Issue 4 Spring 2015 ISSN 2052-5273 The Marine The magazine of the Biologistmarine biological community An interview with TV presenter and ocean explorer Paul Rose

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Seagrass restoration | Ghost fishing | Visual media for research 50 years of the European Symposium Editorial Contents Issue 4 Spring 2015 I hope this edition of The Marine starting a professional network. The Biologist will prove to be the most new Young Marine Biologist category accessible yet. The content is varied, has been very enthusiastically received; 02 Editorial with articles from MBA members, more on that in the next issue. 04 In brief scientists and a wildlife photogra- We have been including updates pher, and the magazine is improving on research into plastic in the ocean Science letters Editorial Office through contributions and feedback in the ‘In brief’ section of the 06 The killer whales of the North Atlantic Andrew D. Foote, Sanna Editor Guy Baker from members. I hope you like the magazine. The most comprehensive Kuningas and Filipa I. P. Samarra new silk finish which should lift study to date1 estimates there are a [email protected] and lighten the fantastic images. minimum of 5.25 trillion particles of 09 The black beaches of Spain Juan Junoy +44 (0)1752 633244 So, dive in to articles on marine plastic in the world ocean weighing Forecasting climate change impacts on marine systems Nova Executive editor Matt Frost 12 mammal research (did you know that 268,940 tons, and the authors point Mieszkowska and Brian Helmuth [email protected] the global population trend of the out that this is a highly conservative Research in the abyssal north-east PacificKathy Dunlop +44 (0)1752 633334 bottlenose dolphin is unknown?), estimate. It is likely that every bit of 14 06 Editorial Board Guy Baker, and on climate change, seaweed plastic ever made still exists. This has 15 The dawn of seaweed domestication Claire Gachon Kelvin Boot, Matt Frost, Paul cultivation and ghost fishing. What implications for ‘peak plastic’ and Rose, Mike Thorndyke. is marine biology without people? the ideas and innovations that will Environment and conservation Membership Alex Street Up-and-coming wildlife photographer surface to tackle this global problem. 16 Restoring seagrasses under extreme conditions Emma L. [email protected] Christine Shepard shows how research- Do you have an opinion about Jackson +44 (0)1752 633337 ers can use human resources to lift the future direction of The Marine www.mba.ac.uk/membership the profile of their research, and Paul Biologist? Would you like to write 19 The decline of bottlenose dolphins in Argentina Els Vermeulen, Neil Niru Dorrian and Lorenzo Scala Correspondence Rose’s infectious energy comes off the a short article for the magazine, The Marine Biological Association page in our interview on page 36. or even a blog for the website? 22 Ghost fishing in the USADana Weiss Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK There is growing interest in MBA Have you taken a great picture of 19 The Marine Biologist is published by membership among students and marine life or of people interacting Sharing marine science the Marine Biological Association, young people. MBA membership is with the marine environment? As 23 The way we were Geoff Smaldon Registered Charity No. 1155893 a means of getting support for travel always, feel free to contact me. ISSN number: 2052-5273 and study (see pages 28 and 35), but Finally, I would like to say a big 24 High impact imagery, low cost investment Christine Shepard Submissions joining the marine biological com- “Thank you!” to all the contributors. 26 50 years of the European Marine Biology We welcome submissions of original munity is also a positive step towards Symposium Herman Hummel, Matthew Frost and Christiaan Hummel and relevant material, letters and responses to published articles. For 28 The World Conference on Marine Biodiversity, guidance, please see the magazine Qingdao, China Joseph Kenworthy website at www.mba.ac.uk/marinebiologist 28 Changing times at the MBA National or contact the Editor. Marine Biological Library Matt Frost Disclaimer: Views expressed in The Marine Biologist are 30 Marine biology at the University of Portsmouth Gordon Watson those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the 33 Reviews Marine Biological Association. 36 Interview: Going for it with Paul Rose Copyright statement. Anyone wishing to reproduce material published in 39 A new Coat of Arms for the MBA The Marine Biologist must contact the Marine Biological Association.

