In 2009 the National Aquarium board approved the formation of the National Aquarium Conservation Center and appointed Dr. Erik Rifkin as its interim executive director. The National Aquarium Conservation Center is the next stage in the National Aquarium’s growth from a successful attraction with conservation as its primary message, to a nationally-recognized and respected conservation Institute that measures success in how it impacts people and the environment.

“Since opening in 1981, the National Aquarium has evolved from being one iconic building in Baltimore to an Institute, with conservation at its core, that operates two exciting attractions and serves as a dynamic education resource,” commented Dave Pittenger, executive director. “We have a rich history of conservation initiatives on the Chesapeake Bay, around the world in places like Bahamas and Costa Rica, and through our Marine Animal Rescue Program. And now this Conservation Center will build upon our strong legacy of service to the environment.”

Through pioneering science and partnerships with like-minded organizations, the National Aquarium Conservation Center will focus its efforts on the protection of aquatic ecosystems worldwide through scientific research, education, and advocacy. The National Aquarium Conservation Center will also be a voice and advocate for work the Aquarium already has underway, including long-term initiatives to protect coral reefs, to control lion fish proliferation, and to restore Chesapeake Bay wetlands and shoreline..

“This research and advocacy entity gives the National Aquarium another means to tackle pressing issues that impact the aquatic environment, and to advance as a global conservation center of excellence for marine conservation,” explains Dr. Rifkin. “In just one year we have established solid partnerships with like-minded organizations and already have several exciting research studies underway.”

The initial emphasis of the National Aquarium Conservation Center includes coastal ecosystems and watershed health, ocean health, environmental advocacy and ecological aquaculture. Some of this work is already underway. The National Aquarium Conservation Center has formed dynamic partnerships and begun research initiatives with respected organizations including Mote Marine Laboratory, the University of Maryland’s Center of Marine Biotechnology and Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Contaminant Transport, Fate, and Remediation.

Already, the Conservation Center is leading several research initiatives that will increase understanding of mercury levels in wild and captives dolphins, quantify sediment contaminant in the Baltimore Harbor, protect spotted eagle rays, and promote the future of aquaculture.

This includes a comprehensive study currently underway in Florida’s Sarasota Bay, designed to ensure that pre- and post- Deepwater Horizon oil spill impact status on the bay’s habitats and biota is documented as rigorously as possible in order to enable scientists to demonstrate causality between the release of oil and injured resources and/or lost human use of those resources and services. As a result of that initiative, Dr. Rifkin was invited to testify to a United States Senate subcommittee about the importance of independent research in the wake of ecological disasters like the oil spill in the Gulf.

Much of the National Aquarium Conservation Center’s work lies ahead. Dr. Rifkin, colleagues and partners will be exploring initiatives with other aquariums, processes for sharing learning and knowledge with peers in animal husbandry, how to incorporate scientific findings into exhibits at display venues in Baltimore and Washington, DC and into public communications, and advocacy work for dolphins and small cetaceans in the wild.

“Human impact on the world’s ecosystems is profound. As habitats are destroyed or degraded, the diversity of species and the complex relationships among them are threatened, with consequences for all living things – including humans,” commented Bill Roberts, chair of the National Aquarium Institute board. “Zoos and aquariums have both the capacity and the responsibility not to simply increase public awareness of conservation issues but to take action. The National Aquarium is ready to do more.”

About National Aquarium (http://www.aqua.org)

The National Aquarium is a non-profit, nationally recognized aquatic display, education and conservation organization with locations in Baltimore, MD, and Washington, DC. Through transforming experiences, the National Aquarium inspires people to enjoy, respect, and protect the aquatic world. The National Aquarium is globally engaged in aquatic conservation from Chesapeake Bay to Costa Rica; a world-class entertainment attraction with engaging exhibits; committed to education with programs that connect children with the aquatic environment; a sought-after partner with alliances around the world; and the #1 tourist attraction in Maryland and unique in Washington, DC, with more than 16,000 animals in its living collections.

The National Aquarium Conservation Center is a newly-formed entity of the National Aquarium Institute. Through pioneering science and partnerships with like-minded organizations worldwide, the NACC is committed to conducting conservation research necessary to understand, interpret and explain aquatic ecosystems and to advocate for ocean health.

