Weekly news from "The Wave" Website by "Only One", dedicated to the ocean

 

"Coming up in The Wave this week, an expansive study shows that seagrass meadows can buffer ocean acidification, East Antarctic expedition scientists focus on predators of krill, and the Biden Administration made a swath of ocean between New York and New Jersey an offshore wind zone".

 

But first, what comes to mind when you envision a resilient future for the ocean nation of The Bahamas?

The Bahamas spans roughly 100,000 square miles of some of the world’s clearest waters, with 700 islands and 2,400 cays that formulate the largest archipelagic nation in the Atlantic. Yet, despite its evident geographic range and extensive microcultures and biodiversity, many outsiders’ perceptions have been reduced to a monolithic construct—a postcard understanding, if you will: secluded pink-sand beaches, private coves, idyllic turquoise waters.

From intricate mangrove forests to bright coral gardens to abundant fisheries, The Bahamas is evidently rich in incredible natural resources. But this narrative should not be told without its human element or representation from those individuals who call The Bahamas home. 

What you find by pursuing a more holistic account is that of myriad stakeholders of the sea who are looking to balance competing interests while acknowledging a complex past—all this compounded by threats from climate change, resource exploitation, and unsustainable development. The key to such success resides in empathy and understanding, both found at the heart of storytelling’s intent.

Our new Land of the Shallow Seas series is an attempt at this understanding, a delve into the challenges that Bahamians are facing and how they are a critical part of the solution. Through films and essays that champion the perspectives of Bahamian conservationists and community leaders, you will have the opportunity to expand your appreciation of the beauty of The Bahamas and to support wavemakers who are working to transform the ocean and world for the better. 

 

Attempt to smuggle 185 baby tortoises off Galápagos Islands

 

Nearly 200 tortoises, all younger than three months old, were found inside a suitcase at an airport on the island of Baltra, located in the Pacific Ocean about 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador. In a statement released by the airport, X-ray machines detected irregularities in a red suitcase that had been said to be carrying souvenirs. When staff opened the suitcase, they found 185 young tortoises wrapped in plastic. Ten of the tortoises had died, but the rest were still alive.

 

I keep on saying this but if there was no demand for these things then people wouldn´t be tempted to do such bad things.  It is all about money and nothing else, the people who smuggle them don´t realise that even though they think "it´s just me, one person who is doing this" that there are more people thinking he same thing. It is a huge problem.  The authorities need to start prosecuting the buyers of these endangered species, it should be easy enough with all the idiots posting photos of themeselves on social media!

 

Seagrasses turn back the clock on ocean acidification by UC Davis

 

Spanning six years and seven seagrass meadows along the California coast, a paper from the University of California, Davis, is the most extensive study yet of how seagrasses can buffer ocean acidification. The study found that these unsung ecosystems can alleviate more acidic conditions for extended periods of time, even at night in the absence of photosynthesis. It found the grasses can reduce local acidity by up to 30 percent.

 

Scientists in East Antarctica research predators of krill by PEW

East Antarctic expedition scientists on board the research vessel Investigator are collecting data on the region’s Antarctic krill to better estimate the total amount of the krill present, and to better understand interactions between krill and the species that depend on them as their primary food source, as part of an effort to sustainably develop a potential krill fishery in the region.

President Biden announces plan for offshore wind zone by NY Times

The Biden Administration announced a plan to vastly expand the use of offshore wind power along the East Coast, aiming to tap a potentially huge source of renewable energy that has so far struggled to gain a foothold in the United States. The plan would designate an area between Long Island and New Jersey as a priority offshore wind zone and sets a goal of installing 30,000 megawatts of offshore wind turbines in coastal waters nationwide by 2030, generating enough clean electricity to power ten million homes.

 That is just great news, as ong as they use recyclable wind blades!

The blog song for today is: "One Vision" by Queen

TTFN