Issue 47 - March 2019

SEVENSEAS Travel Magazine – March 2019 – Issue 47

SEVENSEAS Travel Magazine March Cover

Remove 5 pounds of ocean plastic and support a coastal community

SEVENSEAS Media has been working with communities throughout Thailand to implement innovative approaches on waste reduction, recycling, and more responsible management of marine resources. With every $30 donation you will remove 5 pounds of plastic. Read more…

RECKONstruct Explores New Approaches to Sustainable Design

The theme of this year’s International Exhibition is Broken Nature: Design Takes on Human Survival, illuminating the connection between humanity and the natural environment through design. Read more…

Fossil Fuel Combustion Is Main Contributor to Black Carbon Around the Arctic, International Study Finds

An international team conducted the study at sites in Russia, Canada, Sweden and Norway, with Baylor University researchers contributing measurements for Alaska. Read more…

Under the Waves with Karim Iliya, March 2019

This was one of the most beautiful interactions Iʼve seen between a human and another another animal. Read more…

Mantis Shrimp, Cabliao Philippines. Jack’s Underwater Photography Feature

Cabliao Philippines Found in the warm waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, the peacock mantis shrimp is arguably one of the most captivating creatures in the sea. Read more…

A Little Surviver. Photography feature by Ewan Wilson

penguin

The small flightless birds have a rosta of enemies ranging from the seals who they compete with for food, to the white sharks looking for a penguin sized snack. Read more…

Baja: San Ignacio Lagoon and Sea of Cortez

whale near a boat

Experience magical, close encounters with the friendly gray whale mothers and calfs of San Ignacio Lagoon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Read more…

Resources for World Oceans Day

World Oceans Day is a global day of ocean celebration and collaboration for a better future. Read more…

New Deep Sea Animal Discoveries Warrant Expanded Protections in Costa Rican Water

Scientists aboard Schmidt Ocean Institute’s research vessel Falkor surveyed deep-sea seamounts outside Isla del Coco UNESCO World Heritage site revealing coral communities with surprising diversity. Read more…

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phone and computer screen

47 Issues, readership in 174 countries, 21,000 subscribers, over 25,000 monthly visitors…and growing. Read more…

Eyes in the sky: how drones are helping marine researchers

Marine biologists are using drones to monitor marine life in new and exciting ways. But how do they aid researchers and what are the future possibilities? Read more…

Zooterra Launches Platform to Reimagine Nature Conservation Engagement

a platform that lets users engage in nature conservation in a direct, transparent and fun way using digital tokens, geolocation and satellite imaging technology. Read more…

Filming the Vaquita: Sea of Shadows

Here, Matthew Podolsky, Co-Founder of Wild Lens and contributor to the Sea of Shadows film shares his experiences of filming one of the world’s most endangered species and the trials and tribulations that it entails. Read more…

Cabo Pulmo Photo Series

5 Ways Young People (And Everyone Else) Can Fight For The Environment

Climate change continues to draw attention globally, from governmental debates on pollution solutions to people protesting against a lack of action. Read more…

Punta Planka’s weather whims

Located on the Dalmatian peninsula of Razanj, the place has been considered a meteorological wonder from ancient times. Read more…

Renowned Irish Scientist and Conservationist Diana Beresford-Kroeger Travels Back Home Aboard Adventure Canada’s Ireland Circumnavigation

Prolific conservationist Diana Beresford-Kroeger goes to all lengths to get the message of loving our planet to the world. Read more…

Jim Toomey, Land-Ocean Connection

UN Environment has partnered with Jim Toomey to develop a video series to raise awareness of the important role the ocean plays. Read more…

SEVENSEAS FEATURED TRAVEL

Below are a few of our favorite tour centers and operators. Be sure to mention SEVENSEAS Media for special rates and discounts when making your inquiry.

Susan Bruce Travel

We’ve been traveling, advising clients, and planning trips across the globe for over 30 years. We help you explore amazing places and people — from mountain sanctuaries in Bhutan to the jungles of Peru. Learn more…

Oceanic Society Expeditions.

A selection of expeditions and volunteer vacations for our travellers that will further the mission to conserve marine wildlife and habitats. More info.

Alelí Tours Puerto Rico

Alelí Tours is a small-scale ecotourism business located in La Parguera, southwest Puerto Rico. More info.

