Tuesday December 15, 2009
Do you know someone who loves marine life? Check out my guide for ideas on gifts related to marine life, from donations to a charity and aquarium memberships to recommended reading.
Short on time? Don't worry, many of these can be bought at the last minute!
Thanks to Melissa Mayntz, the Guide to Birding and Wild Birds for contributing ideas for this article via the Marine Life Forum!
Image: Humpback whales feeding in front of a whale watch boat. A trip on a whale watch is one of the great ideas in the marine life gift guide! Photo © Jen Kennedy, Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation.
Monday December 14, 2009
A study revealed that octopuses in Indonesia use coconut shells to conceal themselves.
Scientists observed the small, 3-inch long veined octopus assembling the two halves of a coconut shell and using it to hide. Then, when they decided to move, the octopus carried the shell underneath its body, making for an awkward march across the sediment.
Biologist Mark Norman is quoted in National Geographic saying, "It was hard not to laugh underwater and flood your [scuba] mask" while watching the animals.
Read about the octopus and see a video of the coconut-carrying behavior here.
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Thursday December 10, 2009
I just read a brief, interesting op-ed piece about seafood. Astrid Scholz and colleagues contest that frozen fish is more eco-friendly than fresh fish.
Their reasoning is based on a study on salmon, in which they found that flash-frozen salmon has a "taste and quality practically indistinguishable from fresh," and also is more environmentally friendly. This is because fresh salmon is usually transported long distances by air, which has a big carbon footprint. According to National Geographic, a coast-to-coast passenger flight causes the emission of a ton of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases - per person.
Frozen fish can be transported in more environmentally-friendly ways, such as by rail or truck. The authors suggest we "get over our fetish for fresh" when it comes to eating seafood that isn't locally caught.
What do you think? Do you agree with this article? Do you make an effort to choose eco-friendly fish?
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Thursday December 10, 2009
According to this article, Shell Oil will be drilling 3 exploratory oil wells in the Chukchi Sea between Alaska and Russia.
Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski called the move "progress" and said it is an "encouraging sign that Alaska's oil and natural gas resources can continue to play a major role in America's energy security."
What do you think? Personally I think our energy security could be improved by decreasing our reliance on oil, especially because this development poses a threat of oil spills and noise pollution, which could impair populations of marine animals such as whales and pinnipeds. I'd love to hear your thoughts - leave a comment below, or discuss this issue with other readers in the Marine Life Forum.
