Latest news with #marineConservation
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Want to help Georgia's sea turtles thrive? We talked to a few experts for some tips
As of June 13, nearly 940 sea turtle nests had been identified along Georgia's coast. One egg from each of those nests has been split open and emptied into a test tube. Don't fret. Each nest's clutch (the group term for reptile offspring) typically consists of 120 to 170 eggs. Every sacrificial embryo serves the greater purpose of tracking sea turtle ancestry. Biologists like Veterinary Tech Sarah Alley of the Tybee Island Marine Science Center catalogues the maternal DNA captured from eggs placed in the test tubes. The tubes are then passed on to the Mark Dodd, the sea turtle program coordinator for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Wildlife Conservation Section. He is a senior wildlife biologist who works with University of Georgia (UGA) Senior Research Scientist Brian Shamblin to compile the DNA and nesting data from the dozen members of the Georgia Sea Turtle Cooperative at All that data contributes to groups like the Caretta Research Project's tracking of turtles' migration patterns. A more recent collaboration between Caretta and the University of Florida is also closely examining what and where sea turtles eat. As Caretta's Education and Outreach Coordinator Kristen Zemaitis explained, sea turtles play important roles in the broader oceanic food web. They can be a key indicator of ocean ecosystem health, which is why their preservation is crucial. After concerning dips in sea turtle populations between the 1960s and early 1990s, concerted conservation efforts by the Cooperative over the last few decades have helped restore turtle numbers. More efforts can be done, however, even by the everyday beachgoer and tourist. Before sea turtles obtained federal protections under the Endangered Species Act, Dodd said humans regularly poached eggs for protein or out of novelty. Sea turtle eggs must still contend with predators such as coyotes, wild boars, raccoons, seagulls and even burrowing Ghost Crabs, among others. The turtles themselves must evade sharks and other larger water-dwelling predators below surface before they ever even make it to sexual maturity, let alone come ashore to nest. Human behaviors also still impact turtles. Everything from boat propellers to plastic pollution to, yes, even sandcastles can imperil turtles and their nesting habits. All the experts interviewed for this story shared variations of these steps that anyone can take to assist ongoing conservation efforts: Level the sand of your beach area―fill holes and stomp down sandcastles before you head home from a beach day, because holes can trap turtles and mounds can deter them from nesting Place trash in designated bins, especially plastics such as straws, bottles and broken beach toys, which can all make their way into the water and be consumed by all manner of sea life. Do not disturb turtles or their nests, including not using bright lights at night or before dawn while traversing the beach. While boating, be mindful of speed along the coastline as turtles are harder to spot than dolphins or pelicans. While fishing in the ocean, know that a bated hook may attract turtles and can snag them. Call DNR if this happens as hook removal could require a turtle being taken to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island. Zemaitis underscored the need for humans to mind their consumption. "Even if you live far from the coast and don't think you have impact," she said, stressing that tons of trash and non-biodegradable items wind up in the ocean. She shared an example of balloons found in the Atlantic that had been tracked back to Alabama. Should any early morning or late night beachgoer come across a gravid turtle or the remnants of its nesting excursion, conservationists encourage the public to contact a local sea turtle organization or Georgia DNR. Do not attempt to handle the situation yourself, especially because federal protections come with hefty fines. Only trained professionals and volunteers with proper credentials should be interacting with turtles and their nests. On June 6, Tammy Smith, a Tybee Island Maritime Academy teacher and volunteer sea turtle conservationist, found the island's sixth nest between 18th and 19th streets. (Tybee had eight nests as of this