A space-age powerboat sent to harass Japanese whalers was rammed and sliced in two in its very first clash on Wednesday, activists said, dramatically escalating hostilities in icy Antarctic seas. The futuristic Ady Gil trimaran, which holds the round-the-world record and was enlisted by Sea Shepherd activists for this whaling season, received "catastrophic damage" and was sinking, they said. All six crew, who earlier hurled stink bombs at the whalers to disrupt their annual hunt, were... Read Full Story
The federal government is considering placing on the endangered species list a type of dolphin that looks like a killer whale and lives in waters close to Hawaii. The National Marine Fisheries Service said Tuesday a petition filed last year by the Natural Resources Defense Council included substantial information indicating a listing would be warranted. The agency is asking for public input on the issue. It will accept comments through Feb. 4. The dolphin species, called false killer whales... Read Full Story
by Amy Coopes SYDNEY (AFP) -- A space-age powerboat sent to harass Japanese whalers was rammed and sliced in two in its very first clash on Wednesday, activists said, dramatically escalating hostilities in icy Antarctic seas. The futuristic Ady Gil trimaran, which holds the round-the-world record and was enlisted by Sea Shepherd activists for this whaling season, received "catastrophic damage" and was sinking, they said. All six crew, who earlier hurled stink bombs at the whalers to disrupt... Read Full Story
The clamor for shark fins is driven essentially by the acclaim for the Chinese delicacy Shark Fin Soup which is commonly served at marriages and parties as representative of wealth and prestige. The fins are unfit and used only as a thickening agent and to provide texture. These are venues where moral judgments are made on wine and while the organizers celebrate the victory of subjectivity in wine tasting. In a way these parties popularize the sense of appreciation of types of wine and there... Read Full Story
Bequia Whale Jaw Bones Tucked in just under St. Vincent, Bequia is one of the few places left in the world where the citizens are allowed to hunt whales. With permission from the International Whaling Commission, the natives of Bequia can catch up to four Humpback whales per year. As the hunting has to be done in the traditional method of hand held harpoons launched from open sailing boats, this four humpback whale a year limit is rarely met, and in fact some years, no whales are caught at... Read Full Story
Some of my earliest childhood memories are of the summers spent with my father camping with his troop of Boy Scouts in upstate New York. At camp every day was a new adventure filled with the smells of wood fires, pine trees, the earthy scent of forest floor, and catfish being fried in a skillet. I learned many skills at camp such as catching and cleaning a catfish, how to paddle a canoe, as well as learning to swim. I view the outdoors as a big classroom where we learn about ourselves and... Read Full Story
NBA star Yao Ming urged China on Friday to say no to shark fin soup to stop the overfishing of some species amid growing demand for the delicacy. The Houston Rockets centre, who recently bought the Shanghai Sharks, the pro team in his hometown, unveiled a television commercial aimed at wealthy Chinese which urges them to stop ordering shark fin soup. "We have species that need our attention and protection," Yao told reporters. "They are endangered by excessive hunting by humans and deprived... Read Full Story
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 2, 2010Population Explosion of Tiny Fish Might Explain Rising Numbers of Whale Sightings Off Southern Calif.By Sandra Hughes California’s Santa Monica Bay is getting crowded since the whales have returned in force. Scientists are still trying to figure out why these whales are in such great numbers. Sandra Hughes reports. Tracking a [...]Related posts:Scientists: Humpback Whales Can Protect Seals From Predators Out Of Maternal Instinct Humpback whales can protect seals out... Read Full Story
Hong Kong shark fin merchants on Wednesday reacted angrily to a US study that said meat from endangered species was being sold in the city's markets to make a popular soup. In the new study for the journal Endangered Species Research, US scientists said they had used DNA testing to trace the geographic origin of shark fins on sale in Hong Kong. They found 21 percent of the fins came from endangered scalloped hammerhead shark stocks in the western Atlantic. But the Hong Kong Shark Fin Trade... Read Full Story
High-tech forensic methods show that some shark fins on sale in Hong Kong markets come from endangered shark populations, proving the need for stronger trade regulations, a new study said Tuesday. US scientists using a type of DNA testing said they were able to trace the geographic origin of shark fins on sale in Hong Kong and show that endangered species are being targeted by the trade. The group is calling for the March 2010 meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered... Read Full Story