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A S N S O O C I ATI Est. 1884 Incorporated by Front cover: A great hammerhead shark Sphyrna mokarran swims away in excellent condition Royal Charter 2013 with a custom designed ‘Hammer-Tag’ attached to its dorsal fin. Image: Christine Shepard. Image credits: Top: Andy Foote Back cover: Hinge-beak shrimp Rhynchocinetes durbanensis, Ambon, Indonesia. Middle: Whalefish www.mba.ac.uk Image: Fiona Crouch. Bottom: Christine Shepard

02 The Marine Biologist | Autumn 2014 Spring 2015 | The Marine Biologist 03 In brief In brief

for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs). attention, the industry has some The review recognises the dynamic work to do to convince the public legislative landscape in which the MMO that it is proceeding with due care. operates, noting that there will be further Samantha Simpson cuts to its funding in 2015/16, requiring an organisation that is already ‘stretched’ to Mobile technology aids fisheries find further savings, for example by remov- management ing unnecessary regulatory duplication. There is growing interest in the Ministers stressed the need for potential impacts of small-scale, artisanal decisions that are democratically account- fisheries as over 80% of the fishing able whilst ensuring the system does not vessels in the world fall into this category. incur excessive delays or become more Succorfish, a small UK organisation, onerous. uses innovative communication technol- In the longer term the MMO must ogy with a simple, cost-effective vessel balance the requirements of the Plan for monitoring system (VMS) linked to a Growth with those of sustainable develop- mobile app. The technology provides ment and its environmental protection effective management and enforce- remit. ment tools allowing local fishermen to Mobile technology is being trialled for fisheries management in a marine protected area in fish in close proximities to MPAs whilst Lyme Bay on the south coast of England. Image: Harriet Yates-Smith. Fried fish protecting sensitive marine habitats. The government has licensed 12 ships The technology is being developed the designation is a significant step in bodies have expressed concern about to conduct electric fishing in UK waters further in the candidate Special Area of global marine conservation. Deep-sea its impact on birds and migratory fish. for a 5-year ‘scientific trial’. Dutch vessels Conservation (cSAC) in Lyme Bay on ecosystems and shallow coral reefs Sarah Kessell, chief executive for the have been ‘pulse trawling’ in the southern the south coast of England, where it is create hotspots for marine biodiversity Wildlife Trusts of south and west Wales North Sea since 2010, and currently currently being trialled. It is enabling and seabirds. A 2012 expedition led by is worried about the loss of habitats 85 large vessels (10% of the Dutch fishermen, managers and scientists to National Geographic explorer Enric Sala underneath the walls of the lagoon. The lionfishPterois sp. is an invasive non-native species in the western Atlantic. fleet) are equipped to fish in this way. monitor an inshore fishery in terms of and presenter Paul Rose (see interview “That’s things like sand, mud, gravels and Image: Adam Goodier. Pulse trawling uses electricity to flush fishing effort and at appropriate spatial on page 36), found some of healthiest rockpools which are important for ringed flatfish or shrimp out of the sediments. The and temporal scales. The aim is to shark populations ever studied sup- plovers, sanderlings and other birds.” Using the power of the web to Whether you’re interested in how to treat a electric shock causes them to convulse develop best practice management ported by over 1,200 marine species. Further lagoons are proposed for help fight invasive species sting from their venomous spines, informa- and flip upwards, into the net. helping to ensure a sustainable future In an attempt to put a stop to illegal the Severn estuary at Cardiff, Newport Native to the Indo-Pacific, lionfish tion regarding active control in your area, Supporters claim that pulse fishing is for the fishery and marine environment. fishing and trade, management of the and Bridgwater in Somerset. Together (Pterois miles and Pterois volitans) were or even recipes to cook up your sustain- less damaging than conventional beam Jon Shuker, a local fisherman, explains reserve will be dependent on an agree- with other schemes at Colwyn Bay and first introduced to the Atlantic in the able catch, the portal has the answer. To trawling, which is considered extremely its value: “The app will be a valuable tool ment between NGO’s and Swiss funders. in Cumbria, tidal flow could potentially 1980s by the aquarium trade. Since find out more, visit http://lionfish.gcfi.org/. destructive to life on the sea bed and in to help us manage discards by sharing New ‘watchroom’ technologies will provide 8% of the UK’s electricity needs. then lionfish have established a vast Charlotte Walker the underlying sediment. However, we information between other fisherman and allow vessel activity and likely catches The go ahead for the Swansea range along the east coasts of North and have little knowledge of the impact of fishing authorities. It will also be useful to be monitored via satellites, enabling Bay scheme could be given before South America. Lionfish are excellent MMO fit for purpose, review finds pulse trawling because there are very few to record shellfish landings electronically ‘remote policing’ of the reserves. the general election in May. predators, devastating ecosystems The first Triennial Review of the Marine studies of it. saving time and dreaded paperwork.” Pitcairn Island Council developed the References and links for these with their efficient, broad hunting strate- Management Organisation (MMO)—the The pulse trawling vessels have been initiative in partnership with Pew Charitable Harriet Yates-Smith stories can be found on The Marine gies and huge reproductive potential. UK’s agency responsible for licens- operating across the southern North Sea, Trusts and National Geographic. The UK Biologist website. Scan the QR Now, a new web portal has been set ing, regulating and planning marine including in the Dogger