Spain braced for fight against jellyfish bloom (could cause bad economy)

[donsu]

this is from an email alert from RSOE Emergency and Disaster Information Service


Spain's Environment Ministry has adopted a plan of action for tackling a surge in jellyfish populations along the country's coastline, the ministry said in a report Saturday.

Swarms of stinging jellyfish became such a severe problem last year that several beaches on Spain's Mediterranean coast had to be closed. According to marine biologists, the problem has been caused by over-fishing of the bell-shaped invertebrates' predators, and climate change. Under the ministry's jellyfish plan, a commission of leading experts will be set up, who will set out recommendations for killing them off. Experts say that recently the jellyfish were kept about 20 miles from the coastline by cool fresh water flowing out of rivers. However, warmer temperatures have caused a decline in rainfall, reducing the flow of river water into the sea, and allowing the jellyfish to move closer to the shoreline each year. Over-fishing has also depleted stocks of small fish that compete with the jellyfish for plankton food. Under the proposed measures, the ministry will charter fishing boats that will detect and kill off the offending creatures. Warning systems will also be introduced for bathers on the beaches. Environmentalists have warned that while measures focused on culling the jellyfish may help sustain tourist numbers, they fail to tackle the root of the problem. Spanish authorities fear that jellyfish could inflict substantial damage to the country's tourist industry, a major contributor to the economy. Up to 55 million people visit Spain every year.

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not good for people who work on or around beaches

[IChing]

1. I think the suggestion by leading European oceanic scientist

is something
we as a planet need to get behind.

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Call for wildlife reserve to cover 30% of oceans

Source: The Guardian

Scientists have called for almost a third of the world's oceans to be turned into protected areas for marine wildlife - to maintain food supplies and stop damage to underwater habitats and wildlife.

More than 250 scientists from around Europe signed a declaration yesterday to coincide with World Oceans Day.

"We need to radically rethink our relationship with the sea," said Callum Roberts of the University of York, who is heading the initiative. "What that means is putting back refuges in the ocean for larger, more vulnerable wildlife. Placing areas off-limits to fishing and exploitation so we can rebuild those ocean food webs that are so important."

Less than 0.006% of the world's 360m square kilometres of sea is designated as protected. In Britain, only three square kilometres out of 760,000 square kilometres of sea is off-limits to any exploitation, including for oil and gas.

Read more: http://environment.guardian.co.uk/conservation/story/0,...
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http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2875374

[donsu]

2. kick

nt