Isla Mar Research Expeditions – Field Courses in Puerto Rico

A field course coordination company in Puerto Rico that specializes in organizing and hosting island ecology (marine/terrestrial) themed courses. More info.

Marine Megafauna Foundation

Whale shark

Our mission is to save threatened marine life using pioneering research, education, and sustainable conservation solutions, working towards a world where marine life and humans thrive together. Read more… More info.

Bangkok Photo Tours.

We visit traditional sights but focus on markets, street art, and local food. All camera forward and environmentally sensitive. More info.

Pangaea Ocean Sailing Expedition

Panex is opening up sailing expeditions for guest crew. This is an unique opportunity to go sailing, cross an ocean, and be a part of something bigger. More info.

SEE Turtles.

…protect endangered turtles throughout Latin America and the world by supporting community-based conservation efforts through ecotourism, education, and Billion Baby Turtles. More info.

Ever dream of swimming with humpback whales? Now you can.

If you are interested in swimming with or photographing humpback whales Karim guides… More info.

Loggerhead Marinelife Center.

Imagine roaming some of the world’s most beautiful ecosystems. Gorgeous vistas, affordable travel and amazing memories; immersing yourself in the sounds of nature. More info.

Pete Oxford Expeditions.

We offer unique, small group expeditions for travelers and photographers to remote and pristine destinations and cultures around the world. More info.

Scuba Junkie Dive Centers

A personal favorite from SEVENSEAS Media. Go to Sipadan, Mabul, Kapalai, Sibuan, Mantabuan, Mataking, and more. More info.

The FREE Weekly Conservation Post and Jobs List

Signing up for the free Weekly Newsletter & Jobs List will get you a round-up of upcoming events, webinars, meetings, reports, funding opportunities, photos of the week, and recent postings to the jobs list.

To sign up for our free subscription, please Click Here or email us Here.

Since 2004, SEVENSEAS Media has fostered an informal and non-partisan platform to promote understanding of key issues and challenges while building partnerships across an increasingly diverse group of marine conservation professionals and students.

Our mission is to promote communication and build partnerships across the global marine community and to identify and address gaps in the community’s work. SEVENSEAS Media achieves this through multimedia promotion and partnerships. The community consists of a diverse and growing group of participants, including non-governmental organizations, government agencies, foundations, bilateral and multilateral agencies, fellowship programs, independent consultants, and academia/students.

If you are interested in contributing or getting involved, email us Here.

Issue 47 - March 2019

Coral Reefs Now More Resistant to Ocean Warming than a Decade Ago

Climate change and ocean warming threaten coral reefs globally with more frequent and deadly coral bleaching events. But a new study, using 20 years of Reef Check data, finds that corals now can withstand higher temperatures before bleaching than they could a decade ago.

Scuba diver surveying a coral reef with clip board

Reef Check Diver collects data on coral bleaching and other ecosystem health indicators along a transect.

The study was published March 20, 2019 in the journal Nature Communications. The study team included Ph.D. student Shannon Sully and professor Rob van Woesik at the Florida Institute of Technology, Deron Burkepile and Mary Donovan at the University of California Santa Barbara, and Reef Check founder Gregor Hodgson.

The team analyzed Reef Check data from more than 3,300 sites in 81 countries to examine global coral bleaching patterns in relation to water temperature. They found that, compared to the previous decade, corals now can withstand 0.5 degrees C (about 1 degree Fahrenheit) higher temperature before starting to bleach. According to Hodgson, this is most likely due to adaptation of both the corals and the microscopic algae that live in their tissues.

“We found that it took higher temperatures to bleach corals this past decade than it did 20 years ago,” Florida Tech’s Shannon Sully said.

“After watching a large section of the Great Barrier Reef bleach and some of it die over the past few years, it is a bit of good news that we may have a little more time to solve global warming,” said Hodgson.

The authors suggest that the higher temperature threshold for bleaching in this decade is likely a consequence of the decline in temperature-sensitive corals during previous bleaching events, and that the remaining corals now are adapted to higher thermal stress.