Bank Special Pitcairn Islands to get world’s now has the highest percentage of pro- code to view the web page. up by The Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries activities in the seas around England and Protection Area, and with the new licenses, largest single marine reserve tected waters of any country in the world. Institute and NOAA (the US National Wales—found that it remains appropri- UK vessels will be able to operate close On 18th March 2015 the UK govern- Emily Miles Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) ate for MMO functions to be carried out to shore, within UK territorial waters which ment approved the designation of the to provide crucial information against the at arm’s length from Government by a include Special Areas of Conservation. world’s largest Marine Protected Area A world first for marine power lionfish invasion in the Atlantic. non-departmental public body (NDPB). Under the EU Habitats Directive, an appro- (MPA). Encompassing the pristine seas of Giving the amber light to the largest In an effort to raise awareness and Triennial Reviews aim to challenge the priate assessment must be made to deter- the Pitcairn Islands in the southern central project of its kind in the world, the UK provide invaluable information, the Invasive continued need for all NDPBs. The review, mine the potential impact of a proposed Pacific Ocean it will cover an area of Government has entered into formal Lionfish Portal has been launched. A published in December, found that the activity on a protected area. Country agen- 834,000 km2, making it the biggest single negotiations with developers over the For marine events, see the UK Marine Science Events wealth of expertise including NOAA MMO is a flexible and dynamic organiza- cies are supposed to apply the precaution- protected space of ocean in the world. Swansea Bay tidal power scheme in the Calendar at www.mba.ac.uk researchers, policy experts and coastal tion that had improved service delivery ary principle; i.e. consent cannot be given The Pitcairn Islands British Overseas Severn estuary, south-west England. For the latest news from the managers has been combined to provide since vesting in 2010, with committed unless it is ascertained that there will be no Territory comprises four small islands Although the scheme promises to UK marine science community information of the highest quality to aid staff, and a positive working relationship adverse effect on the integrity of the site. with a population of just 56. But with an provide 90% of domestic energy for subscribe to the Marine Ripple Effect those working to control the invasion. with Defra (UK Government Department Judging by the adverse media area twice the size of the British Isles, the Swansea Bay area, conservation or follow on Twitter @MarineRipple

04 The Marine Biologist | Spring 2015 Spring 2015 | The Marine Biologist 05 Science letters

Our understanding of killer whale ecology and whilst some individuals photographed feeding on herring evolution has come a long way in the last 25 around Iceland were also reported feeding on the North Sea years, but, as Andrew Foote and colleagues stock of Atlantic herring, off the coast of Shetland. Over 1,000 explain, there are still many gaps in our individual killer whales have now been photo-identified across knowledge. the north-east Atlantic, and collaboration among institutions has allowed comparisons of photo-identification catalogues tudying wide-ranging top predators requires a over greater spatial and temporal scales. A general pattern multidisciplinary and transnational approach to is emerging of site fidelity and association with a particular Sidentify movement patterns, ecology and for the prey resource at several locations across the north-east effective monitoring and conservation of populations. Atlantic. However, some groups may switch between different A workshop was held at the European Cetacean Society prey resources depending on their seasonal availability. conference, Galway, Ireland, on 25 March 2012, on North Atlantic researchers pioneered new approaches one of the most wide-ranging of top predators in to study killer whales, by using underwater cameras and the North Atlantic, the killer whale Orcinus orca. A , multi-hydrophone arrays and custom-built multi- selection of the presentations from this workshop sensor acoustic tags to record their movement and behaviour was published in a special section of the Journal of the when foraging for herring. During what has become known Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom1. as carousel feeding, the killer whales appear to work as a By the late 1980s research on killer whales in the Pacific coordinated group, flashing their white undersides and waters of British Columbia, Canada and Washington State, releasing bubbles to herd a ball of herring from the school USA had made substantial progress. This was largely due before tail slapping the ball to stun and then eat individual to the pioneering work by the late Dr Michael Bigg, who fish. Killer whales feeding on herring off Iceland and Shetland developed the use of photographs of the dorsal fin and produce a distinctive low frequency call, just prior to tail saddle patches to identify uniquely marked slapping the herring. These ‘herding’ calls individuals (see Figure 1), allowing for the North Atlantic are very similar to those produced by first time an annual census and insights into researchers pioneered humpbacks, which also feed on herring, population dynamics, social structure, life new approaches to and the low frequency of the call may history and movement. Dr John Ford was study killer whales resonate with the herring’s swim bladder, also reporting the first evidence of a complex and therefore help herd the herring. pattern of group and population-specific call dialects. At In the Canadian Arctic, Steve Ferguson and colleagues have this time, preliminary investigations of the distribution of employed the use of tried and tested methods, in addition killer whales in North Atlantic waters based on sighting to novel and highly innovative approaches to investigate the data, whaling catch statistics or stranding data were just ecology of killer whales in this rapidly