publication.) The turtle engraved the perfect parabola of a path up the shoreline, though Alley said given the incline the turtle likely laid the eggs where it tired out. When done, the turtle completed its U-shaped path back into the water leaving its babies behind forever. Alley said turtles are resilient creatures. The act of laying 120+ eggs over a few hours is a mountainous effort seeing as how turtles need to drag their 200- to 400-pound bodies onto the shore with naught but their bellies and flippers, which cut cleanly through water but flap about on the sand. Beyond possible human alterations to sand, Zemaitis and Alley said that conditions like sea-level rise and beach erosion present nesting challenges. Both issues lead to less real estate for nesting. Higher tide lines, particularly on Georgia's coast, mean more instances of nests being inundated, which could drown sea turtle babies within their soft, porous eggs. Erosion can cause steep beach inclines that result in turtles nesting much closer to the tide lines than might be effective for survival, which is what happened with the June 6 turtle. Erosion could also deter sea turtles altogether by making their trips ashore too exhausting to pursue. They could then return to the water where predators might wait, ready to attack a tired mother. Smith and Alley relocated the June 6 eggs by carefully lifting them out of the initial hole and then placing them just as carefully into one Smith had pre-dug just before the dune grass. "Reptile eggs are temperature dependent with how the sexes develop," Alley said. The last eggs the turtle had laid on top were closer to the warm beach surface and therefore more likely to become female. Conversationists do not want to disrupt that natural order, so Alley explained that they move the turtle eggs by placing the top eggs from the nest at the bottom of the carrier, so that the relocation nest has eggs returned to their original birth order. Alley and Smith then covered the new hole and placed a predator-deterring grate over it. To ensure humans do not disturb the nest by walking or riding ATV wheels over it, Alley and Smith tapped in three wooden slats, attached a written notice to one and used yellow DNR sea turtle nest tape to rope it off. As you plan your next family or solo outing or perhaps a beach date on a Georgia barrier island, consider adjusting your timeline for a dawn stroll or a midnight walk. Be mindful of the beach rules and regulations, but enjoy the exercise and your company or lack thereof as you scan for turtles shuffling ashore. Should you happen upon one in the late or early hours, keep your distance, observe and remain in awe, not only of nature taking its course but of how slight alterations to human behavior and awareness can help restore a natural order. If you do not come across a sea turtle, don't worry, all manner of wildlife awaits. You could spot migrating and foraging birds of many stripes feeding upon Horseshoe, Ghost and blue grabs scuttling along the shoreline. Perhaps a coyote on the prowl for turtle eggs. At the very least, you can walk and simply welcome the laughs of gulls, the slosh of the waves and the crunch of sand and seashells underfoot as the sun rises over parting pre-dawn clouds. Joseph Schwartzburt is the education and workforce development reporter for the Savannah Morning News. You can reach him at JSchwartzburt@ and JoeInTheKnow_SMN on Instagram. This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: How to help Georgia sea turtle conservation efforts this summer
RNZ News
30-06-2025
- Science
- RNZ News
Underfunded: fighting invasive seaweed in Fiordland
A diver removing undaria Photo: SUPPLIED/Environment Southland Fiordland is known for its stunning natural beauty - a magnet for visitors - but not all are welcome. Undaria, a species of invasive seaweed, has made itself at home in both Dusky and Breaksea Sounds. While efforts have been made to contain and eradicate the pest, budget constraints mean the local council can no longer continue with large-scale containment efforts. Undaria is spread by attaching itself to the hulls of vessels so the plan now is to focus on eradicating new infestations at anchorage and mooring sites. Kathryn McLachlan, Marine Team Leader for Environment Southland talks to Kathryn Ryan about the challenge ahead and what it could mean for the future of this unique national park.
