Wow, winter is on its way!!! Here is the weekly wrap-up of environmental news to keep you informed. A bit of a marine theme in this one - maybe longing for warm sunny days at the beach...
Iceland kills its last whale, hopefully for good
The whaling business in Iceland may be, at last, seeing its final days. One of two remaining whaling companies, IP-Utgerd concluded its operations with the managing director confessing that he “is never going to hunt whales again”. The other whaling company in the country has said it will not conduct operations this year due to export and social distancing factors and activists are hopeful that they may not resume after this being the second year in a row without commercial whaling in the country.
https://www.livekindly.co/iceland-has-killed-its-last-whale-industry-shuts-down/?utm_source=LIVEKINDLY+Mailing+List&utm_campaign=5a015b8503-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_03_28_01_54_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_8051ea5750-5a015b8503-135731035
Antarctic warm snap impacting Australia’s marine ecosystem
A sudden stratospheric warming late last year in Antarctica is having long term impacts on marine life in southern Australia. The warm snap, meant that wind and current patterns occurred later than usual and thus, the yearly upwelling (when nutrient-rich water is driven up from the deep ocean) also was delayed. This upwelling, known as the Bonney upwelling, is a vital boost for marine life, supplying large amounts of food for animals such as little penguins and increasing the productivity of corals and seaweeds. Scientists are worried about a shortage of food due to this delayed cycle and how this will affect Australian aquatic creatures.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-09/warm-snap-in-antarctica-puts-wildlife-out-of-sorts/12193656
Alpine brumbies to be culled after Federal Court ruling
The Federal Court has decided that wild brumbies in Victoria’s Alpine National Park will be culled as part of a medium-term project to try and protect the alpine ecosystems. Conservationists welcomed the decision and have long voiced concerns about the bumbies trampling the threatened mosses and wetlands. However some believe the deer are to blame and don’t want the horses disturbed. Despite this, the trapping and shooting of the wild horses will continue and many hope the park will be restored and protected into the future from further disturbance.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-08/brumby-culling-to-go-ahead-following-federal-court-decision/12228896
Highest levels of microplastics found on seafloor
An international report published in the journal Science has found that deep sea currents carry tiny pieces of plastic across the seafloor, depositing them in concentrated patches that are, in some cases, worse than the infamous ‘floating garbage patches’. Unfortunately, these currents also often carry oxygenated and nutrient-rich water, meaning they also become ecosystem hot spots. The scientists hope that their research will allow other potential microplastic hotspots to be identified and then studied.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/04/200430150213.htm
Sea turtle rescued and found with balloon, string and plastic bag in stomach
Ella, a green sea turtle, was rescued in mid-April from Manly after being spotted by divers and looking very unwell. The cause of her illness has finally become known after she excreted a balloon and string as well as a plastic bag. She is currently being cared for and conservationists are hoping that Ella’s story will remind people of the detrimental impact plastic can have on our marine life.
https://www.wwf.org.au/news/blogs/green-sea-turtle-found-with-plastic-in-stomach#gs.5m71eb
Iceland kills its last whale, hopefully for good
The whaling business in Iceland may be, at last, seeing its final days. One of two remaining whaling companies, IP-Utgerd concluded its operations with the managing director confessing that he “is never going to hunt whales again”. The other whaling company in the country has said it will not conduct operations this year due to export and social distancing factors and activists are hopeful that they may not resume after this being the second year in a row without commercial whaling in the country.
https://www.livekindly.co/iceland-has-killed-its-last-whale-industry-shuts-down/?utm_source=LIVEKINDLY+Mailing+List&utm_campaign=5a015b8503-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_03_28_01_54_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_8051ea5750-5a015b8503-135731035
Antarctic warm snap impacting Australia’s marine ecosystem
A sudden stratospheric warming late last year in Antarctica is having long term impacts on marine life in southern Australia. The warm snap, meant that wind and current patterns occurred later than usual and thus, the yearly upwelling (when nutrient-rich water is driven up from the deep ocean) also was delayed. This upwelling, known as the Bonney upwelling, is a vital boost for marine life, supplying large amounts of food for animals such as little penguins and increasing the productivity of corals and seaweeds. Scientists are worried about a shortage of food due to this delayed cycle and how this will affect Australian aquatic creatures.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-09/warm-snap-in-antarctica-puts-wildlife-out-of-sorts/12193656
Alpine brumbies to be culled after Federal Court ruling
The Federal Court has decided that wild brumbies in Victoria’s Alpine National Park will be culled as part of a medium-term project to try and protect the alpine ecosystems. Conservationists welcomed the decision and have long voiced concerns about the bumbies trampling the threatened mosses and wetlands. However some believe the deer are to blame and don’t want the horses disturbed. Despite this, the trapping and shooting of the wild horses will continue and many hope the park will be restored and protected into the future from further disturbance.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-08/brumby-culling-to-go-ahead-following-federal-court-decision/12228896
Highest levels of microplastics found on seafloor
An international report published in the journal Science has found that deep sea currents carry tiny pieces of plastic across the seafloor, depositing them in concentrated patches that are, in some cases, worse than the infamous ‘floating garbage patches’. Unfortunately, these currents also often carry oxygenated and nutrient-rich water, meaning they also become ecosystem hot spots. The scientists hope that their research will allow other potential microplastic hotspots to be identified and then studied.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/04/200430150213.htm
Sea turtle rescued and found with balloon, string and plastic bag in stomach
Ella, a green sea turtle, was rescued in mid-April from Manly after being spotted by divers and looking very unwell. The cause of her illness has finally become known after she excreted a balloon and string as well as a plastic bag. She is currently being cared for and conservationists are hoping that Ella’s story will remind people of the detrimental impact plastic can have on our marine life.
https://www.wwf.org.au/news/blogs/green-sea-turtle-found-with-plastic-in-stomach#gs.5m71eb