Issue 7. October 2016 ISSN 2052-5273 The Marine The magazine of the Biologistmarine biological community Do we want this revolution in aquaculture? Plus Moving sushi – the return of the bluefin BIO Mud, birds and poppycock INE LO R G A IC M A E L H Brexit, fishing and the UK marine environment T A N S O S I O C I A T Est. 1884 Incorporated by Royal Charter Microplastics and pollution | Anti-ageing chemicals from the sea Blue coral conservation Editorial Issue 7. October 2016 In 2014, humans ate more fish The Internet and social media are Contents raised on farms than fish caught in the making access to information so easy wild. This huge shift slipped past that we can question our experts and largely unnoticed but it has massive engage in debates—a good example implications for ocean and human can be found on the website of The health. In this edition we are delighted Marine Biologist, which was the forum 02 Editorial Editorial Office to present as our leading article two in August for a debate between an contrasting views of the aquaculture expert on ocean acidification and a 04 In brief Editor Guy Baker debate led by high-profile researchers at prominent journalist and climate [email protected] the University of California, Santa sceptic. Read more in the In brief Science letters +44 (0)1752 426239 Barbara. section. 06 Moving Sushi Tom Horton The harsh economic climate has As a society, we use products such as Executive editor Matt Frost bred a growth agenda under which the plastics and pharmaceuticals with little 09 Seeking the fountain of youth in the twilight zone Jamal Ouazzani [email protected] 12 environment may be viewed by consideration of the environmental and colleagues +44 (0)1752 426343 politicians as a source of problems and cost of their use. Fluoxetine is a 12 Two views on a revolution in aquaculture Doug McCauley and Editorial Board Guy Baker, expense rather than a source of common antidepressant that enhances colleagues Kelvin Boot, Matt Frost, Paul solutions and jobs. The decision by the feelings of wellbeing. Its use is such Rose, Mike Thorndyke. Measuring 5,000 beasties a minute: rapid zooplankton UK to leave the European Union, that it has been found in estuarine 15 characterization Robert Camp and colleagues Membership Alex Street commonly referred to as ‘Brexit’, may waters in the UK and US at levels that [email protected] be a ‘golden opportunity’ for trade but exceed EU-recommended safe limits. A 16 Plastics, plankton and pollution Pennie Lindeque +44 (0)1752 426347 when the dust settles, scientists, University of Exeter, UK study1 www.mba.ac.uk/membership statutory agencies and non-governmen- reported that ragworms (an important Environment and conservation tal organizations need to be on the food source for wading birds) exposed 16 Correspondence Brexit and the UK marine environment Matt Frost same page about which environmental to fluoxetine exhibited reduced feeding 18 The Marine Biological Association Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK legislation to keep, scrap or amend— and weight loss. The same marine 19 Brexit and the UK fishing industry Interview with Jim Portus and be ready with the evidence to environment that has been shown to The Marine Biologist is published by 20 Mud, birds and poppycock John Goss-Custard the Marine Biological Association, support the government on amend- contribute Registered Charity No. 1155893 ments. Thanks to European Union significantly to 24 Seasearch: a shift in focus Chris Wood ISSN number: 2052-5273 (EU) law a whole generation has grown human health 26 Can Okinawa’s blue corals be saved? Bonnie Waycott Submissions up with cleaner seas (and air) and this and wellbeing is gives MBA Deputy Director Matt being nega- We welcome submissions of original Sharing marine science and relevant material, letters and Frost reason to hope that the ‘dirty tively impacted responses to published articles. For man of Europe’ will not stir in his by antidepres- 27 Marine biology for life’s explorers Andrew Davies 20 guidance, please see the magazine grave (see page 20). sants. As the 29 MBA bursary winners website at The UK fishing industry doesn’t like song goes, it’s www.mba.ac.uk/marinebiologist the Common Fisheries Policy but now ironic. Reviews or contact the Editor. 30 that the UK is set to regain control Disclaimer: Views expressed 33 The 14th MBA Postgraduate Conference Jen Lewis in The Marine Biologist are over its territorial seas, how does the those of the authors and do not industry see the opportunities and 34 Why the world needs trained marine biologists Mariano Peruzzo necessarily represent those of the threats around managing fish stocks? Marine Biological Association. To find out we interviewed Jim Portus, Copyright statement. Anyone wishing Chief Executive Secretary of the South to reproduce material published in West Fish Producers Organisation. 