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Marine Life & Conservation

Marine Conservation Society recognises young ocean optimists with new award

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Nominations needed for the Young Ocean Optimist of the Year Award celebrating under 25s who have done something amazing to help our ocean

This year, the Marine Conservation Society is launching a brand new award to recognise incredible young people who go the extra mile to celebrate and protect the ocean. The winner of the award for under 25s will be announced at the charity’s online Annual Conference and AGM on 19th November 2020.

The Young Ocean Optimist of the Year Award has been set up to celebrate the achievements of young people who have worked tirelessly to protect, recover and celebrate the seas and wildlife around the UK coastline. The Marine Conservation Society encourages individuals to nominate any inspiring young person who uses their spare time to clean their local beach, raise awareness of threats to marine life, or shares their passion through research, art, social media, writing, walking or myriad other creative ways.

Sandy Luk, Chief Executive of the Marine Conservation Society said: “I’m so pleased to be able to recognise and celebrate the incredible young people around the UK whose passion for the ocean is limitless. I can’t wait to see all the nominations and learn about the amazing things that young people across the country are doing to explore, fundraise, raise awareness, protect and celebrate our blue heart. If you know an inspirational young person who has done any of those things, please nominate them now and shine a light on their brilliant work.”

Inka Cresswell, Ocean Ambassador for the Marine Conservation Society and judge for the Young Ocean Optimist of the Year Award said: “There has never been a more important time for us to use our voices for the ocean. I believe we all have an incredibly important role to play in preserving these ecosystems for future generations but there are some individuals who have gone above and beyond, to ensure a brighter future for our ocean and its inhabitants. This award is a fantastic opportunity to highlight the work of young people, leading by example, and showing how one individual’s actions can turn the tide on Ocean Conservation.”

Nominations for the award will be shortlisted by a cross section of staff and volunteers from across the Marine Conservation Society. A top ten list of nominees will then be sent to the judging panel, which includes: Sandy Luk, CEO of the Marine Conservation Society; Mark Haviland, Vice Chair of MCS; Inka Cresswell, MCS Ocean Ambassador; Tara Proud, MCS Volunteer and Community Engagement Manager for Scotland and Hannah Birse, Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament.

The winner will be decided by the judging panel, and announced live at the charity’s online Annual Conference and AGM on the evening of 19th November. Links to short videos (under 5 minutes), audio recordings (under 2 minutes) and social media or online articles/blogs are encouraged to be included in your nomination.

The deadline for nominations is 9am on Monday 19th October. To nominate someone, download the nomination form (here), and send to education@mcsuk.org.

For more information about the Marine Conservation Society visit their website by clicking here.

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Guarding Against Coral Invaders

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Protecting (Dutch) Caribbean Reefs from Unomia stolonifera

Recent reports highlight the concerning spread of the invasive soft coral, Unomia stolonifera, currently devastating Venezuela’s marine ecosystems and detected in Cuba. With the potential threat of its expansion to the (Dutch) Caribbean islands, urgent action and awareness are essential to safeguard marine biodiversity and local economies from possible catastrophic consequences.

Invasive species are animals or plants from another region of the world that don’t belong in their new environment. These species can have major ecological effects by decimating native flora or fauna. They can also cause large economic losses and impact human health. Invasive species also pose a significant threat to marine ecosystems worldwide, including the Dutch Caribbean. Among these invaders is the octocoral species Unomia stolonifera or “Pulsing Xenia”, originally from the Indo-Pacific. With its rapid growth and lack of natural predators, this species can outcompete native species and disrupt fragile marine habitats such as seagrass beds and coral reefs.

Background

The invasive soft coral U. stolonifera was first identified in 2014, off the coast of Venezuela. It is believed to have been introduced via the illegal aquarium trade.  Since this species can reproduce sexually and asexually (or fragment), even small pieces can regenerate to spread.  Once introduced it quickly took over shallow reefs and hard substrate at depths of 0-50 meters, outcompeting local corals and seagrass for space.  Follow on surveys found that this coral species exhibited average percentage cover as high as 80%, vastly outcompeting native corals. In highly colonized areas, fish are disappearing due to loss of habitats.

In 2022, during a survey conducted in Cuba by the University of Havana, an unknown octocoral was discovered which was later identified as the invasive Unomia stolonifera. It is suspected that the coral larvae arrived in ballast water from fossil fuel ships originating from Venezuela, as nearby sites adjacent to Venezuelan ports have been heavily affected by the invasion.

How to help

Prevention through continuous monitoring, particularly in high-risk areas such as marine harbors and oil facilities, is paramount. Early detection plays a pivotal role in mitigating the threat posed by Unomia stolonifera.

The public’s involvement and awareness are also vital. Local communities, recreational divers, tourists, and all stakeholders are urged to participate in early detection efforts by reporting sightings (photo, location and date) of this invasive coral to their respective Protected Area Management Organization (PMO’s)- the Fundacion Parke Nacional Aruba (FPNA)STINAPA BonaireCARMABI Curaçao Saba Conservation Foundation (SCF)Nature Foundation St. Maarten (NFSXM) and St. Eustatius National Parks (STENAPA). If an invaded area is confirmed, follow the recommendations by the local PMO’s.

