup: Giant Cuttlefish Decline Remains a Mystery, President Obama Creates World’s Largest MPA, and More

An Australian Giant Cuttlefish (Sepia apama) crosses a seagrass bed. Shelly Beach, Manly, NSW

Federal officials say the endangered Hawaiian monk seal population may be making a slow comeback. Pup numbers have slowly increased from previous years, from 103 individuals in 2013 to 121 this year. The Dodo

– Today, President Obama will sign a proclamation expanding the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument into a 490,000 square mile area, which will ban commercial fishing and development in the area. The move expands the reserve to six times its current size and makes it the largest marine protected area in the world. The Washington Post

– A new study shows that oil discharge on Canada’s Pacific coast is a major threat to marine ecosystems. The study also found that oil from recreational activities, like passenger traffic and fisheries, has more of an impact than cargo ships and oil tankers. Summit County Citizens Voice

Long Read:

Giant cuttlefish used to breed in the hundreds of thousands in South Australian waters, but their numbers have dropped by 93 percent. Scientists aren’t sure why, but speculate the decline could be from pollution, water temperature – or that it’s not an actual decline, and that previous numbers were an unusual bloom. Australian Geographic

– Following President Obama’s move to expand the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, this Q&A answers questions about the wildlife protected by the reserve, how this benefits the ecosystem, and more. National Geographic