changing ecosystem. starting to be published. These reviews identified potential As global rise and the Arctic sea ice retreats, hotspots and seasonality in occurrence, and therefore provided many former ‘choke points’ are opening up and allowing the foundations which subsequent dedicated research killer whales to enter the bays and inlets of the Canadian could build upon. They also identified some of the major Arctic, resulting in a significant increase in recent sightings prey resources that killer whales appeared to be tracking in the North Atlantic, which included the Icelandic and Norwegian stocks of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus). The first photo-identification studies of killer whales in Norwegian waters had photographically recaptured a small number of naturally marked individuals between years on the herring wintering grounds in the Lofoten region of northern Norway, and between Lofoten and the herring spawning grounds in the Möre region of southern Norway. Dr Tiu Similä and colleagues have subsequently built upon this earlier work, expanded the photo-identification catalogue to include over 600 individuals, and further demonstrated the association between the movement and site fidelity of killer whales and the migration of Opposite: A killer whale hunting seals close to shore around the Norwegian spring-spawning herring stock. Shetland, Scotland. Work carried out by the Marine Research Institute, Above: Fig. 1. The scars and nicks on the dorsal fin and white saddle patch that are used to identify individuals, allowing us to Reykjavík and others, has found that some killer whale groups investigate movement, abundance and social structure. The killer whales of the North Atlantic also follow the Icelandic summer-spawning herring stock, Images: Andy Foote. 1 Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, By Andrew D. Foote, Sanna Kuningas and Filipa I. P. Samarra. 2014, 94(6), 1256-1252. 06 The Marine Biologist | Spring 2015 Spring 2015 | The Marine Biologist 07 Science letters

(Figure 2). Interviews with local Inuit genomes have now been sequenced for ourselves. In addition to the hunters suggest that marine mammals and the data made publicly available, diminishing sea ice in the Canadian are the main prey of killer whales in and these include a North Atlantic Arctic during this period there have also the Canadian Arctic. Killer whales are killer whale. These genomic data will been natural shifts in the distribution The black known to be able to have a population allow the comparisons of natural of prey resources (e.g. herring and level effect on prey populations due to selection upon the genome among mackerel stocks), and subsequently top-down effects, and therefore have populations. The large acoustic datasets the killer whale lineages that follow the potential to significantly shape this that have been collected for the past them. The next twenty-five years will beaches rapidly changing Arctic ecosystem. To 25 years have allowed us to better likely lead to further and more rapid better understand the potential impact understand the acoustic behaviour changes in climate, particularly in the Arctic as the sea ice melts. We therefore Fig. 2. A group of killer whales in the Canadian Arctic, where they are being sighted more predict that the prey resources exploited of Spain frequently coincident with the rising temperatures and melting of the Arctic ice sheets. Image: Gretchen Freund. by North Atlantic killer whales will shift their distribution, and they may undergo declines or increases as a result. Additionally, new prey resources may become available to North Atlantic killer whales. Although our understanding of killer whale ecology and evolution has come a long way, there are still many gaps in our knowledge about Beaches in north-west Spain the extent of geographical movements recovered more quickly than and consequently connectivity between expected after the catastrophic different locations, the prey preferences Prestige oil spill. By Juan Junoy. and diet composition, the population Fig. 1. Intertidal sampling at Corrubedo beach. Image: Juan Junoy. viability and status of killer whales in different locations in the North Atlantic. Without such information it is hen Europeans think about their holidays, many of research team, who had been investigating the macroinfauna impossible to completely critically assess them have in mind the sunny beaches of the (animals living within aquatic sediments and large enough to the threats faced by killer whales in these WMediterranean coast of Spain. Along this be seen with the naked eye) of the Galician beaches since of killer whale predation and how of north-east Atlantic killer whales. locations and their conservation status. degraded littoral buildings have replaced dunes, and the 1982. persistent it is over time, Ferguson and We anticipate that work currently Collaboration between researchers border between the land and the sea is a continuous line But surely, beaches are as barren as deserts? No! There are colleagues satellite tagged a killer whale undertaken will allow for broader and long-term consistent monitoring of shops where you can buy typical Spanish crafts, most some invertebrate species adapted to live in these harsh, in the Canadian Arctic, and found that geographical comparisons, as well as effort will be critical to effectively assess likely made in China, or Pacific seashells as Mediterranean stressful habitats and you can collect them with an inexpen- it moved between areas with known better understanding of the function these issues. The ecosystems of the souvenirs. The resort town extends to the dry sand sive methodology. Take the sand with a shovel, sieve it aggregations of marine mammals of different signals, such as the still North Atlantic are likely to be highly where sun loungers, parasols and towels take over. through a 1 mm mesh and dump the contents of the sieve before heading out into the open North little understood high-frequency dynamic during the next twenty- But Spain has some very different beaches on its less into a tray with some water, then observe several small Atlantic in late autumn as the sea whistles produced by herring-eating five years, and both North