Japan Times
28-06-2025
- General
- Japan Times
With farmed fish, RelationFish swims against the tide in fine dining
Like many fine dining chefs, Hideaki Matsuo had always insisted on using only wild fish at his restaurant, the three-Michelin-starred Kashiwaya in Osaka. But during a 2019 stint at Tokyo's Ryukoku University, where he was studying food science, he was confronted with stark data on collapsing marine stocks. By the time he earned his master's degree in agriculture in 2021, his culinary philosophy had undergone a sea change: He pondered about the future of sustainable dining and began exploring using responsibly farmed fish as alternatives to wild-caught ones. Matsuo says meeting professor Yoshimi Sawada of Osaka's Kindai University in 2020 was also a pivotal moment that encouraged him to adopt his new philosophy. Sawada's research on Japan's seafood sustainability revealed that the country's iconic species, such as shirosake (chum salmon), sanma (Pacific saury), masaba (chub mackerel), hotate (scallops) and surumeika (Japanese flying squid) face alarming declines. Even more troubling is the impending collapse of basic ingredients like kombu (kelp), with 11 species facing extinction by 2050, threatening the very basis of Japanese cuisine's foundational flavors. According to Sawada, the current trajectories will fail to achieve the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 14, which comprises 10 marine conservation targets to be achieved by 2030. Rapid ocean warming is permanently altering marine ecosystems, triggering cascading effects on global climate systems, food supplies and coastal communities. Without immediate intervention, these changes will soon become irreversible. Established in 2022 to promote marine conservation and sustainably farmed fish, RelationFish counts notable chefs among its members, such as (top row, from right) Hiroya Tsuji, Hideaki Matsuo and Masaharu Shimamura. | RELATIONFISH Matsuo decided to take the initiative, reaching out to like-minded chefs to discuss conservation efforts. What began as casual monthly discussions evolved into the establishment of RelationFish in 2022, a company that aims to tackle Japan's most pressing seafood sustainability crises through coordinated action. RelationFish's founding members include notable chefs from Osaka like Osamu Ueno of Naniwa Kappo Kigawa, Masaharu Shimamura of Unkaku, and Hiroya Tsuji of Hozenji Asakusa, as well as chef Kenichi Fujiwara of Komago in Hyogo Prefecture, culinary researcher and producer Takako Hirosato and researcher Yukiko Ishida. As chief operating officer of RelationFish, Matsuo leads innovative aquaculture research with Kindai University, focusing on developing sustainable farming systems for native species. One of Matsuo's projects was breeding aigo (rabbitfish) in a sustainable manner — the first batch of the fish was bred at the university's Aquaculture Research Institute. While conventional aquaculture relies on fishmeal, RelationFish's cultivated aigo consume waste vegetables and fruits like mikan citrus, creating an environmentally friendly closed-loop system that reduces pressure on marine resources while promoting high-quality farming. The herbivorous aigo dwells in warm coastal waters. Because of rising ocean temperatures, it is migrating northward and is now being caught in regions where it was previously rare. Those regions may not consume aigo traditionally, resulting in its low market value and frequent waste as an unused species. The fish also causes damage to cultivated nori and wakame (brown seaweed), causing economic losses for coastal fisheries. RelationFish's cultivated "aigo" (rabbitfish) feed on waste vegetables, removing the need for conventional fishmeal and reducing pressure on marine resources. | RELATIONFISH Shimamura, chef-owner of Michelin Green Star-awarded restaurant Unkaku and CEO of RelationFish, says the humble aigo is emblematic of today's urgent marine sustainability challenges. 'This underutilized species (is linked) to critical issues like rising sea temperatures, crop damage, feed challenges and carbon footprint concerns,' he explains. 'By spotlighting aigo, we aim to share information and raise awareness as a symbol of sustainable fishing.' Shimamura has witnessed disturbing changes in seafood availability firsthand, leading him to make some changes to his menu, such as eliminating yokowa (juvenile tuna) from his kitchen. 'The purse seine nets used to catch yokowa also haul up massive quantities of immature tuna — over 98% haven't reached their spawning age,' he says. 