|
|
|
|
| Please note that some links in these articles may have
expired or subscription requirements are necessary. |
| China:
"China reports diminished red tides in 2005" People's Daily, 10 January 2006 Chinese media report that the country faced 82 red tides during 2005, a decrease of 15 percent from 2004. It is estimated that the tides cost China as much as USD$ 9 million annually and affect an area amounting to more than 27,000 square kms. The East China Sea remains the most affected by the algae blooms. World Tuna Catches: "Panel urges cut in blue fin tuna catch" New Kerala News, 10 January 2006 New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and Australia are calling for a 50 percent reduction in Southern Blue Fin Tuna catches by next year. Experts note declining numbers and suggest that there is a 50 percent chance that all fish capable of laying eggs will have been harvested by 2030. If accepted, the reduction would limit the total catch to about 7,770 tons. British Columbia: "Seaspan sues BC Ferries over crushed tugboat" Vancouver Sun, 11 January 2006 Seaspan International is suing BC Ferries. The company claims
that the Queen of Surrey crushed into one of its tugs after the ferry's master failed to
follow shipping rules. The tug was crushed between the berth and the ferry.
Globe and Mail, 12 January 2006 A Greenpeace pole that surveyed some 800 people across Canada revealed that 78 percent of respondents want a moratorium placed on bottom trawling. The group hopes that the survey will reverse the current Canadian Fisheries and Oceans decision that allows bottom trawling in international waters. Environmentalists and scientists charge that the practice destroys marine eco-systems and wipes out potentially vulnerable species. China: "Science ship returns after 300 days exploring ocean's secrets" People's Daily, 23 January 2006 China's first scientific research ship to circumnavigate the globe returned to port this month after spending 300 days at sea. The boat returned with 1,000 kgs of hydrothermal sulfide samples that contain traces of precious metals. During the voyage, the crew also conducted mapping operations that could aid deep-sea mining operations and gathered several deep-sea biological samples. Also in China this month, officials noted that the shipping capacity of the Yangtze River reached 795 million tons last year. Piracy: "US navy captures Somali pirates" People's Daily, 23 January 2006 The USS Winston S Churchill, a missile destroyer, intercepted a group of pirates off the Somali coast last weekend. The ship pursued the vessel following reports o f a pirate attack. The pirates eventually surrendered after the US ship fired warning shots at the vessels. The pirates were found with a small cache of arms. Piracy has become so widespread in waters off the Somali coast, that the government signed a USD$ 50 million agreement with a US maritime security firm to help combat the problem. United States/ Australia: "US aircraft carrier docks in Brisbane" ABC News, 23 January 2006 The aircraft carrier, the USS Ronald Reagan made a five-day port visit to Brisbane this week. The visit is the first by a US aircraft carrier to the city and is the carrier's first foreign port stop since its deployment. New Zealand/ Australia: "NZ, Australia maritime boundary comes into force" Xinhua, 25 January 2006 A treaty that established legal maritime boundaries between New Zealand and Australia come into force this week. The agreement was originally signed in 2004 and sets a boundary between the two states' EEZ and the continental shelf in the Tasman Sea. Indonesia/ Singapore: " Indonesia, Singapore to set up tech group on maritime boundaries" Channel News Asia, 25 January 2006 Indonesia and Singapore have agreed to establish a Joint Technical Working Group to finalize details regarding their maritime boundary. The group will include foreign ministry and naval officials from both sides and is expected to meet before further official talks between the two sides sit again. Australia: "Crews rush to clean up Australian oil spill" Globe and Mail, 25 January 2006 Emergency crews in Australia are working overtime to contain an oil spill (10,000 litres) that occurred near the Great Barrier Reef. The spill was caused by two vessels colliding; a rushing tide has since sent the oil towards a sensitive mangrove area. Officials stress that the spill will not harm the Reef. Canada: "Prince Rupert port plan is given the green light" Globe and Mail, 25 January 2006 The federal government has approved CDN$ 160 million in spending for a port expansion project in Prince Rupert, British Columbia. The money will be used to fund the construction of a container port at the facility which officials hope will be ready by mid 2007. Meanwhile, aboriginal groups continue to voice opposition to the project due to land claim issues. Australia: "Dioxin alarm puts an end to harbour fishing" Sydney Morning Herald, 25 January 2006 Australian officials placed a three-month ban on commercial fishing in Sydney Harbour this week and warned recreational fishers not to eat their catches. The warning and ban comes after officials admitted they had not tested fish in the Harbour for dioxin levels in more than a decade. Southeast Asia: "Tiniest tiddler a big catch for scientists" Sydney Morning Herald, 26 January 2006 Scientist have discovered the world's smallest vertebrate in the Southeast Asian swamps. The Paedocypris progenetica is a tiny member of the carp family and was found in a swamp in Sumatra. Scientists have attributed the fish's long-hidden existence to the fact that it lives in very acidic water that most thought could not support life. Once full grown, the female measures just under 1mm wide and 8 mm long; the male is only slightly larger. Indonesia/ Australia: "Indonesia sends 2 warships to Australian border" People's Daily, 27 January 2006 The Indonesia Navy deployed two warships to its maritime border with Australia this week to prevent the incursion of Indonesians seeking to illegally fish in Australian waters. The move is a reflection of an Indonesian pledge to help Canberra combat the problem. |
