Since almost everyone on this list has at least SOME interest in marine
conservation, i would like to pass along information on how to join
perhaps the best newsletter about ocean conservation on the planet: it
is called "seaspan" and is produced by the Pew Institute for Ocean
Science.  It's only twice a month, so it won't add much to anyone's
email load.  It digs up the goods on dozens of interesting issues each
time around, and each article is carefully researched.

To subscribe, either go to
http://www.pewoceanscience.org/newsletter/newsletter.php, or email
[log in to unmask] with no subject, and type the following as
the only text in the message:

    SUBSCRIBE SEASPAN Your Name

Here are a couple articles from the most recent edition:
3) ALGAE AIDS AND ABETS CORAL KILLERS
   Algae are often found growing where corals once lived. Most researchers
supposed that the algae simply moved in once corals were already dead or dying.
But a recent study (Science, 24 February 2006) revealed that organic
carbon--which often leaks out of some plants and algae--promotes microbial
activity that kills coral. To elucidate a possible connection between algae,
microbes, and corals, marine ecologist Jennifer Smith of the University of
California, Santa Barbara, and colleagues brought samples of coral and algae
back to the lab from the Central Pacific. The team placed corals in tubs, half
of which also contained algae. A filter separated the algae from the coral; it
was fine enough to block bacteria and viruses, but large enough to allow
passage of dissolved compounds. Within 2 days, all the corals with algae
neighbors turned white and died, while all the solo corals survived. Near the
dying corals' surface, oxygen levels had plummeted, and the energy molecule ATP
spiked--both signs of microbial activity. In repeated experiments, over 95% of
corals suffered to some degree from being near algae, the team (which includes
Pew Fellow Enric Sala) reports online 5 June in Ecology Letters.

Source: Katherine Unger, ScienceNOW Daily News, 7 June 2006
http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2006/607/2?rss=1

Citation: Smith, J. E., M. Shaw, R. Edwards, D. Obura, O. Pantos, E. Sala, S.
Sandin, S. Smriga, M. Hatay and F. L. Rohwer. 2006. Indirect effects of algae
on coral: algae-mediated, microbe-induced coral mortality. Ecology Letters 9:
835-845.
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2006.00937.x

4) CONSERVATION REPORT SAYS BYCATCH DISREGARDED BY FISHERY MANAGERS
   Federal and regional fishery managers are paying too little attention to the
billions of pounds of fish that fishermen unintentionally kill and throw back
into the ocean in New England and nationwide, states a report released by a
coalition of conservation organizations. The Marine Fish Conservation Network's
report says the government has taken few steps to reduce the amount of wasted
fish, or bycatch, and fails to take bycatch into account when setting annual
catch targets. The network, a national coalition made up of 170 conservation,
fishing and science groups, also criticized recent funding cutbacks from
Federal programs to hire observers who ride on fishing boats to monitor and
track bycatch. A fishery analyst with the New England Fishery Management
Council management agency said the report was flawed and inaccurate.

Souce: Boston.com News, 2 June 2006
http://www.boston.com/news/local/maine/articles/2006/06/02/conservation_group_says_bycatch_disregarded_by_fishery_managers/

For a copy of the report, go to the Marine Fish Conservation Network:
http://www.conservefish.org/site/catch01/index.html

Here's hoping plenty of Conchlers sign up for this splendid newsletter!!

From Canada's Ocean Playground,
Ross Mayhew.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
[log in to unmask] - a forum for informal discussions on molluscs
To leave this list, click on the following web link:
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=conch-l&A=1
Type your email address and name in the appropriate box and
click leave the list.
----------------------------------------------------------------------