Atlantic urbanized Atlantic coast. At these beaches, the tidal range crustaceans swimming and some worms snaking. You can do ice increased in in the killer whales in the north-east killer whales and the researchers that is up to 4 m at spring . At low the beach has an this at different tidal levels of the beach and observe the inlets. Therefore, predation on Arctic Atlantic. In addition, recent projects, investigate them will need to adapt to extensive wet intertidal zone whereas the dry area, the biological zonation. marine mammals may be seasonal. deploying state-of-the-art multi- these ongoing changes and challenges. supratidal zone, is usually relatively small (Figure 1). Waves The dry sand of the upper beach belongs to the supratidal We look forward with eager sensor tags in different locations in Andrew D. Foote1, Sanna Kuningas2 can be very high; a record wave over 27 m in height was zone. The most characteristic aspect of this area is the dune anticipation to the next twenty-five the north-east Atlantic, promise to and Filipa I. P. Samarra2,3. measured in January 2014 in Cape Vilán (Galicia, north- flora, but our study was limited to the areas devoid of years of research on North Atlantic allow for detailed comparisons of 1. Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural west Spain). Winter storms are frequent, and our story vegetation close to the deposit line where washed-up algae killer whales. We predict that the behavioural parameters. We expect History Museum of Denmark, starts during one such storm on 13 November 2002. accumulate. This is a food source that is used for many recent methodological advances that together these developments will University of Copenhagen, Øster On this day the Prestige, a tanker carrying 77,000 air- arthropods. Sandhoppers such as Talitrus Volgade 5-7, DK-1350 Copenhagen, in DNA sequencing technology, improve our understanding of the tonnes of heavy fuel oil, sent a SOS signal informing the saltator and Talorchestia brito, which evolved from fully- Denmark. which have already been harnessed biology, behaviour and ecology of 2. Sea Mammal Research Unit, Spanish coastguard that one of its tanks had burst off the aquatic amphipods, emerge at night from their burrows. to sequence a dataset of complete killer whales in the North Atlantic. Scottish Oceans Institute, University coast of Galicia. Six days later, the ship split in half and They are scavengers and eat almost anything containing mitochondrial genomes for North The past twenty-five years have seen of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife, sank, releasing the fuel oil into the sea. It was the start organic matter. These species meet in the deposit line Atlantic killer whales, will be further global temperatures rise, including in KY16 8LB, UK. of the largest environmental disaster in the history of with fully terrestrial arthropods, such as the isopod Tylos applied to produce a complementary the North Atlantic, and these changes 3. Marine Research Institute, Spain. The black tide mainly affected Galicia’s coast, but europaeus, and insects (mainly dipterans and coleopterans). Skulagata 4, PO Box 1390, 121 nuclear genomic dataset. The first have had biological consequences the oil also reached the French and Portuguese coasts. The area that emerges as the tide retreats is the intertidal Reykjavík, Iceland. high coverage marine mammal across a range of species, as well as The Prestige crisis also meant an opportunity for our zone. This zone is inhabited by fully marine species, mainly

08 The Marine Biologist | Spring 2015 Spring 2015 | The Marine Biologist 09 Science letters Science letters

oil spill affected cliffs and beaches, mainly those situated in the Galician province of A Coruña, along the ‘Coast of Death’, so named because of the many shipwrecks there. Beaches of the other two prov- inces (Pontevedra and Lugo), were less affected. Our macroinfauna sampling started in May 2003, when most of the Galician beaches had already been cleaned (at least superficially; subsuperficial oil is frequently under- estimated). During four consecutive years we studied 18 beaches along the 1,659 km of the Galician coast. Results were compared with previous data, mainly from 1995. We observed a reduction in the number of species by beach only in the first year after the spill. There was also a Fig. 2. The isopod Eurydice (inset) is a scavenger and predator. Here negative relationship between the degree of pollution and shown feeding on an injured fish. Image: Juan Junoy. species number, being lowest in the heavily polluted beach crustaceans and polychaete worms. Their distribution along of O Rostro (see Figure 3), with only five species. Rare the intertidal zone is related to both interstitial moisture species occurring on beaches at low density were elimi- levels in sand at low tide and to tide levels or inundation nated, and thus, species number was lower after the spill. times. Three levels are distinguished: the upper level has On all but two of the 18 beaches, the macroinfaunal damp sand (retention level); the middle level (resurgence abundance was also significantly reduced after the spill. The level) where the phreatic (saturated) zone is found at less decrease in the abundance of the macroinfauna observed than 20 cm from the surface (the sand that has adequate after the spill appears to reflect the losses due to oiling water content to make sand castles); and the lower level toxicity or indirect effects of oiling and clean-up. On seven where the phreatic zone is at the surface (saturation level). beaches, the diversity was higher the first year after the Macroinfaunal diversity and abundance increase from the spill, but there was not a statistically significant difference upper to the lower level. The polychaete Scolelepis squamata between before and one year after the spill, nor was there lives in retention and resurgence levels; several species variation in the pollution grade among different beaches. of the isopod genus Eurydice (see Figure 2), a scavenger/ Four taxa were significantly reduced one year after the predator species that attacks injured fish, move actively spill: the isopod Eurydice; the polychaete Scolelepis squa- leaving visible grooves in the resurgence and saturation mata; the nemertean Psammamphiporus elongatus; and the Fig. 4. Cleanup activities on beaches affected by the spill. Image: Juan Junoy. levels. These two levels are also inhabited by the amphipods larvae of diptera. Sedentary species would provide the most Pontocrates arenarius and Haustorius arenarius. The lower reliable evidence of the effects of pollution. The abundance with general low mobility, seems to among marine researchers—my own social impacts. I raise my voice and saturation level is also occupied by swimmers such as the of S. squamata, a species without swimming activity and have been influenced by the spill, included—was that the catastrophe shout: ‘¡Nunca mais!’ (Never again!). mysids of the genus Gastrosaccus and although it is likely that the beach could affect the ecosystem for many Dr. Juan Junoy ([email protected]) Fig. 3. Samples from O Rostro beach showing oil pellets. Image: Juan Junoy. cumaceans of the genus Cumopsis. At cleaning which involved the removal years. Optimistic scientists thought Universidad Regional Amazónica this level, we occasionally collected the of the sand was more important than that it would take about five years for IKIAM. Km 6 Via Muyuna. Cantón only dangerous species of the beach, the the toxic effects of the fuel. One the ecosystem to recover. Fortunately, Tena. Napo. Ecuador. lesser weever fish, Echiichthys vipera. species that could be characterized the spill was not so environmentally EU-US Marine Biodiversity Research The beaches studied are all exposed as opportunistic, the amphipod apocalyptic; the result of our study Group; Dpto. Ciencias de la Vida; environments, open to wave action, Pontocrates arenarius, showed an shows rapid recuperation on the sandy AP 20. Campus Universitario; and even in calm weather, they are increased abundance after the spill. beaches. This conclusion—a few Universidad de Alcalá; 28805 Alcalá de Henares (Spain) subjected to considerable . The This is quite surprising because years recovery—can also be extended fauna showed very low diversity and substantial mortalities of amphipods to other elements of the Galician FURTHER READING Junoy J., Castellanos C., Viéitez J.M., de consisted largely of small crustaceans were reported in other spills. coast, with the notable exception of la Huz M.R., Lastra M. 2005. The macroin- (which were numerically dominant) Interannual variations throughout marine birds. However, experience fauna of the Galician sandy beaches (NW and, to a lesser extent, polychaetes. the following three years of study shows that we cannot be confident Spain) affected by the Prestige oil-spill. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 50: 526–536. Severe exposure restricts diversity, (2004–2006) did not show strong that marine habitats will have an easy Junoy J., Castellanos C., Bernardo- reducing the presence of sedentary differences in macroinfauna assem- recovery after a spill. Each spill has Madrid R., Riera R., Viéitez J.M. 2014. forms, especially bivalve molluscs, and blage structure on the 18 beaches. its own characteristics including type Macroinfaunal recovery on the beach most severely affected by the ‘Prestige’ oil spill encourages the numerical dominance We conclude that the Prestige oil of oil, geographical location, weather (O Rostro, Galicia, north-west Spain). of agile swimmers, such as amphipods spill affected the beach macroin- conditions, and how the cleanup Journal of the Marine Biological Association and isopods. These macroinfaunal fauna for the first 17–18 months. operation is handled (Figure 4). of the United Kingdom, 94 (1): 17–24. species are prey for fish and shorebirds. When the black waves of oil arrived We must not forget that the Prestige McLachlan A., Brown. A.C. 2006. The ecology of sandy shores. Academic Press; The black tide of the Prestige at the coast, the first impression oil spill also had strong economic and 2nd edition.

10 The Marine Biologist | Spring 2015 Spring 2015 | The Marine Biologist 11 Science letters Science letters

Forecasting climate change impacts on marine systems Nova Mieszkowska and Brian Helmuth ask whether a quest for generalizations has compromised our ability to make useful predictions. ne of the ‘grand challenges’ for scientists, governments, Fig. 3. ‘Robolimpet’. Image: Fernando Lima. Fig. 4. A respirometry chamber. Image: Gianluca Sara. stakeholders and practitioners around the world is Fig. 1. We tend to trust daily weather predictions because we can to understand and predict how climate change will Implications for end users ing, understanding and predicting the responses of O test them against our own observations. Weatherman: Jim Gandy, continue to impact upon natural ecosystems and the social Chief Meteorologist, News 19, USA. Climate management strategies aim to enhance the marine organisms to environmental changes. and economic services they provide. This is a Herculean resilience of natural and human-managed systems, and INSHORE scientists are working to determine the impacts task; changes in climate vary greatly across space and triggers of tipping points in the structure and healthy maintain sustainable ecosystem services. Implementation of of environmental change at the scale of individual organisms time, attribution of observed changes to anthropogenic functioning of marine ecosystems, and devise ‘guard such strategies can be hampered and misled by an over- using biological and environmental sensors, collection of climate change is challenging, and climate change acts in tails’ to prevent some of the worst impacts from happen- reliance on simplified trends, as management decisions micro-environmental data, field and laboratory experiments combination with other human , resulting in a wide ing. As climate change also interacts with other stressors, require forecasts that account for responses at far smaller (Figures 3 & 4), long-term time-series of species distributions range of impacts on natural systems. However, scientific identifying areas where species are vulnerable to climate spatial and temporal scales, for example within individual and computer models. INSHORE outputs provide biologi- research can help determine where and when changes to change means that we may be able