May 2012

After a detailed review of import records for marine tropical fish entering the United States over a year's span, scientists found 1,802 species imported, or 22 percent greater biodiversity than previously estimated. More than 11 million fish were imported from 40 countries, which was less than previously reported, as many freshwater fish and marine invertebrates were being mistakenly counted as marine fish.

Originally noted as an unidentified sonar contact in 2011, the shipwreck site was stumbled upon during a Shell Oil Company oil and gas survey. As part of the decision-making process for issuing bottom-disturbing activity permits in regards to oil and gas exploration, it was requested by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) of the Department of Interior that this and other shipwreck sites be investigated during the expedition.

Lower courts ruled that the recovered cargo had come from the Spanish frigate Mercedes, which exploded and sank in 1804 while returning from South America. The ship’s remains and its cargo were the sovereign property of Spain.

Urging the high court to take up the case, lawyers for Odyssey Marine argued that Spanish sovereignty did not apply to the coins and other artifacts because Spain was not in possession of the cargo.

Beaked whale species are thought to be sensitive to noise arising from certain human activities; in 2000, beaked whale strandings were observed coinciding with naval sonar exercises in the Bahamas.

Understanding the distribution and behavior of these species is important to minimize harmful impacts from human uses of the ocean.

In a study that covered 17 separate locations round Lizard Island in far North Queensland, researchers from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University videoed the behaviour of large reef fish, allowing them to identify the kind of habitat they most preferred and depended on.

”The reason for the fishes’ preference is not yet clear—but possibilities include hiding from predators such as sharks, shading themselves from ultraviolet sunlight, or lying in ambush for prey.