Dan’s latest posts from The Official MPA Blog website. Click on the article title to read the full story.
- Sargasso Sea among spots in the High Seas identified as potential World Heritage sites - Five sites in the High Seas, which belong to no country, could be recognised under the World Heritage Convention, according to a new report by UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre and International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the advisory body on natural World Heritage. The report has been launched from a submersible at the edge of one of the most iconic of these sites – the Sargasso Sea.
- Technologies for the Ocean - How you can bring the Sea to your Pocket - Seak (i.e. Sea and Seek) is a citizen science App that empowers students, underwater photographers, scuba divers, scientists and casual, curious sea lovers worldwide to photograph and georeference marine species. Simultaneously, this free mobile application empowers anyone to discover marine life, no matter where the user may be located, through other user’s eyes, connecting them with
- The Young Professionals Marine Challenge: Innovative and creative initiatives by young marine conservationists around the world - The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) Marine Young Professionals Task Force have partnered with the Blue Solutions project, Mission Blue, #OceanOptimism and TerraMar on a new initiative to highlight and promote the projects of young people working for marine conservation around the world. The competition partners invite youth
- UN takes significant step towards a new treaty to conserve marine life beyond boundaries - Photo by IISD/Francis Dejon In response to mounting concerns about declines in ocean health, States at the United Nations (UN) delivered some good news last week. The first of four two-week UN Preparatory Committee sessions concluded on a positive note on Friday April 8, 2016 by identifying key elements for a new treaty to better protect and sustain the marine environment and marine life
- The 2016 Oceans Photographer of the Year Competition - The Global Marine and Polar Programme is thrilled to announce the Oceans Photographer of the Year 2016 competition - Open for entries until the 25th of May 2016 The IUCN Global Marine and Polar Programme invites you to submit up to 3 photographs per category: (A) Marine Life: Photos of marine organisms and their ecosystems from the tropics to temperate zones (B) The Poles: Photos of
- Regional Forum on Solutions for Oceans, Coasts and Human Wellbeing in Africa - The dates for the “Regional Forum on Solutions for Oceans, Coasts and Human Wellbeing in Africa” have now been confirmed to take place on 31 May – 3 June 2016 in the SeaCliff, Zanzibar, Tanzania and you can now express your interest in participating in this event. The first day of the forum will start with a high-level event and networking sessions to get to know your fellow participants.
- How ocean pollution affects humans [Infographic] - The oceans are mankind’s lifeline, which contribute to over 70% of the oxygen we breathe and over 96% of our water supply. The oceans are so vast that they cover 72% of the world’s surface. With our oceans being at the brink of disaster, we have to do something to stop our vital system from destruction. In 2007, over 2.12 billion tons of plastic had been dumped into our oceans. In 2014, 5000
- The 5th International Tropical Marine Ecosystem Management Symposium - The Secretariat of the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) is happy to announce that the 5th International Tropical Marine Ecosystem Management Symposium (ITMEMS 5) will be held in Bohol, Philippines from 25-28 February 2016! ITMEMS 5 will be held by the Governments of Japan and the Philippines in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). We are currently
- Australia Acts to Create the International Partnership for Blue Carbon to Fight Climate Change - At the COP 21 this week, the government of Australia announced the creation of the International Partnership for Blue Carbon. It will bring together governments non-profit organizations, intergovernmental agencies, and scientists to increase understanding of, and accelerate action on the important role of coastal blue carbon ecosystems in climate change action. Founding members of the
- Tribute to the father of marine reserves Bill Ballantine - Bill Ballantine at the Cape Rodney – Okakari Point Marine Reserve, Leigh, Northland, NZ. It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Dr Bill Ballantine on November the 1st 2015. Bill was the pioneer of marine reserve protection in New Zealand and worldwide. As the first Director of the University of Auckland’s Leigh Marine Laboratory, Bill contributed significantly to the