to alleviate manage- marine protected areas or catchment areas. As a result of cally-realistic forecasts of current and future species distribu- species distributions and ecosystem structure and functioning able stressors such as pollution or harvesting/fishing. this mismatch, management actions are too often based on tions, and vulnerable areas at scales relevant to end users. will occur, and identify which species are likely to be ‘winners’ Communicating impacts broad-scale trends and averages that may have very little to It is clear from our findings that shifts in species and ‘losers’, providing guidance to assist with adaptive Humans, like other organisms, are affected by weather do with the vulnerability of organisms and ecosystems at a ranges predicted by over-simplistic, generalist models are management of ecosystems and the services they provide. rather than climate per se, and people’s perception of climate local scale, and any deviations from these generalizations can likely to be contradicted in any but the broadest terms. Our understanding of how climate Have we clouded our change is shaped significantly through be misinterpreted as counter-evidence to global warming. Responses differ depending on the level of stress and change has affected life on Earth has their experience of weather and short-term Creating biologically relevant metrics of environmental the location of the organism, as well as species-specific been driven by important studies interpretation of what personal experience. Psychological studies change that include how climate drives weather, and the thermal tolerances with respect to the range and mosaic of of general patterns, and broad-scale we observe? into levels of trust between audiences and knowledge of how organisms and ecosystems will respond geographical patterns in experienced across correlative modelling of changes in communicators show that weather forecast- at appropriate spatial and temporal scales, can offer insight the biogeographic range of any species (Figure 5). species distributions, and typically communicated as ers are highly trusted due to their daily predictions being into which aspects of climate change may be most important We need to develop mechanistic frameworks that poleward or depth-related range shifts in response to empirically tested by their lay audience, with an acceptable to monitor and predict. This approach can also enhance our account for local environmental conditions and biological large-scale average change in regional or global climate. level of error (Figure 1). This is in contrast to current sci- ability to communicate impacts to non-scientists, especially responses, and understand how these impacts translate But in our quest for generalizations, and perhaps to entific communication of climate change impacts, whereby government legislators, policymakers and stakeholders into ecological responses that affect humans. Whilst it is communicate complex scientific findings to non-scientists, presenting average trends (akin to the weather forecaster attempting to enact climate change adaptation strategies. unrealistic to experimentally study many combinations have we clouded our interpretation and expectations of what giving the same average forecast each day for a month) that An international approach of stressors and organisms, a better understanding of we observe? Generalizations and overall trends, whilst useful are not observed each day across the timeframe can serve to INSHORE is an international network for the mechanisms can highlight vulnerabilities in organisms and heuristically, frequently fail to match the observed ecological undermine trust, as no concession was made for variability. study of intertidal ecosystems working towards an ecosystems, and incorporate inherent variability within responses that are driven by local, short-term variability. Fig. 2. Zonation of species on a rocky shore due to differing biological integrative and multidisciplinary approach to measur- predictions of future distributions and responses of species. For example, 30+ year trends in average sea surface tolerances to local environmental conditions. Image: Chris Harley. Fig. 5. Starfish and mussels on the shore. Image: Brian Helmuth. By taking a more joined-up approach we can combine temperature are increasingly being used to project and information on climate change, biological responses forecast species’ range limits, despite the knowledge that and the direct impacts for society, and report these find- decadal-scale increases in mean temperature—or climate— ings at scales relevant to managed areas and marine are not driving performance and survival at organismal reserves, thereby enhance communication among climate scales and are ultimately not the cause of observed changes. researchers, stakeholders and the general public. Shorter-term variation in local environmental conditions— Dr Nova Mieszkowska1 ([email protected]) and Brian weather, including extreme events—are the underlying Helmuth2 ([email protected]) drivers of species distributions and ecosystem functioning 1. The Marine Biological Association via effects on the physiology of individual organisms. 2. Northeastern University Understanding the mechanisms by which organisms http://rockyinshore.org/#Research interact with the environment around them (Figure 2) For the full list of INSHORE members see can help to identify regions where species will be most www.mba.ac.uk/marinebiologist/issue-4/forecasting- vulnerable to climate change, identify the potential and-communicating-climate-change-impacts-on-marine- systems

12 The Marine Biologist | Spring 2015 Spring 2015 | The Marine Biologist 13 Science letters Science letters

