Ocean Roundup: Staghorn Coral “Forests” Discovered off Florida, Peru’s Anchovy Fishery Closed Again, and More - Oceana USA
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December 30, 2014

Ocean Roundup: Staghorn Coral “Forests” Discovered off Florida, Peru’s Anchovy Fishery Closed Again, and More

Scientists have discovered “forests” of staghorn coral off of Southern Florida—a rare discovery since these corals are experiencing large declines. Staghorn coral has declined from coral reef bleaching and white-band disease in recent years. Sun Sentinel

Mexican officials are proposing a $37 million plan to save the critically endangered vaquita porpoise. Under the new plan, officials would pay fishermen to stop using drift gillnets in the Sea of Cortez—a fishery that continues to capture these porpoises. The Associated Press

Peru’s Ministry of Production closed Peru’s second anchovy fishing season of the year along the north-central region of the Peruvian coast. Although anchovy are now said to have a wider distribution, officials closed the fishery because the stock is mostly comprised of juveniles. FIS

Long-Read:

As commercial whaling decimated whale populations in the 20th century, one biologist turned to whales’ songs to help save them. For the first time, he captured underwater recording of whale songs, and distributed them to the media, conservation groups, and singers to help spread the word about the beauty and complexity of whales—and now, many whale populations are rebounding. NPR

– About half of Bangladeshis are dependent on agriculture for their livelihood, but rising sea levels are pushing their operations inland or forcing them to turn to other income sources. With a quarter of Bangladeshis living in coastal areas and salt-water intrusion becoming a serious issue, climate change is posing a tremendous risk to citizens and Bangladesh’s economy. Bloomberg