Tag: healthy oceans

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Jacksonville launches real-time oceanographic system

On July 23, NOAA officials from Washington, D.C. joined local maritime leaders at a ceremony dedicating a new sensor system designed to save money, improve safety and enhance research regarding conditions in the St. Johns River. The $2.8 million Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System (PORTS) offers data from 18 stations comprised of 46 sensors located along 67 miles of the St. Johns River in Northeast Florida. As the second largest PORTS installation in the nation, the system provides instant tidal and weather information to commercial, military and recreational users, and compiles invaluable research data for use by academic institutions, environmental scientists and agencies such as the National Weather Service. "Our nation's ports are critical cogs in our country's economic engine," said Kathryn D. Sullivan, Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. "NOAA's PORTS system gives shipping companies, captains, fishermen and others vital environmental intelligence that helps them navigate these waters more safely and efficiently. This is a win-win for the port, our partners, the surrounding communities and every business and industry that depends upon this flow of goods." Knowledge of the currents, water levels, winds and density of the water can enable shippers to optimize cargo ...

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WOC holds workshop on environmental cooperation

A few spaces remain for representatives from shipping, fisheries, offshore oil and gas, tourism, coastal development, and other ocean industries to participte in the workshop on “Enhancing Maritime Resource Security: Cross-sectoral Dialogue for the Gulf of Thailand” (Singapore, 12-14 August 2014). Leadership companies or industry groups from these sectors are invited join their peers already confirmed to be at the workshop. Industry participants will be meeting with senior officials from the maritime law enforcement, environmental, fisheries, coastal development, trade and transport agencies of Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Malaysia, with the goal of enhancing understanding and cooperation between industry and these agencies. The workshop is organized by the World Ocean Council (WOC) and the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (APCSS) to bring together private sector representatives and subject experts to advance marine resource and environment security cooperation in the region. The day before the workshop, the WOC will hold a “Briefing Seminar” for companies interested in learning more about the WOC and meeting WOC Members (Singapore, 11 August 2014). Source: World Ocean Council In the start, I was forthright with you propecia before and after has changed my life. It has become much more fun, and now I have to run. ...

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NOAA and partners study ocean acidification in Prince William Sound

Scientists from NOAA's Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL), the University of Alaska and the Alaska Ocean Observing System are teaming up this summer and early fall to use new unmanned tools to study how melting glaciers in Alaska's Prince William Sound may be intensifying ocean acidification in the sound and on the Gulf of Alaska continental shelf. The term "ocean acidification" describes the process of ocean water becoming more acidic as a result of absorbing nearly a third of the carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere from human sources. This change in ocean chemistry is making it difficult for marine organisms such as shellfish and corals to build and maintain shells and skeletons. "The glacial melt water entering the sound has low concentrations of carbonate ion, which marine organisms need to build shells and skeletons," said Jeremy Mathis, an oceanographer at NOAA's Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory. "When increasing amounts of this freshwater enter the sound, it makes surface water less hospitable for animals that build shells." Freshwater from glaciers is also low in carbon dioxide relative to marine waters. But when these waters enter the marine environment they quickly absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to reach equilibrium, and this, ...

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Online ballast water management tool goes live

An online risk assessment tool for alien species transfers via the ballast water of commercial ships has been released jointly by OSPAR and HELCOM. The online tool was adopted by the coastal countries of the North-East Atlantic and Baltic Sea regions as part of the joint harmonised procedure on granting exemptions from ballast water treatment provisions of the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments (BWM Convention) of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). The tool comprises a database on observations of alien species and physical features in ports, a list of target alien species, a list of all marine and alien species observed in port surveys in the region and an agreed risk assessment model. This will allow administrations and ship owners to quickly identify routes that may qualify for exemptions to the application of ballast water management for ships (regulation B-3) and those that are unlikely to. Not only will the tool help protect the environment by identifying routes that could present a high risk for the transfer of alien species, it will ultimately save both the shipping industry and maritime authorities time and money by supporting the decision making process. The online ...

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EU marine litter reduction target is not enough

30% EU marine litter reduction target not enough The European Commission has issued a headline reduction target for marine litter in Europe as part of its Communication on a Circular Economy. It is believed that this target is inadequate and will need to be significantly strengthened to really tackle the problem of waste entering our seas. The Commission proposal for an ‘aspirational' reduction target of 30% by 2020 for the top 10 items found during beach surveys is a step in the right direction. However, in its current non-binding state it is unlikely to bring about the significant reductions that are needed to end the input of litter to our seas. Key measures, such as improved sewage treatment and ending single-use plastics, are likely to face political resistance that only binding EU level targets can address. Seas At Risk Marine Litter Policy Officer Emma Priestland: "a 30% non-binding reduction target is really not enough, and will simply allow member states to continue with business as usual. We know that large reductions can be made with the right measures, which is why we have been advocating for a legally binding 50% reduction by 2020". Seas At Risk is also highlighting the ...