Research in the abyssal north-eastern Pacific communities that are otherwise reliant The dawn on unsustainable fishing practices. By Kathy Dunlop. autonomous mobile laboratory that Yet, the fast—sometimes uncon- measures the of the deep- trolled—introduction of seaweed wo hundred kilometres west of the sea sediment community. The Rover of seaweed cultivation throughout the world is Central California coast and takes measurements at 3-day intervals, posing a number of biological chal- Taround 4000 m below the surface every 5 m, for up to 9 months, to lenges. These include overreliance on of the north-eastern Pacific, is Station build a detailed time-series of sediment domestication genetically uniform breeds that, quite M. Along with surface oceanic and community concentration. Claire Gachon looks at a paradoxically, often have unstable performance and get discarded from atmospheric conditions, the fall of These data are important to understand rapidly developing industry. marine snow through the water column the role of deep-sea sediment com- the production lines after a few years Above: Young sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima) stained with Trypan blue. and benthic community dynamics have munities in the oceanic carbon cycle. ith the availability of arable only. This genetic homogeneity also Fig. 4. The deep-sea sea cucumber Centre page: Lab-reared sugar kelp (Sac- been monitored here since 1989. The To understand the deep-sea carbon land dwindling across the increases vulnerability to environ- (Peniagone sp.) recorded during a transect world, farming the sea is mental stresses and pests; as a result of charina latissima) in a Petri dish. deep-sea is the largest environment in cycle, it is important to collect data with the ROV Doc Ricketts. W Background image: Somatic cells of a often perceived as the next frontier recent intensification, crop losses and the world but scientific knowledge of on the marine snow that falls from laver blade (Porphyra sp.). Scale: cells are the abyssal area, and in particular its the sea surface to the seabed as this accurate and precise measurements of to meet soaring demand for food in disease management are now among approx. 10 microns in diameter. involvement in the global carbon cycle, represents the main food source for megafaunal animal abundance, size dis- the 21st century. Thus, aquaculture the biggest running costs for farmers tribution and biomass to further define has been developing sharply, and producing laver, the seaweed widely culture. In particular, we aim to learn their role in deep-sea carbon cycling. recently overtook wild fisheries to used as sushi wrap in Asian cuisine. lessons from other countries that have Data from Station M have enabled become the main source of fish and Cultivation also poses a distinct more experience in algal cultivation significant advances in our understand- shellfish for human consumption. threat to natural biodiver- than the UK and Europe. Our objective ing of the effects of global warming Likewise, the cultivation of marine sity; escapes can become is also to increase awareness of the scien- on the supply of food to the deep-sea, macroalgae has undergone rapid, invasive and displace tific challenges ahead, in order to sup- and its ultimate re-mineralization and sustained growth worldwide for over native vegetation; the port the design of policies fit to harness sequestration in sediments. This long- fifty years and is now worth US$ reason why the culti- the biotechnological potential of natural term dataset has shown that deep-sea 5 to 10 billion annually. Algae not vation of non-native seaweed diversity and fulfil the potential communities are strongly affected by only have potential as a sustainable of algal aquaculture, whilst preserving climate variation. The next step is to biofuel source, but are also consumed genetic resources for future generations. use the dataset to predict the future as sea vegetables, feed for shellfish, species Dr Claire Gachon (Claire.Gachon@ effect of climate change on the deep-sea and have many burgeoning is increas- sams.ac.uk) is Senior Lecturer in Above: Fig. 1. Panorama of the instrumentation aboard the RV Western Flyer ready for using mathematical modelling meth- applications in the cosmetic and ingly Molecular Phycology at the Scottish deployment at Station M. Below: Using the ROV Doc Ricketts, the Benthic Rover is observed pharmaceutical industries. banned. Yet, the Association for Marine Science. on the seafloor at Station M. Images: Susan von Thun. ods. This information will be essential With good reason, the cultiva- non-native red seaweed for policy makers to manage the deep- FURTHER READING: tion of seaweeds is often perceived (Kappaphycus alvarezii) was illegally is limited. Station M represents one deep-sea benthic communities. Marine sea environment in a changing climate. Kim G. H., Moon K.-H., Kim J.-Y., as an environmentally-friendly practice; introduced on the north-eastern of the most detailed long-term time- snow has traditionally been collected Dr Kathy Dunlop ([email protected]) Shim J. and Klochkova T. A. (2014) A series studies of an abyssal area and has using sediment traps, which collect seaweeds mop up nutrients dissolved in Brazilian coast, despite several reports revaluation of algal diseases in Korean Pelagic-Benthic Coupling Group, the sea and can therefore be advanta- of invasiveness elsewhere in the world. Pyropia (Porphyra) sea farms and their provided important discoveries about sediment in tubes 10 days at a time; Monterey Bay Aquarium Research economic impact. Algae 29(4), 249–265. geously used to mitigate the pollution A more insidious yet equally serious the deep-sea carbon cycle and the effects but a recent imaging technology, Institute, 7700 Sandholdt Road, Moss Loureiro R., Gachon C. M. M. and of climate change for over two decades. known as the sediment event sensor, Landing, California, USA, CA95039 caused by fish and shellfish farming. problem is the inadvertent introduc- Rebours C. (2015) Seaweed cultivation: The Station M time-series study can collect information more regularly In many developing countries, their tion of diseases, similar to the crayfish potential and challenges of crop domes- cultivation provides an alternative plague accidentally imported form tication at an unprecedented pace. New is maintained by the Pelagic- than the traditional traps by taking a Phytologist. DOI: 10.1111/nph.13278. Benthic Coupling Group led by picture rather than collecting a sample. source of income for deprived coastal America which now threatens native http://www.sams.ac.uk/global-seaweed Ken Smith, Jr, using an array of The time-lapse camera captures European crayfish with extinction. Young sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima) