September 26, 2014
Ocean Roundup: Gulf Businesses Won’t Return BP Payouts, Whales May Have More than One Spleen, and More
– California’s Dungeness crab fishery is one of the state’s most valuable fisheries, but many of the crab traps get lost at sea. Some commercial fishermen in that industry recently paired with the University of California Davis to collect old derelict traps, and have caught 556 since July. Phys.org
– As part of efforts to crack down on illegal fishing, Somalia’s president ordered four South Korea fishing vessels into port because of breaking supposed local laws. Sources found that most of their catches are ending up in Italy, despite an EU ban on importing illegally caught fish. Aljazeera
– Earlier this week, a federal judge ruled that Gulf businesses don’t have to return payouts from BP following the 2010 spill. BP argued that a funding formula allowed businesses to overestimate how much they were owed. The Associated Press
– Researchers studying stranded whales in Brazil found that some whales have more than one spleen, including humpback, short-finned pilot whales, and melon-headed whale individuals. Researchers say this is likely an adaption for deep-diving behavior. Science
Long Read:
– The Gulf of Mexico’s red snapper fishery, one of its most valuable and important commercial fisheries, severely declined from 1965 to 1990. This article traces the recovery of red snapper in the Gulf by uncovering its cultural and economic significance. Texas Observer