'This practice threatens future tuna populations while delivering inconsistent quality. As chefs, we must consider whether serving certain species today might mean they disappear tomorrow.' Matsuo himself has had to make tough calls to omit certain traditional ingredients from his menu, too, such as removing unagi (Japanese eel) last year after the International Union for Conservation of Nature placed it on its Red List of Threatened Species. He admits it was a decision that weighed heavily, considering Japan's cherished eel culture. But his stance is clear: 'No eel until stocks rebound or viable full-life cycle farming emerges.' Tank to table Sticking to his beliefs, Matsuo is leading a quiet revolution in kaiseki (multicourse Japanese haute cuisine) at Kashiwaya, blending culinary artistry with environmental stewardship to secure Japan's seafood for the future. Besides championing innovative options like the eco-friendly aigo, Matsuo prioritizes seafood certified by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council and Marine Stewardship Council, choosing fish caught sustainably from the wild and farmed with minimal environmental impact. These choice ingredients, though sometimes costlier, reflect his philosophy that luxury dining must evolve with ecological awareness. His efforts have helped Kashiwaya clinch a Michelin Green Star in the 2022 edition of the Michelin Guide. He was also honored with the Contemporary Master Craftsman Award by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare last November. Professor Yoshifumi Sawada (left) and chef Hideaki Matsuo feed waste vegetables to their sustainably farmed "aigo" (rabbitfish). | RELATIONFISH On World Oceans Day on June 8, Matsuo presented a groundbreaking donabe (Japanese clay pot) rice dish at Kashiwaya. A seasonal delicacy, isaki (chicken grunt) is a fish from Japan's southern waters — particularly Kyushu — and is revered by chefs for its exquisite balance of flavors: sweet yet delicate, with firm, pearlescent flesh that reveals a striking reddish hue when at its summer peak. Traditionally served salt-grilled, the isaki has transitioned to the sushi counter, earning its place in both classic and contemporary Japanese cuisine. Matsuo's donabe featured Oseto Isaki, which takes its name from Oseto Suisan Fisheries in Wakayama Prefecture's Oshima Sea, where the fish thrive on a plant-based diet in spacious tanks, eliminating dependence on wild-caught fishmeal. Allowed to grow for five years instead of the typical three, the isaki reach nearly double their standard market size at 1 kilogram, developing superior texture and richer flavor. For Matsuo, every serving of Oseto Isaki at Kashiwaya is an opportunity to start a dialogue with guests about conscious sourcing. 'When we feature premium, low-impact farmed fish at this level, we create market demand that rewards sustainable fisheries with fair prices, and this will support sustainable fisheries in their drive towards further innovation, leading to even better production methods,' he says. For World Ocean's Day on June 8, chef Matsuo served a "donabe" (Japanese clay pot) rice dish with farmed Oseto Isaki from Oseto Suisan Fisheries. | KASHIWAYA Support like this is vital to farms like Oseto Suisan Fisheries: Because of popular opinion that farmed fish is inferior, they used to conceal their names and methods, but they now proudly showcase their sustainable approaches, a transparency that turns diners into informed advocates for ocean health. Beyond the horizon RelationFish is also pioneering land-based aquaculture research in Okayama Prefecture, developing climate-resilient, low-impact techniques to secure future seafood production. Land-farmed seafood is an option that can polarize chefs. Just ask chef Tsuji of fugu specialty restaurant Hozenji Asakusa. He was initially skeptical of land-farmed fugu and now sources it from Kyushu Prefecture, convinced that the farm's controlled environment produces cleaner livers in the fish versus those found in ocean-farmed ones. This meticulous sourcing is essential, as Hozenji Asakusa builds courses around the puffer fish, a format that necessitates consistent quality. 'There will be natural differences between individual fish, and quality may vary. But unless the product is severely flawed, we do not ask for returns or exchanges,' says Tsuji. 'Rather than rejecting imperfect specimens, we find ways to use (them) by adjusting our cooking method, minimizing the burden on our suppliers.' When his suppliers have surplus catch that doesn't fit his restaurant's seasonal menu, Tsuji supports them by procuring those ingredients for staff training. This adaptive, sustainable initiative has allowed him to elevate his restaurant's exceptional fugu and hamo (pike conger eel) dishes. Oseto Suisan Fisheries in Wakayama Prefecture raises "isaki" (chicken grunt) on a plant-based diet, eliminating the need for wild-caught fishmeal. | RELATIONFISH Apart from promoting its cause in restaurants, RelationFish has also turned to events to bridge gastronomy and sustainability through education and collaboration, showcasing Osaka-farmed fish at the 2025 Osaka Expo and promoting ingredients from the earthquake-ravaged Noto Peninsula at Osaka's Hug Museum in 2024. Recognizing the growing environmental consciousness among younger generations, Matsuo is also thinking of using social media platforms like Instagram to engage them with sustainability issues. Matsuo is now one of Japan's leading advocates of ocean conservation: Kashiwaya, a member of luxury hotel and restaurant group Relais & Chateaux, remains a committed partner in the association's sustainability measures, such as the brand's World Oceans Day campaign. At Kashiwaya, 30% of the seafood is sustainably farmed and the rest is wild-caught. 'Fine dining has long favored wild-caught fish,' says Matsuo, 'but exceptionally farmed seafood can deliver equal quality with far less ecological impact.'