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OSPAR adopts Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter

The OSPAR Commission adopted a landmark Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter along with measures to protect 16 vulnerable species and habitats. The Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter will enable OSPAR countries to substantially reduce marine litter in North-East Atlantic. The Plan will address litter from both land and sea based sources and will result in a reduction in marine litter on coasts and beaches. The Plan supports the global effort to achieve significant reductions in marine debris by 2025 as agreed by Heads of States at Rio+20. It provides a regional contribution to the European Union's Marine Strategy Framework Directive. The plan also invites international organisations, the private sector and the non-governmental organisations to cooperate in its implementation. The meeting also agreed on measures to protect and conserve 11 species and 5 habitats identified by OSPAR as being particularly vulnerable within the North-East Atlantic. These include cod, European eel, 5 species of shark and 2 species of ray along with 5 important marine habitats including seagrass meadows and deep sea hydrothermal vents. A biologically diverse North-East Atlantic is vital for the proper functioning of marine ecosystems as well as supporting human health and the millions of livelihoods that ...

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Understanding the impact of the ocean on the Greenland Ice Sheet

The Greenland Ice Sheet is a 1.7 million-square-kilometer, 2-mile thick layer of ice that covers Greenland. Its fate is inextricably linked to our global climate system. In the last 40 years, ice loss from the Greenland Ice Sheet increased four-fold contributing to one-quarter of global sea level rise. Some of the increased melting at the surface of the ice sheet is due to a warmer atmosphere, but the ocean's role in driving ice loss largely remains a mystery. Research by scientists at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and the Univ. of Oregon sheds new light on the connection between the ocean and Greenland's outlet glaciers, and provides important data for future estimates of how fast the ice sheet will melt and how much mass will be lost. The study was published in Nature Geosciences. "Over the past few decades, many glaciers that drain the Greenland Ice Sheet have accelerated, thinned and retreated," said the study's lead author, Rebecca Jackson, a graduate student in the MIT-WHOI joint program in oceanography. "Scientists have noticed a link between glacier behavior and warming waters off the coast of Greenland, but we have very few direct measurements of ocean waters near the glaciers or at ...

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EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region

The European Council of December 2012 requested the European Commission to present a new macro-regional strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR) before the end of 2014. Building on the lessons learnt and experience from the two current macro-regional strategies (EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, EU Strategy for the Danube Region), the Commission adopted on 17 June 2014 a Communication on the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian region, accompanied by an Action Plan. The two general objectives of the EUSAIR are: to promote sustainable economic and social prosperity of the Region through growth and jobs creation, by improving its attractiveness, competitiveness and connectivity, while preserving the environment and ensuring a healthy and balanced marine and coastal ecosystems. And crucially, to contribute to the EU integration of the participating Western Balkan candidate and potential candidate countries, by bringing together countries with much shared history and geography. The idea is to identify concrete joint priorities for the macro-region, making the best use of existing institutions, policies and funds and setting realistic goals for maximum impact. Four themes/pillars have been identified: Blue Growth, aiming at boosting innovative marine and maritime growth by promoting jobs and business opportunities in the ...

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UK science trio at Washington ocean summit

Three leading environmental scientists from the UK have been invited to talk about the state of the world's oceans to an audience including US Secretary of State John Kerry at an ocean summit in Washington. They three UK scientists are amongst less than thirty scientists from around the world who will be providing hard-hitting messages about the need for closer co-operation to overcome the challenges facing our oceans. Their invitation to this important and prestigious event is a testament to the excellence of UK environmental science, and underlines its vital role in tackling some of the key challenges facing our society in a rapidly changing environment. Drs Carol Turley and Phil Williamson and Professor Richard Thompson will be speaking at the 'Our Ocean' conference being held at the US Department of State, Washington, DC on 16-17 June. Dr Carol Turley (Plymouth Marine Laboratory and knowledge exchange coordinator for the UK Ocean Acidification Research Programme) will be describing how ocean acidification is caused by CO2 emissions, its rapid rate of progress and early vulnerabilities. She will discuss its potential mitigation by reducing CO2 emissions to the atmosphere. Dr Turley has high hopes for wider international recognition of the issue, and a ...

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Port Metro Vancouver issues 2013 sustainability report

Port Metro Vancouver released its fourth annual Sustainability Report and 2013 Financial Report. Both reports together cover the period of January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013 and provide a summary of Port Metro Vancouver's overall performance. The 2013 Sustainability Report is a Global Reporting Initiative B+ level, independently assured report that provides information on the sustainability topics of greatest significance to Port Metro Vancouver and its stakeholders. It is designed to provide greater transparency and accountability in how Port Metro Vancouver conducts business, and to offer a platform for sharing performance and receiving feedback. The key topics discussed in the report include the industrial land shortage in the Lower Mainland, the movement of coal, noise proximity to residential areas, trucking and tanker safety. Key accomplishments outlined in the 2013 Sustainability Report: Port Metro Vancouver completed 198 environmental reviews on proposed projects and activities to identify and mitigate effects on land, air and water. A 12% increase in participation in the EcoAction program, which promotes emission reduction measures by offering discounted harbour rates to shipping lines. Participation in more than 500 community engagement events. 82 cruise vessels successfully connected to shore power at Canada Place, enabling ships to shut off ...

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