Ocean Roundup: Gulf of Maine Cod Fishery Closed, Climate Change Worsening Dead Zones, and More - Oceana USA
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November 11, 2014

Ocean Roundup: Gulf of Maine Cod Fishery Closed, Climate Change Worsening Dead Zones, and More

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Researchers have discovered that they can examine how much plastic debris seabirds ingest on the open ocean by studying its concentration in birds’ preening oil. The scientists say this will help them understand how trash is affecting other marine species. ABC

A new study revealed 24 different ways that climate change is worsening dead zones. The researchers studied 476 dead zones around the world, and found that climate change exacerbates a vicious cycle where once wildlife is eliminated, dead zones can increase in temperature. Grist

Federal fishery managers have enacted a six-month ban on all cod commercial fishing in the Gulf of Maine. Fishery managers made the decision—which will severely impact the livelihood of many fishermen—after finding that cod numbers had drastically declined. The Boston Globe

Researchers deployed three underwater dolphin-sized robotic “gliders” to study ocean temperature around Antarctica. Initial data found that warmer water previously only documented in deeper water is now in shallower water, and hope their research will help refine climate models. BBC News

– As the U.S. Navy plans to use 260,000 explosives and emit high-frequency sonar for 500,000 hours through 2018 in the Pacific, several conservation groups have launched a lawsuit against the Navy. The groups say that the exercises violate protection acts and could kill and injure thousands of marine mammals.