Scientists at the Smithsonian Institution and the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology at the University of Hawaii at Manoa have created the first frozen bank for Hawaiian corals in an attempt to protect them from extinction and to preserve their diversity in Hawaii. Mary Hagedorn, an adjunct faculty member at HIMB and a research scientist with the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, leads the laboratory at the HIMB research facilities on Coconut Island in Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, that is banking the frozen coral cells.
“Because frozen banked cells are viable, the frozen material can be thawed one, 50 or, in theory, even 1,000 years from now to restore a species or population,” said Hagedorn. “In fact, some of the frozen sperm samples have already been thawed and used to fertilize coral eggs to produce developing coral larvae.”

Coral reefs are living, dynamic ecosystems that provide invaluable services: They act as nursery grounds for marine fish and invertebrates, provide natural storm barriers for coastlines, purify carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and they are potential sources for undiscovered pharmaceuticals.

However, coral reefs are experiencing unprecedented levels of degradation due to human impact. Globally, greenhouse gasses from burning fossil fuels are warming the oceans, making them more acidic and causing corals to stress and bleach. As a result, the corals are more susceptible to emergent diseases. Locally, reefs are affected by pollution and sedimentation from poor land-use practices, nutrient run-off from farms and waste-treatment plants, and destructive practices such as dynamite fishing and trawls.

Unless action is taken now, coral reefs and many of the animals that depend on them may cease to exist within the next 40 years, causing the first global extinction of a worldwide ecosystem during current history.

“This work highlights the importance of basic science and discovery for developing creative solutions to pressing conservation problems,” said Steve Monfort, director of the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute. “We are confident that this effort will one day help to restore these vital marine ecosystems.”

Saving reef habitat alone will not stop corals’ decline because many of the most serious threats are global rather than local. Done properly over time, researchers can store samples of frozen material and place them back into ecosystems to infuse new genes and vigor into natural populations, thereby enhancing the health and viability of wild stocks.

Currently, the Hawaiian bank contains frozen sperm and embryonic cells from mushroom coral (Fungia scutaria) and rice coral (Montipora capitata), but it is only a beginning. The researchers hope to store many of the corals that are important to Hawaiian reefs.

Helping with this project are two student summer interns supported by the Smithsonian Women’s Committee: Malia Paresa (a senior at the University of Southern California) and Kelly Martorana (a recent graduate of California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo). This internship was an incredible experience for both women, but especially relevant to Paresa, who grew up five minutes from Kaneohe Bay.

“Before this internship, I had no idea how dire the situation was that many coral species are facing, and now I am much more aware that all of their hardships are caused by anthropogenic activities,” said Paresa. “As a native Hawaiian and Kaneohe native, I take great pride in making a difference in the future of Hawaiian coral reefs. If we act quickly enough, we can make a difference to their future.” In addition, visiting scientist, Dr. Kamal Sarma from the Central Agricultural Research Institute on Nicobar and Andaman Islands, and Virginia Carter and Ann Farrell from the Smithsonian are assisting.

Illinois is currently trying to keep the Asian Carp from entering Lake Michigan waters.  The fear is this species could endanger the fishing population of the Great Lakes and change the eco system.

Now Florida might be experiencing a similar invasion by the non-native species lionfish.

A scuba diver captured a venomous lionfish this week off Anna Maria Island, leaving marine biologists concerned that the non-native species could establish itself here.

“They’re a voracious predator,” said Alecia Adamson, field operations and outreach coordinator for REEF, a marine research institute in Key Largo. “They not only eat juvenile commercial and recreational fish, such as grouper and snapper, they also out-compete adult fish for the food resources.”

An estimated 80,000 lionfish were imported into the United States in 2006 for the aquarium trade, according to Adamson.  “The problem is when the aquarium owner doesn’t realize they eat other fish or they outgrow the tank” — they can reach 18 inches in length — “they think they’re doing the humane thing to just set them free,” Adamson said.

But because of their voracious appetite and prolific reproduction cycle, the fish can overwhelm a coral or rock reef marine community.

Adamson said the species is well established, which genetic testing shows came from only eight individual female fish, and cannot be eradicated, only controlled.

One of the control methods marine environment management officials are promoting is to inform the public that lionfish are suitable for human consumption.

