News clips for Thursday, November 19th, 2009

Marine Spatial Planning

• Council ready to see the Integrated Maritime Policy step up a gear- Euroalert.net – The Commission has welcomed the conclusions of the General Affairs and External Relations Council of 16/17 November, which acknowledge the progress achieved in the field of the Integrated Maritime Policy over the past two years and endorse the integrated approach to maritime affairs.

Policy

• Healthy Oceans Can Help Save Us From Climate Change- Earth Times- The 'Blue Climate Coalition,' comprised of sixty-six conservation groups and interests and over 150 marine scientists and professionals, from 33 countries, issued communications today addressed to President Obama and the United States Senate.
• New fisheries management organisation for the South Pacific high seas- World Fishing- The European Commission has welcomed the adoption of a Convention for the setting up of a new regional fisheries management organisation (RFMO), to manage non-tuna fish stocks in the South Pacific, in Auckland, New Zealand.
• Efforts to sustain biodiversity fall short- Nature.com- But the issue is gaining attention as nations prepare for next year's [Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)] summit.

Hawaii

• On the Move- Honolulu Star-Bulletin- Monk seal KP2 will be sent to California to undergo cataract surgery; see also: KP2 Monk Seal Heading For Surgery- KITV.com
• Molokai group to hold blessing for monk seal- Honolulu Advertiser

Fisheries

• Fisheries-aquaculture collaboration sealed with Spain- FIS.com- Authorities of Spain and Costa Rica strengthened bilateral ties in fisheries and aquaculture matters with the signing of a memorandum of understanding within the framework of the Food and Agriculture Organisation's (FAO) World Summit on Food Security, held in Rome.

Marine Protected Areas

• Australian Senate supports Coral Sea conservation zone- Fishnewseu

Endangered Species

• Japan's Whalers Set Sail for Antarctica as Green Groups Protest - Bloomberg.com- Bloomberg
• Skate may be fished to extinction- BBC
• The Polar Bear is Still One Oil Spill Away From Disaster- newsblaze.com