Tag: marine environment

The founders of Seabin Pty Ltd have developed the "Seabin" a collector of floating waste in the fight against plastic pollution at its source. The Seabin Project aims to fight against water pollution by means of innovative technologies and educational activities for businesses, communities and individuals including the children.

The Woodfibre LNG project has been granted environmental approval from the Canadian government. Environment Minister Mary Polak and Natural Gas Development Minister Rich Coleman have issued an environmental assessment certificate to Woodfibre LNG project, located in the District of Squamish.

Five years after the Fukushima nuclear accident, there is still no U.S. federal agency responsible for studies of radioactive contaminants in the ocean. But scientific data about the levels of radioactivity in the ocean off our shores are available publicly thanks to ongoing efforts of independent researchers, including Ken Buesseler, a radiochemist with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), who has led the effort to create and maintain an ocean monitoring network along the U.S. West Coast.

On February 25, NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer began a series of expeditions to explore America's vast marine protected areas in the central and western Pacific Ocean. Scientists will use unmanned remotely operated vehicles, or ROVs, that can dive down 3.7 miles to explore never-before-seen deepwater habitats and minerals, marine animals, and potentially, a World War II aircraft carrier. The dives will be broadcast live from the seafloor, allowing anyone with Internet access to watch in real-time.

The BP Natural Resource Damage Trustees released their final plan that details the extent of the environmental damage caused by the 2010 BP oil disaster and how the Trustees, consisting of the Gulf states and four federal agencies, plan to restore the environment over the next 15 years.

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation has received $950,000 for marine debris removal projects along the Gulf of Alaska shoreline. The funds were provided by the Government of Japan via the US National Oceanic and NOAA. Polystyrene foam, clearly identifiable as debris from the 2011 tsunami in Japan, continues to be a substantial percentage of the marine debris found in Alaska

A new IMO infographic illustrating "How the Polar Code protects the environment" has been launched in six languages. It depicts the various environmental requirements and recommendations of the Polar Code relating to oil, sewage, garbage, chemicals and invasive species.

A new paper from Wildlife Conservation Society describes how the Automatic Identification System (AIS) can help protect wildlife such as whales and walruses.

IMO, together with the IOPC Funds and theITOPF, is urging its Member States to ratify and implement a key compensation treaty covering the transport of hazardous and noxious substances by ship.

An excellent example of how industry and regulatory bodies can work with environmental activists to provide good results for the benefit of all, writes Sarah Nowak.