The team also found that bleaching was significantly less common on reefs near the Equator despite similar thermal stress levels, contradicting expectations. Rob van Woesik said that many questions remain. “We are uncertain why equatorial reefs are more tolerant of recent temperature stress, but we do know that we must protect these equatorial reefs – and reefs everywhere – from other disturbances, lest we lose coral reefs that protect coastal inhabitants from storm waves and help feed millions of people worldwide,” he said.

Jan Freiwald, Reef Check’s executive director, was glad to see Reef Check’s data put to good use. “Global warming is now the biggest threat to the survival of coral reefs – and humans. Reef Check’s citizen scientist divers work hard to survey reefs all over the world to provide the data we need to make effective management decisions on a changing planet and reverse the trend of coral loss” he said, and thanked all of Reef Check’s professional and citizen scientists who helped collected the data.

The article is available here. (https://rdcu.be/brXnV) DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09238-2.

Reef Check Logo

Reef Check is a global non-profit organization working to protect tropical coral reefs and California rocky reefs through education, conservation, and research. Reef Check trains volunteer divers to become citizen scientists to survey the status and health of tropical coral reefs, California rocky reefs, and Mediterranean habitats. With more than 10,000 surveys in more than 75 countries, Reef Check teams provide the data that helps us understand our reefs and manage and care for our ocean. Learn more at www.reefcheck.org.

Florida Institute of Technology Logo

About Florida Institute of Technology Celebrating 60 years of relentlessly pursuing greatness, Florida Tech was founded in 1958 at the dawn of the Space Race that would soon define the Atlantic coast of Florida and captivate the nation. Now the premier private technological university in the Southeast, Florida Tech is a Tier 1 Best National University in U.S. News & World Report and one of just nine schools in Florida lauded by the Fiske Guide to Colleges. Ranked among the top 5 percent of 18,000 degree-granting institutions worldwide in the 2018-19 World University Rankings and named one of just 14 U.S.-based Golden Age universities in 2018 by Times Higher Education, Florida Tech is one of the nation’s Best Value Colleges as determined by Forbes in 2018. Florida Tech offers bachelors, master’s and doctoral degrees in aeronautics and aviation, engineering, computing and cybersecurity, business, science and mathematics, psychology, education and communication. Learn more at www.fit.edu.

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Conservation Photography

Under the Waves with Karim Iliya, March 2019

This month’s feature:

Whale underwater with a woman freediving

Iʼve seen my good friend Marina have the most amazing interactions with all sorts of creatures including turtles which are often uninterested in humans. She could capture the attention of a sea cucumber and it would be mesmerizing to watch; so when she finally came out to Tonga to freedive with humpback whales, the gods of the sea, I was pretty excited. This was one of the most beautiful interactions Iʼve seen between a human and another another animal.

Karim Iliya Logo

Karim was published in National Geographic magazine for his humpback whale photography. He now leads his own trips so that others can swim with whales.

If you are interested in swimming with or photographing humpback whales, Karim guides people in small trips betweenAugust and October every year in Tonga. Visitwww.dancewithwhales.com to find out more

To see more of Karim’s work, visit his website at www.karimphotography.com

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Conservation Photography

Mantis Shrimp, Cabliao Philippines – Jack’s Underwater Photography Feature

Mantis Shrimp – Cabliao Philippines Found in the warm waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, the peacock mantis shrimp is arguably one of the most captivating creatures in the sea. Its hard-shelled body is bursting with color—hues of bright red, green, orange and blue, and its forearms are covered in spots. At the top of its head rests a set of protruding eyes, and they aren’t just for show.

Mantis shrimp

These crustaceans have the most complex eyes in the animal kingdom, containing millions of light-sensitive cells. With 16 color-receptive cones (compared to humans, who have just three), the peacock mantis shrimp can detect ten times more color than a human, including ultraviolet light. It can move each eye independently and uses this exceptional eyesight to avoid predators and track down prey.

The peacock mantis shrimp lives in the crevices of coral and rocks on the ocean floor. A territorial creature, it has been known to exhibit aggressive behavior toward intruders. This ferocious shrimp has club-like appendages that fold beneath its body, resembling a praying mantis. With a spring-like motion, it uses these appendages to attack prey and a mantis shrimp’s punch is no joke. With the ability to strike at the speed of a .22 caliber bullet (50 times faster than the blink of an eye), a blow from a mantis shrimp can easily break through the shell of a crab or mollusk.