Tachyon XC Micro’s diving cam, with it’s patented dive lock, works great in water – to a depth of 100 feet (30Meters) without the need for any external waterproof case. It is easily mounted on your goggles, lights, or tanks, and is very easy to control.

The Tachyon XC also works great in water, although it is not rated as deep (33 Feet (10 Meters) as it does not have the Micro’s Dive Lock. But like the Micro, the XC does not need any external waterproof case.

To see some of the under videos shot with the Tachyon XC underwater camera click on the link.

The Arctic region is undergoing dramatic changes to its sea ice cover in terms of both thickness and extent. As detailed in an article written by researchers at the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC), virtually all climate models used by the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicted a decline in Arctic sea ice extent over the 21st century but recent research has found that the Arctic sea ice cover is decreasing more rapidly than predicted.

The Arctic Sea Ice Cover

Sea ice is frozen seawater that forms in high latitude oceans during winter. By late winter, sea ice covers roughly 14-16 million square kilometers in the Arctic. Most of this ice melts during summer although approximately 7 million square kilometers remains at the beginning of the following winter. Some sea ice can persist for two or more years (termed “multiyear ice”).

Why Is Sea Ice Important?

Sea ice is important for regulating climate. Its light color means it reflects more of the sun’s radiation than dark ocean water, and therefore reduces heat absorbed by the planet. A decrease in sea ice leads to increased absorption of solar radiation, which causes warming and an increase in ice melt. This feedback cycle is one of the reasons changes in sea ice cover are so worrying.

Sea ice also affects heat exchange between the ocean and atmosphere and regulates precipitation in polar regions, which also influences climate. Moreover, the Arctic ecosystem is reliant on sea ice cover, with a number of animals (perhaps the most well known being the polar bear) being threatened by changes in sea ice conditions. There is already evidence that polar bear populations are being affected by decreasing sea ice cover.

The Evidence for Arctic Sea Ice Decline

In recent years a number of researchers have studied long-term changes in Arctic sea ice thickness and extent. The aim is to identify trends and use those patterns to work out what may happen in future. One of the main challenges is figuring out what is a trend and what is normal variability but researchers have found compelling evidence for a decline in Arctic sea ice cover over several decades.

The NSIDC details worrying findings arising from recent studies. One research group found that Arctic sea ice extent decreased by approximately 8% per decade between 1953 and 2006, while another group showed that Arctic sea ice thickness had decreased by roughly 1.3m during the late 20th century. Other studies have made similar observations.

Shorter-term patterns are also cause for concern. The September minimum sea ice extent in the Arctic was unusually low in 2002, 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2009 compared with records from 1979 to the present, with a record low in 2007, when sea ice extent was 39% less than the 1979-2000 average minimum value.

In recent years low summer sea ice cover has been accompanied by poor winter recovery, leading to a decrease in multiyear ice. First year ice is thin and more vulnerable to melt than multiyear ice, so the trend towards a thinner, younger ice cover suggests that the Arctic sea ice may be becoming increasingly vulnerable to temperature changes.

Why is the Arctic Sea Ice Declining?

It can be difficult to determine the cause of trends in sea ice cover as it experiences a lot of natural variability. However, many experts think that an increase in global average temperature associated with an increase in atmospheric greenhouse gases is forcing the general trend towards thinner, less extensive sea ice cover. As sea ice cover decreases, feedback cycles such as that described above become increasingly important.

Climate models are used by organizations such as the IPCC to predict what is likely to happen to the Earth in years to come. These models use current climatic conditions and incorporate projected future input of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, and they are used to determine likely future environmental conditions. Worryingly, sea ice observations indicate that the Arctic ice cover is declining more rapidly than IPCC models predicted.

http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=207061&catid=71

Two New Jersey divers sent waves throughout the wreck-diving community with the discovery of what is believed to the “bridge bell” from the historic shipwreck of the Andrea Doria, the luxury Italian ocean liner that sunk in 1956 off the coast of Nantucket, Massachusetts.

Ernest Rookey, of Jackson, and Carl Bayer, of Hillsborough, were part of an expedition team diving on the wreck when they made the find 240 feet below the ocean’s surface. Both men were diving the Andrea Doria for the first time as last minute fill-ins on the expedition after two other crew members dropped out.