ABC News
26-06-2025
- General
- ABC News
Whales in the River Derwent off Hobart's northern suburbs.
Humpback whales have been spotted in the River Derwent as far up as Montrose during the annual northern migration. Supplied: Bec Williams
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Rare photos capture incredible rescue off Australian coast
A mission to save an entangled whale off Australia's east coast has been captured in a series of rare aerial photographs. They were snapped this week as a multi-agency team worked to free the giant mammal as it swam along the NSW Central Coast. Ordinarily, flying a drone within 100 metres of a whale would be illegal because the disturbance can interfere with their migration. But because it was difficult to assess the whale's condition at sea, an exemption was made for a skilled operator from rescue group ORRCA to snap close-up pictures. Images were first taken on Monday so the project's leader, National Parks and Wildlife Service, could assess the entanglement and formulate a plan about how they'd need to manoeuvre around the whale and cut the ropes. 'Then every time they'd do a cut, I'd relay some images back to them to show the changes in the entanglement,' the ORRCA drone pilot told Yahoo News. It was Sunday afternoon when reports from the public were first received about the juvenile humpback being entangled in fishing gear off Sydney's northern beaches. With light fading fast, a decision was made to halt rescue attempts until first light. On Monday, the whale was spotted swimming further north through Pittwater, towards Broken Bay and Umina. NSW Water Police and Marine Rescue NSW monitored the situation from their vessels as teams of rescuers worked to free the struggling animal from a web of buoys and rope. 'The entanglement was around its body, around its tail, around one of its [pectoral fins] as well. Because the mammal was in distress, it was acting quite aggressively,' the drone operator said. 'I didn't know what was actually going on.' 📸 Photo of elusive whale off Aussie coast reveals incredible feat 🚨 Alarming map highlights growing threats to migrating whales 🌊 Carloads of Aussies flock to water's edge as 'exciting' ancient ritual begins Remarkably, as the rescue continued over the next four to five hours, the drone pilot noticed the whale's behaviour was changing. 'It was interesting to watch as the hours unfolded. When they did the first cut, it splashed its tail quite aggressively. But over time, it seemed to realise the rescuers were there to help. At one point, it was just staying in one spot, not moving at all, allowing the boats to come close and move the rope away.' When ropes and nets aren't quickly removed, they can cut into whale flesh or even sever their fins. Because the entanglement was relatively fresh, there wasn't any visible damage to the humpback. Rescuers were unable to remove two small pieces of rope from its body, but they're confident they'll fall off. Fishing net entanglement is a growing problem for whales as they migrate up Australia's coastline. There were two other humpback whales freed from entanglements off the NSW coast earlier this month. In Queensland, they face the added threat of shark nets, which are left to dangle precariously in waters throughout the year, regularly catching inexperienced calves or their mothers as they come in close to shore. In NSW, they are removed during the winter. This Sunday, ORRCA will be hosting its 26th Annual Whale Census, an event where everyday Aussies are urged to head to the beach to witness the annual humpback migration. An estimated 40,000 whales are expected to migrate up the east coast this year. Anyone wishing to participate in the count is asked to register on ORRCA's website and download the app. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
