Organizations
Researchers in Madagascar recently concluded that closing marine areas to fishing for even short periods of time can significantly restore depleted fish stocks. The researchers found that after an area off the coast of the island was closed to fishermen for seven months, the number of octopuses caught later rose 13 times while the total weight of the octopus catch jumped 25 times. This should make sense, of course, since most marine stocks are caught faster than they can breed.

"The increase ... was far greater than we ever expected," said Alasdair Harris, scientific director of Blue Ventures, the marine ...
Recently, 11 suburban Chicago students deemed "at-risk" learned how to dive. Working with Scuba Training At Risk Students (STARS), a nonprofit organization that helps youths do better in school and succeed in future careers, the aim of the program is to give "problem" children a focus and re-direct their energies. After 12 weeks of class and pool time, the students ultimately traveled to Turks and Caicos, participated in 11 dives, and earned their open-water certificates. They also feel more confident and inspired to do better in school. Don't believe me? Just listen to what Zac Stanley, a 14-year-old STARS participant ...

Next time I head down to the Florida Keys, I may have to swing by the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center. Located in NOAA's Dr. Nancy Foster Florida Keys Environmental Complex on the Truman Annex waterfront in Key West, the Center features over 6,000 square feet of interactive, dynamic exhibits that interpret and explain the resources and management efforts of Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, two national parks, and four national wildlife refuges. That suggests lots more models of animals than real animals, but I'm a fan of learning.

Highlights of the museum include a simulation of the Aquarius underwater research habitat, ...

Last summer, Japan was accused of using "checkbook diplomacy" to foster a paradigm shift in the International Whaling Commission. Japan's new allies in the Commission -- Antigua, Dominica, Grenada, Tuvalu, Nauru, and Kiribati, all of which received millions in Japanese aid the prior year -- voted against the ban on commercial whaling, giving anti-whaling countries on the IWC a one-vote majority. In anticipation's of this year's meetings, the UK is stepping up attempts to secure an anti-whaling majority on the Commission.

To support these efforts, the British government is publishing a brochure to encourage nations that oppose whaling to join ...

Tired of listening to your co-workers heave great sighs as they monotonously staple and shuffle unread memos back and forth? If you're worn out listening to NPR's awesome live concert recording of the excellent band Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!, then check out Sounds of the Deep.

This new CD, for sale through the British Library's Online Shop, features seals, whales, dolphins, and other marine animals making sounds...in the deep. While some of the sounds may be familiar to you, I'm guessing not many people have heard the mating call of the North Sea haddock. Think of their rumbling call as ...

Beginners / Experts

Much like scientists can read the rings of trees to determine climate changes that tree has endured, researchers can "read" coral. For example, by analyzing the coral's strontium-calcium ratio, scientists can measure how much rain fell as much as 6500 years ago. In a recent study, in fact, researchers with ...

Eco

While some people worry that fish populations are being exploited at a dangerous pace, others are rejoicing at the small successes that are occurring. In Australia, for example, the red throat emperor has made a spectacular comeback in recent years. Once heavily overfished, the fish seem to have rebounded. Why? ...

Health
Recently, we told you about blue bottle jellyfish -- a.k.a., Portuguese Man-of-Wars -- washing up on Florida's beaches. This weekend, more than 160 beach-goers in southern Australia were stung after the jellies washed ashore on seven different beaches.

According to Gold Coast Duty Officer Kevin Dunn, "They are an amazing little ...
Learning
How do you donate air? There's more than one way to do it. That random dive buddy you ended up with at the boat dock might do something unexpected in an out of air situation. SCUBA Theory is back again. Today, it's all about sharing air.
How do you share? Divers naturally share air ...