Keys to Success

Despite the challenges, early detection is key to mitigating the threat posed by Unomia stolonifera. With continued vigilance, research, and community engagement, there is hope for containing this potential issue before it becomes a major threat.

About the DCNA

The Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) supports (science) communication and outreach in the Dutch Caribbean region by making nature related (scientific) information more widely available through amongst others the Dutch Caribbean Biodiversity Database, DCNA’s news platform BioNews and through the press. This article contains the results from several scientific studies but the studies themselves are not DCNA studies. No rights can be derived from the content. DCNA is not liable for the content and the in(direct) impacts resulting from publishing this article.

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Seagrass Awareness Month brings critical food source for Manatees to centre stage

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March is Seagrass Awareness Month, and there has never been a more critical time to act to protect seagrass communities across Florida and call to action for everyone to contribute to the health of these vital ecosystems. The state’s manatee population has now suffered four years of elevated mortality rates, largely due to seagrass loss.  While the reduced mortality rate in 2023 may signal some progress, it still underscores the ongoing need for awareness and conservation efforts.

Recent years have seen a critical decline in seagrass, leading to devastating consequences for manatees. In 2021, a record number of manatees died, with many dying of starvation within the Indian River Lagoon (IRL). Nutrient pollution, resulting in widespread algae blooms, caused a catastrophic loss of seagrass, leaving manatees to starve. This alarming situation prompted the declaration of an Atlantic Florida Manatee Unusual Mortality Event in 2021, which is still ongoing and under close monitoring.

In 2023, there were over 550 recorded manatee deaths in Florida, on top of the record number recorded in 2021 of 1,101, followed by 800 recorded manatee deaths in 2022. While the number of manatees starving from a lack of seagrass was lower last winter, the situation remains dire because human-caused nutrient pollution remains much too high. Due to high water levels in Lake Okeechobee, we are already seeing discharges to both coasts, dangerously affecting water quality and possibly the seagrass communities.

Manatees rely on seagrass as a vital food source. There are seven species of seagrass in Florida, all of which are consumed by manatees. However, the IRL, a critical manatee habitat, has lost over 95% of its seagrass biomass due to human-induced harmful algal blooms. On the West Coast, Tampa Bay has lost 12% of its seagrass in 2 years, with some areas at historic lows, and Sarasota Bay has lost approximately 30% of its seagrass since 2016. While habitat restoration projects are underway and there have been some signs that seagrass communities may be rebounding in some areas of the IRL, ultimate success depends upon avoiding future harmful algal blooms by continuing to improve overall water quality.

Patrick Rose, Aquatic Biologist and Executive Director of the Save the Manatee Club, emphasized the importance of Seagrass Awareness Month, stating, “Manatees and seagrass communities have co-evolved over millions of years. Seagrass Awareness Month is an important opportunity to spotlight this critical aquatic resource. Uncontrolled development, lax regulation, and pollution from Florida’s growing human population have fueled the cycle of algae blooms that cause seagrass loss.”

For it’s part, Save the Manatee Club has long worked with partners to rehabilitate and protect Florida’s waterways. Recently, it partnered with the Center for Biological Diversity and Defenders of Wildlife to file a suit against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) for failing to revise outdated critical habitat for Florida manatees, which has not been updated since its original designation in 1976. As a result, it was announced in June 2022 that FWS has committed to revising critical habitat for the Florida manatee by 2024. In May 2022, the same three groups, together with Earth Justice, sued the Environmental Protection Agency for failing to protect manatees from water pollution in Florida. The case is still pending.

Members of the public are encouraged to take action to protect seagrass and manatees by:

  • Taking the pledge to be Fertilizer-Free™ For Manatees, thus helping to reduce pollution from yard chemicals, which will help prevent harmful algal blooms from forming.
  • Preventing damage to seagrasses by avoiding boating over seagrass beds or trimming up the boat’s motor and idling to a safe depth before getting on plane.
  • Reporting distressed, sick, injured, or dead manatees to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 1-888-404-FWCC (3922).
  • Resisting the urge to feed or give water to manatees, which is illegal and can negatively impact their natural behavior.
  • Sign up for our Action Alerts and contact local, state, and federal elected officials to urge them to help manatees and restore the seagrasses throughout Florida.

Seagrass Awareness Month serves as a reminder of the urgent need to protect seagrass communities and the manatees that depend on them. By working together, we can ensure a brighter future for these iconic marine mammals and their vital habitats. Rose concluded, “Everyone must act now—from the individual members of the public to governmental and nonprofit organizations to our elected officials—to disrupt this cycle of pollution and proceed to protect and rebuild the seagrass communities that are essential to the survival of manatees and a host of other species, including fishes, dolphins, sea turtles, and birds that collectively depend on this critical aquatic resource.”

Save the Manatee Club, established in 1981 by the late renowned singer-songwriter, author, and entrepreneur Jimmy Buffett, along with former Florida Governor and U.S. Senator Bob Graham, is dedicated to safeguarding manatees and preserving their aquatic habitat. For more information about manatees and the Club’s efforts, visit savethemanatee.org or call 1-800-432-JOIN (5646).

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