Monday, May 14th, 2007
There are currently 279 highly imperiled US species that are designated as candidates for listing as threatened or endangered and that face potential extinction. But the Bush administration has failed to protect any one of them in the last year. Overall, according to a report released by the Center for Biological Diversity, the Bush administration has listed fewer species under the Endangered Species Act than any other administration since the law was enacted in 1973. Some species have become extinct before they were promoted from the candidate list, and have thus been removed from the list.
Posted in Diving | Comments Off
Friday, May 11th, 2007
Egypt have cancelled a decree which allowed companies to collect reef fish and export them to Europe and other markets.
According to the Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association (HEPCA), the previous decision had a devastating effect on nature and on the coral reef condition in the whole area. HEPCA launched a huge campaign against this decision and lobbied with other agencies, enthusiastic individuals, and major media representatives.
Posted in Diving | Comments Off
Thursday, May 10th, 2007
The world's scientists plan to document all 1.8 million named species on a web site for all to see.
The project, called the Encyclopedia of Life, will provide written information and, when available, photographs, video, sound, location maps and other multimedia information on each species. Built on the scientific integrity of thousands of experts around the globe, the Encyclopedia will be a moderated wiki-style environment, freely available to all users everywhere.
Posted in Diving | Comments Off
Wednesday, May 9th, 2007
Countries that start battling global warming now won't have to wait generations to see the rewards: burning cleaner fuels can yield immediate health benefits that save lives and money, world health experts say.
Posted in Diving | Comments Off
Tuesday, May 8th, 2007
The British Sub-Aqua Club has reduced the age for youngsters to take up snorkelling with them from 8 years old to 6 years old.
Posted in Diving | Comments Off
Friday, May 4th, 2007
The seahorse is remarkable as the male becomes pregnant. The female seahorse deposits her eggs into the male's pouch where they are fertilised. The eggs remain in the male's pouch until they hatch, when the male gives birth to tiny seahorses. Male seahorses are often pregnant for as many as 7 months in the year.
Seahorses are facing a high risk of extinction in the wild. There are many reasons for their vulnerability. Seahorses are exploited for traditional medicines and the aquarium trade. Male brooding means that young depend on parental survival for far longer than in most fish. Many species are monogamous so widowed animals don't reproduce until they have found a new partner. Their low population density and low mobility means that this can take some time. Habitat degradation is also a real threat to populations as they mainly inhabit shallow, coastal areas, which are highly influenced by human activities.
Posted in Diving | Comments Off
