News Clips for Jan. 27, 2010

High Seas

• Experts Develop Deep-Sea Simulator - news.softpedia.com
  Geoscientists at the University of Chicago in Illinois (UCI) have recently been able to develop a new type of machine for conducting scientific simulations. The device is able to faithfully replicate the conditions present in the deep-sea, ranging from temperature to pressure and more.

• Understanding human threats to the Earth's largest habitat -- the deep sea - PhysOrg.com
  He also recommends setting aside protected areas in the deep sea even though our information about deep-sea biodiversity remains incomplete. ...

• Fishing Boats Must Have Location Monitoring Bug - Courthouse News Service
  Vessels used for commercial fishing for highly migratory species on the high seas in the Convention Area also will be required to obtain a new NMFS-issued ...

Marine Protected Areas

• Conservationists urge Gordon Brown to create 'Britain's Great Barrier Reef' - The Guardian
  ... that are home to at least 220 coral species and more than 1000 species of fish. The underwater landscape of 6000m deep trenches, oceanic ridges and sea ...

• Sylvia Earle introduces new Belize nature preserve - Examiner.com
  ... Earle seeks to foster public awareness on the need for marine protected areas, propose potential solutions for preserving oceanic biodiversity, ...

Endangered Species

• Alaska preps for endangered species listings fight - Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
  ... plans to accelerate Alaska's fight against “unwarranted” expansions in the application and potential application of endangered species laws here. ...

• Cold killed numerous Keys manatees - KeysNet
  ... event as far as the Keys marine environment is concerned," said Billy Causey, southeast regional director for the National Marine Sanctuaries Program. ...

• Game on! Help protect Australia's coast - G-Online
  A new online game, following the adventures of an endangered seal, is helping draw attention to the need for designated marine sanctuaries around ...

Congressional Appropriations

• John McCain, Evan Bayh team up on spending freeze bill - Politico
  "If the president is serious — and I believe he is — he should also say tomorrow night he will veto the first appropriations bill that comes to his desk ...

Ocean Acidification

• Oceanlab 2 to tackle acidification - Press and Journal
  “The big issue of concern is ocean acidification as the carbon dioxide released by industry is absorbed by the ocean,” he said. “Oceans absorb about half of ..

Coral

• Coral in Florida Keys suffers lethal hit from cold - MiamiHerald.com
  Coral bleaching, usually triggered by hot weather, erupted after this month's cold snap, devastating shallow water corals across the Florida Keys. ...

• NOAA Award to Support Community Efforts to Protect Pacific Coral Reefs - NOAA
  NOAA awarded the University of Hawaii at Manoa Kewalo Marine Laboratory a $199996 grant to address the effects of land-based sources of pollution on coral ...

Trawling

• Fishery Council faces scallop limit showdown - Gloucester Daily Times
  David Allison, Oceana's senior campaign director in Washington, DC went on to argue that "scallop fishing," for its trawling the bottom, "is one of the most ...