The most threatened species in the shark and ray Class are the sawfishes; all the world’s species are classified by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) as Critically Endangered. The US population of smalltooth sawfish has declined by an estimated 99% while European sawfish are assumed extinct.
Engangered Marine Species
Seafood Not That Dolphin-Friendly: Entanglement Issues & Waste
Hundreds of thousands of marine mammals are injured or killed every year by fishermen around the world. And because most seafood in the U.S. is imported, that means our fish isn’t as dolphin-friendly as you might expect. Under pressure from… Read More ›
Researchers Study Marine Mammals for “Toxic Hot Spots”
MOSS LANDING, Calif.—California marine scientists are collecting samples from sea mammals around the state to in an effort to create a map of toxic hot spots. Marine Mammal Center researchers plan to use 10 years of data collected from the… Read More ›
Whale Activists Claim Japanese Ships Killing Protected Whales
Japanese whalers accused of breaches 1/6/13 (Reuters) – Anti-whaling activists said on Monday they had captured images of Japanese ships killing protected whales inside an internationally recognized whale sanctuary, sparking criticism of the Australian government’s handling of the issue. The… Read More ›
800 Manatees Die in Florida Waters in 2013
A manatee munching down on some sargassum. Credit: USGS – Sirenia Project View full size image It has been a bad year for Florida manatees. Very bad. As of Dec. 13, a total of 803 manatees had died in the… Read More ›
Stairway to Plastisphere
Also seen in SLO New Times By Charmaine Coimbra A new report from UCLA School of Law’s Emmett Center on Climate Change and the Environment and UCLA’s Institute of the Environment and Sustainability Plastic states, “Plastic litter is one of… Read More ›
Acidic Ocean–A Catatasrophe in the Works?
Rising levels of acids in seas may endanger marine life, says study Oceans are one of the biggest areas of focus for current climate change research. Photograph: Federico Gambarini/dpa/Corbis Rapidly rising carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are causing a… Read More ›
Lawsuit Filed to Protect Endangered Whales from Entanglement
Lawsuit Forces Review of Fishery Impacts on Endangered Atlantic Whales and New Rules to Protect the Species from Entanglements Defenders of Wildlife, Whale and Dolphin Conservation The National Marine Fisheries Service has agreed to formally review the impact… Read More ›
“Unusual” Dolphin Mortality on US East Coast
By Francesca Trianni NEW YORK | Thu Aug 8, 2013 7:51pm EDT (Reuters) – Federal scientists investigating an unusually high number of dead bottlenose dolphins washing up on the East Coast said on Thursday the carcasses are showing up at… Read More ›
Group Petitions NMFS to Protect Marine Species
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today WildEarth Guardians submitted a formal petition to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) seeking protection for 81 imperiled marine species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The 81 petitioned species span the world’s oceans and range… Read More ›