1 http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs. The Marine Biologist must contact est.6b03233 26 the Marine Biological Association. We welcome your articles, letters and reviews, and we can advertise events. Please contact us for details or see the magazine website at www.mba.ac.uk/marinebiologist www.mba.ac.uk Front cover: A school of Atlantic bluefin tuna in a transport cage in the Mediterranean. Image credits top to bottom: Marco Carè/ Image: Roger Grace/Greenpeace. Marine Photobank; Pennie Lindeque; John @thembauk Back cover: The cushion star, Asterina gibbosa. Image: Alix Harvey/MBA. Goss-Custard; Mr Masahito Kamimura. 02 The Marine Biologist | October 2016 October 2016 | The Marine Biologist 03 In brief In brief We would encourage people to take be because of oil effects on the larvae. (Massive Open Online Course) for teach- Antarctic marine reserves deal part, to question experts and those who The research provides important ers; and ibooks on Cold-water Corals and within reach seek to influence public opinion. We evidence to the Norwegian Government as harmful plankton blooms to mention a few. An international agreement to also hope that this kind of debate will they make difficult decisions concerning The next edition of The Marine protect some of Antarctica’s unique be accessible to the quieter majority oil production in this region and the effects Biologist magazine will feature an and pristine marine ecosystems could who wish to expand their knowledge it could have upon this commercially and article on ocean literacy and the all- be reached within a fortnight. of these important issues. It has been ecologically important fish species. important link between the health of Delegates from 24 nations and the a good example of how we see the Charlotte Walker our seas and that of humankind. European Union gathered in Hobart on role of the magazine and its website. Get involved in Sea Change via Monday at the annual meeting of the Reasons to be cheerful for Twitter, Facebook and the project Commission for the Conservation of Chatting helps dolphins solve bleached coral? website. Sign up to the campaign Antarctic Marine Living Resources. problems together In the last edition (White, M., 2016 Too and for updates on how you can bring If an agreement is reached, it would A recent study by Dolphins Plus hot in paradise? The Marine Biologist Ocean Literacy to Europe so that citizens represent the first time a marine research institute and the University 6: 26) we heard that corals and clams, understand the ocean’s influence on protected area was established in of Southern Mississippi suggests vital for the remote community of us and our influence on the ocean. international waters by consensus. that bottlenose dolphins have a spe- Tongareva Atoll, Northern Cook Islands, Sea Change is a three-year European There are signs Russia, which is chairing cial type of vocalization they use to were suffering bleaching and mortality Union H2020-funded project coordinated the meeting for the second year in a row, cooperate when solving problems. after sustained high sea temperatures by the Marine Biological Association. is prepared to make a deal to protect the A canister full of food that needed related to the 2015-2016 El Niño event. The partnership includes major networks Ross Sea and possibly East Antarctica. cooperation to be opened was the basis (World Ocean Network, UNESCO-IOC, Courtesy of Guardian News & Media of their study. Throughout the experiment Ecsite and EUROGEO) that are helping Ltd. only two of the six dolphins involved to disseminate the work of Sea Change Warming seas are changing the Great Barrier Reef; 2016 has seen the third mass bleaching managed to complete the task, but to a wide and diverse audience. Commitments from the third Our event to affect the reef. The image above shows bleaching at Heron Island in February their success rate was high, managing www.seachangeproject.eu Ocean conference 2016 2016, which is close to the southernmost point of the Great Barrier Reef. Image: XL Catlin to crack the puzzle 83% of the time. SharkFest 2016 Participants in the third Our Ocean con- Seaview Survey www.xlcatlinseaviewsurvey.com However the real surprise came from ference, held in September in Washington, the vocalizations made by the dolphins Bristol, Southwest England was host to D.C., announced over 136 new initiatives Can World Heritage site designation during the task; they chatted considerably the UK’s first ever shark festival! Shark- on marine conservation and protection help the Great Barrier Reef? practical management of the reef still more when trying to open the canisters Fest 2016 brought together conservation valued at more than $5.24 billion, as well lies with the Australian and Queensland than any other time during the study, organizations, surfers, scientists, film- as new commitments on the protection The Great Barrier Reef is the Earth’s governments.