There are no really historical records of the volume and type of material that was spilled in the oceans before the establishment of an anti-dumping law. However, it is estimated that in 1968, 38 million tons of excavated material, 4.5 million tons of industrial waste, 4.5 million sewage sludge, 100 million tons of petroleum-based product (plastic), 2 to 4 tonnes of chemical waste, more than 1 million tons of heavy metals were released into the ocean. The U.S. archive shows that between 1946 and 1970 over 55,000 containers of radioactive waste were disposed in 3 sites of dumping of the Pacific Ocean. In addition, 34,000 tons of radioactive wastes were disposed in 3 sites of dumping of the U.S. east coast between 1951 and 1962. No law on dumping radioactive waste has been put into force before 1972.
DFO shuns science, fails to consider long-term interests
The Department of Fisheries and Ocean’s (DFO) decisions are based on political expediency rather than science.
In setting a total allowable catch of 400,000 for harp seals, Federal Fisheries Minister Keith Ashfield has ignored the advice of his own research scientist and head of Marine Mammal Section. (Read more…)
The blue ringed octopus is tiny and beautiful. Its amazing rings flash a rich fluorescent blue. An individual blue-ringed octopus tends to use its dermal chromatophore cells to camouflage itself until provoked, at which point it quickly changes color, becoming bright yellow with blue rings or lines. Should you run across this tiny vividly colored octopus, you may think to grab it to take home to your salt water tank.
Why deadly?
Grabbing it for your salt tank might be a deadly mistake. The blue-ringed octopus is 5 to 8 inches, but its venom is powerful enough to kill humans and there is no blue-ringed octopus anti-venom available. They pounce on their prey, paralyze them with venom and use their beaks to tear off pieces. They then suck out the flesh from the body. Once bitten, the fast acting poison leads to loss of sight, taste and touch immediately. Without quick treatment, the paralysis will cause asphyxial death because of respiratory paralysis.
Little-known shark lurks in Arctic waters and eats just about anything
Imagine a shark that grows as large as a great white, has toxic, urea-soaked flesh, and dines on an assortment of marine mammals. No, this isn’t the latest Hollywood attempt to ramp up the “Jaws” franchise. Meet the Greenland shark — perhaps one of the world’s least known apex marine predators.
More gorgeous “shrimp” for your day: The Mantis Shrimp
Despite their name, the mantis shrimps are neither shrimp nor mantises, but receive their name purely from the physical resemblance to both the praying mantis and the shrimp. These creatures are sometimes referred to as “thumb splitters” because their claws are strong enough to split human appendages. These highly intelligent creatures are often monogamous and they get to know and regularly interact with their neighbors. The mantis shrimp also has the best eyesight in the animal world with 16 different photoreceptor types (compared to four in humans). But – what really makes these creatures badass is their ability to break out of aquariums by smashing the glass with their claws. It has a punch stronger than a .22 calibre pistol.and their eyes could lead to the new generation of DVD players
SAY “NO” TO SHARK FIN SOUP. TAKE THE PLEDGE TODAY!
Research indicates that worldwide shark numbers have plummeted by as much as 90% in recent decades, largely attributable to shark finning. It is estimated that an astonishing 100 million sharks are killed specifically for their fins each year.
Please Read “Shark fin soup: A recipe for extinction ”
Great Barrier Reef’s sharks in decline
Researchers warned that the reef’s sharks are in decline due to over fishing after developing what they said was a new way to measure falling numbers.
