The Australian Bureau of Meteorology published an informative video to improve your understanding of the El Niño and La Niña and their impacts on our climate and weather. This “Understanding ENSO” video explains what El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is, how the cycle works including the science behind the phases, and the potential impacts on Australia’s climate and weather.
Fishing exclusion zone benefits fishers hundreds of kilometres away, study finds
For many commercial and recreational fishers, marine protected areas (where fishing is excluded) are viewed with scepticism.
Critics have questioned the legitimacy of what is referred to as the spillover effect — where excluding fishing is hypothesised to produce ecological and/or commercial fishing benefits beyond the boundaries of the protected area.
Key points:
- Researchers compared catch rates outside the world’s largest marine protected area off Hawaii, before and after fishing was excluded
- Yellowfin tuna catch rates were boosted by 60 per cent within 100 nautical miles of the boundary, and total “other” species were also higher
- Increased tuna catch rates were seen for 300 nautical miles from the boundary
But research published today in Science suggests fishing exclusion zones can benefit both fishers and the marine environment, and that fish yields for some species can be boosted up to several hundred kilometres away from the protected habitat.
Celebrate World Oceans Day!
On World Oceans Day, people around our blue planet celebrate and honor our ocean, which connects us all. Get together with your family, friends, community, and millions of others around our blue planet to start creating a better future.
Growing collaborative conservation with a global network of leaders in 140 countries, providing resources for all to take action to restore and protect the ocean, and empowered by the World Oceans Day Youth Advisory Council.
By working together, we can — and will — protect and restore our shared ocean. Join this growing global celebration on 8 June with continuing engagement year-round!
For more details — check out: World Oceans Day — Together, we can protect our home.
Ocean wind and waves are getting higher
Extensive research just released by the University of Melbourne confirms what many have suspected… the world’s waves and wind have been increasing.
30-years and billions of measurements have been accessed to report the ocean going merchant mariners, cruise ship passengers, and intrepid voyagers are enduring more treacherous conditions than ever.