The sea is a big place, and scientists are always discovering new things about its ecosystems. Recent research on the ocean’s absorption of CO2 has highlighted its fragility, and it can be easy to forget about the amazing variety of creatures that depend on the health of the oceans to survive. Here are some of the latest news stories from the world’s marine frontiers.
Australia Shark Count
Participating in a new project called the Great Australia Shark Count, scuba divers and other recreational water users have reported sightings of 4,022 sharks in the waters surrounding Australia. The shark count will continue throughout the year, but so far, the most often reported shark is the wobbegong, sighted 903 times. Participants have already counted 13 great whites. Adam Smith, national chair of the Australian Underwater Federation, which is overseeing the count, says he hopes it will raise awareness of shark populations. Sharks often end up as accidental casualties of commercial fishing, when they are swept up as “by-catch” during the use of aggressive fishing techniques.
1,000-pound Colossal Squid Corpse
Last year, fishermen off the coast of Antarctica hauled in a colossal (not to be confused with “giant”) squid, 26 feet long and 1,089 pounds. The crew was fishing for Chilean sea bass, and the squid was feasting on a sea bass when they pulled it from the water. Immediately, they knew the squid was a rare find — the first ever landed was a 660-pound female in 2003 — so they put it on ice with the rest of their catch. Scientists are now thawing the corpse in order to perform a dissection that they hope will tell them more about this mysterious species. Eventually, the squid is to be displayed in a 1,800-gallon tank of formaldehyde in a museum in the Australian capital, Wellington.
Warning Buoys to Protect Right Whales
A new system of “smart buoys” put in place this spring along Massachusetts Bay’s shipping lanes will automatically recognize the distinctive calls of passing North Atlantic right whales and relay a warning to nearby ships. It is hoped that the system of underwater sensors will help ships to avoid collisions with the endangered whales. Fewer than 400 North Atlantic right whales remain in the wild. Because of the whales’ critical situation, experts believe that the deaths of one or two breeding females could be enough to cause the entire population to crash.
Have an ocean story of your own? Share it on NATURE Online, and tell the world why you think the seas are worth preserving. And catch the premiere of “Superfish” this Sunday at 8pm on Thirteen.
