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July 24, 2009

The Scanner

TGIF, everyone! This week in ocean news,…researchers in Australia have witnessed and photographed a baby humpback whale taking its first breath. After spotting blood in the water, Michelle and Curt Jenner spied the newborn struggling to breathe and swimming in tight circles. Finally, the mother lifted the calf completely out of the water to help it take its first breath of life. … a male sea lion in an animal park in Germany died from exhaustion during its mating season. Nineteen years old and the father of twelve from three different females, Mike started displaying signs of weariness on Monday and died from acute heart failure later that day. The vet who treated Mike notes that “mating season is a common time for fatalities when bulls often stop eating for days to devote themselves fully to mating. For sea lion bulls with a harem, this is the most exhausting time.” …to help stop illegal fishing in the Indian Ocean, the European Union is proposing a guideline that will require seafood to be marked by a “catch certificate” from an authority. The certificate will have to include information on the area where the catch was made, the fishing method, and the trawler used. …a dead nurse shark was found in the middle of the street in Miami on Tuesday night. The mystery began on Sunday when the live shark was spotted bleeding and gasping on the floor of a Metromover, the free transportation system in Miami, accompanied by two guys. The two guys proceeded to tie a rope around the shark and drag it around on a bike as they attempted to sell it at several fish markets. Not being able to find a buyer, the men left it in the middle of the street where police and wildlife officials began investigating. The shark remains were returned to the ocean after all information was gathered. … on a happier note, three dolphins stranded in a bay in Scotland were safely rescued on Tuesday. They were returned to deeper waters, where they rejoined two younger dolphins in the same group. … check out this video (and watch it in fullscreen!). It’s an awesome shot of the “Kuroshio Sea” tank at the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium in Japan. Holding almost two million gallons of water and with a glass panel measuring about 8 meters by 23 meters, the tank is the second largest in the world and is home to whale sharks, manta rays, and other fish. Have an awesome weekend!