July, July!

By Daniel de la Calle

Some news before the month comes to an end:

≈  The Australian government announced plans to construct the largest network of marine reserves in the world, more than doubling the number of coastal reserves to 60 from its existing 27. The new regulations will limit fishing and oil and gas drilling in waters off of the country’s eastern coast, including the vulnerable and endangered Great Barrier Reef and the northeastern Coral Sea. The Australian government expanded the marine reserve system in order to preserve its marine life and balance environmental protections with the needs of its economy, and the new laws will go into effect later this year […]
Because the new reserves, which will cover a total of 3.1 million square kilometers (approximately 1.2 million square miles), will significantly impact fishing in the area, the Australian government will pay its fishing industry $99.3 million ($100 million in Australian dollars) as a consolation prize.

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≈  Staff at the NZMSC and Aquarium in Portobello, New Zealand, wondered how hermit crabs squeeze their bodies into discarded snail shells and how they would be able to get a peek into what happens inside.  That is how they came to asking University of Otago’s scientific glass blower Anne Ryan to replicate a snail shell in transparent glass. Brilliant.
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≈  Senator John Kerry plans to assemble a sweeping committee review of the world’s oceans this coming September.  “It is going to be an analysis of what is happening in the oceans globally in terms of fisheries, development, acidification, pollution, all aspects of the oceans,” he explained in a recent interview with E2.  Mr. Kerry expects the hearings to span five days, and they will “inevitably involve” an examination of the effects of Ocean Acidification and climate change.
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≈  The trailer for a brand new documentary about the oceans titled Ocean Frontiers: The Dawn of a New Era in Ocean Stewardship.
The myth of the boundless ocean is no more. It’s time for a new way of thinking, a new way of living, in concert with the sea and in consideration of those yet to come.

≈  Full-time job offer: Program Manager, Ocean Acidification
ABOUT THE POSITION: “This position is responsible for providing program support and management on a collaborative effort among Ocean Conservancy, the larger ocean conservation community and industry partners to raise visibility on solutions-oriented ocean conservation with a special focus on ocean acidification. The position will work with the Director to help coordinate partner efforts, and will manage the program’s efforts to develop external voices in support of local and regional solutions to address ocean acidification.
APPLY FOR THE POSITION: If you think you have what it takes to join Ocean Conservancy’s team, please send a cover letter speaking to your qualifications and abilities along with your resume and salary expectations to: [email protected] and note your name and “Program Manager, Ocean Acidification – #1209” in the subject line.

≈  NOAA announced on July 11th “the first steps of a national strategy to protect sea life from ocean acidification. The draft plan is intended to guide federal research and monitoring on ocean acidification, and ultimately lead to the development of adaptation and mitigation strategies. […]
“This plan is a good first step toward addressing the tragedy unfolding in our oceans,” said Emily Jeffers, a staff attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity’s oceans program, which recently called on President Barack Obama to develop a national action plan for ocean acidification. “But if we’re going to save sea life from ocean acidification, we need to move quickly on big, bold steps that dramatically reduce carbon pollution.” […]
“We need to take immediate action to address ocean acidification or the impacts will be catastrophic,” said Jeffers. “We need a bold national action plan to ensure a future for our sea life.”

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≈  This past June the California Academy of Sciences hosted the first annual KQED Science Youth Media Festival. Young filmmakers participates in a showcase of over 20 videos about environmental issues that ranged from air quality, greenhouse gases, water quality, food justice or sustainability to conservation and Ocean Acidification.  Jurors awarded three winning videos and one of them is about Ocean Acidification:

≈  Two astounding macro videos of corals:

≈  These powerful juxtapositions of before and after photographs were shared at the the recent International Coral Reef Symposium in Australia.—————————————————————————————————————–—————————————————————————————————————–—————————————————————————————————————–
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