Latest News

Is Cod back on the menu?

15th May – ‘Living proof that conservation works’ Scientists say the fish threatened with extinction is back on the menu again by Martin Hickman, Consumer Affairs Correspondent, The Independent.
North Sea cod, once on the brink as a result of decades of over-fishing, has now recovered to an extent that the public should start eating it again with enthusiasm, one of the world's biggest wildlife charities has said.
In a rare wildlife conservation success story, the charity WWF said the fish renowned for its flaky white chunks was being caught sustainably off the shallow cold waters of north and eastern Britain for the first time in a decade. Stocks of the fish have risen by 52 per cent from their historic low four years ago because of a combination of cuts in landing quotas, and conservation techniques which have reduced the number tossed back dead into the sea.
The article goes on to encourage the public to eat cod again and includes a couple of reciepes.
Below is Sam Fanshaws reply to The Independent:
With reference to the article by Martin Hickman in the Independent on Saturday 15th May 2010, the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) feels it must clarify a number of points in the piece that may have left consumer’ s confused about whether or not to eat North Sea cod.
MCS is pleased to see that the combined North Sea cod stock is beginning to show signs of improvement, and praise the recent conservation initiatives aimed at its recovery, which have been supported by many fishers. However, the article painted a more positive picture of the situation than is the scientific reality. MCS feels this could confuse consumers into believing that the stock has recovered to a healthy enough state where they can once again make North Sea cod their whitefish of choice, when in fact it is below safe biological limits and at risk of stock collapse.

(The full version of both these articles can be found on the MCS website under ‘Press’).

Plastiki
A boat made from thousands of plastic bottles has sailed into Sydney Harbour, completing a four-month voyage that began in San Francisco.

The boat, called the Plastiki, was built using 12,500 plastic bottles. BBC News

Here are 2 articles about the Pacific garbage patch:
Drowing in plastic: Richard Grant reports on the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and Charles Moore founder of the Algalita Marine Research Foundation.

How we killed paradise with plastic by DAVID SHUKMAN BBC's environment and science correspondent

Weeverfish
Should you be afraid to venture to the waters edge? Read information about the UK's most vemonous fish. Weeverfish

Dates for your Diary

Low Tide Day is held every year on the Saturday in May with the lowest tide to give people the opportunity to explore and celebrate local inter-tidal sites around our coast.

8th June - World Oceans Day is an annual event aimed at raising awareness of the
marine environment.
28th May - 5th September - ‘The Deep’, a special exhibition at the Natural History
Museum in London. Plunge into the abyss 11,000 meters down in the ocean. Less
explored than the surface of the moon. See bizarre creatures, astonishing images and
real specimens, some on display for the first time.

12-13th June - ‘Festival of Wildlife’ at the Sandwich and Pegwell Bay Nature Reserve. MCS SE Group will have a stand at this event.

3-4th July - ‘Paddle around the Pier’. An event taking place on Brighton Pier. Again MCS SE Group will have a stand at this event
Contact Keith Bennett on:
keith.bennett@marine-conservation.org.uk if you would like to help out at either of these events.

28th May - 5th September - ‘The Deep’, a special exhibition at the Natural History Museum in London. Plunge into the abyss 11,000 meters down in the ocean. Less explored than the surface of the moon. See bizarre creatures, astonishing images and real specimens, some on display for the first time.

Southampton Oceanographic Centre

If you’re in the Southampton area, Dr. Ken Collins of the Southampton Oceanographic Center arranges talks at 7.30pm on the first Thursday of each month. Times and subjects can be found on his website www.soc.ac.uk

6th May - Renewable energy from the sea – Steph Merry

During the summer months Ken Collins also arranges diving surveys and projects along the south coast. Details of these will also be found on the above website along with other information about the Southampton Oceanographic Centers work, projects and open days.

3rd June - Durlston Dolphins – Ed harland

Marine World News
A selection of Marine life news from around the World.