“All we hoped for was to get a little trinket to take home to remember our dive,” Rookey said. “I’m still stunned, the bell was totally unexpected. There’s just no way else to describe how we feel.”

The bell, which weighs about 75lbs and stands two feet tall, is one of the few artifacts which has the ship’s name engraved on it.

“This is an incredibly significant find,” said expedition group leader, Joel Silverstein, of Arizona. “Think of it like finding a needle in a haystack.”

The last major discovery was made when the stern bell was discovered by a group led by Gary Gentile in 1985, according to Silverstein.

The Andrea Doria, which was once considered Italy’s flagship, has attracted thousands of divers since 1956, but most only go down one or two times “just to say that they went there,” said Silverstein. Many consider it the Mount Everest of SCUBA diving because of the remote location and challenging conditions, Silverstein said.

Even among divers in the “core group” who have made multiple trips to the wreck, most only return with a few pieces of china, glassware, or portholes, said Silverstein, who has made 56 dives on the Andrea Doria wreck since 1992.

“These were well-skilled divers who were in the right place at the right time,” Silverstein said of Rookey and Bayer’s find. “The Andrea Doria is one of the toughest, hardest dives you can do. Getting to it alone is challenging.”

It takes 12 to 14 hours to reach the Andrea Doria’s location 55 miles off the coast of Nantucket.

“Whenever you’re that far out in the ocean, you’re facing a lot of unknowns,” said Silverstein. Weather is unpredictable and fierce currents can make it difficult for even an experienced diver to reach the ship.

The bell found by Rookey and Bayer is thought to be the “bridge bell” because of the location of its discovery. The two men found the bell when they spotted a small part of it sticking out of the sand.

“This is an important find for the whole team,” said Silverstein, “It wouldn’t have been possible if we were not all in it together in the right place at the right time.”

Whether you’re diving for sunken treasure or just exploring the great expanses of your kiddie pool, waterproof cameras are great. But, swimming freestyle is a little difficult when you’re lugging around pounds of photographic equipment. Enter the Chobi Cam WP: a device that is about the same size as cigarette lighter and, when enclosed in its Go Pro-style case, is waterproof to 20 meters. It can record VGA footage to microSD, take JPEG photos, and even capture mono audio — which we figure will sound something like “gurgle gurgle gurgle.” It’s available today for 12,800 yen — about $140, which is a bit dear if you ask us, so don’t let it get washed away.

June 11, 2010 would have been the 100th birthday of the forefather of SCUBA, Jacques Cousteau.  Google (above) honored the great inventor and explorer with one of their famous Google Logos, while the Cousteau Society has many articles and pictures about the famous captain of the Calypso.  Hear Captain Cousteau’s own words about our the waters of our world, or hear John Denver’s Calypso.

Happy BIRTHDAY Jacques, you have made my life better and many other scuba divers who treasure our oceans and waters of the world, and the creatures in them.

Like many divers I have been using a Dacor 960 regulator for a long time.  It is one of the best I have every owned, but it looks like I will have to buy a new regulator soon.  About 8 months ago I had my last service on this regulator.  There are no more parts available from Mares (who bought out Dacor), will not support the product.

Since most of my diving now is recreational and above 120 ft.  I am considering the Genesis GS2000 (made by Sherwood).  Innovation at its best is the way to explain the function of the Genesis GS2000 Regulator. The first stage regulator incorporates Genesis Dry Air Demand (DAD). This simple yet unique design has a flow-through piston that mechanically balance the air of the first stage ensuring excellent breathing characteristics at full or low cylinder pressures. The DAD’s function allows the regulator is increase the intermediate pressure of the regulator without messy oils or grease as with more sophisticated designs. This added benefit makes the regulator virtually uncontaminated from the environment of salt, sand or chlorine internally, which makes it the choice of most repair technicians. The Balance 2nd Stage delivers air effortlessly; its Pre-dive/dive switch eliminates sensitivity when swimming through surf, jumping off the side of the boat, or fining in a current, yet allows high performance breathing when needed.

Many of the reviews from Buzzillions rate this regulator as 4.0 (out of 5), and a good value for the money.  The biggest problem associated with the Genesis GS2000 was free-flowing at the top.  Most said it wasn’t a big problem and by adjusting the free flow switch they could eliminate the free flow.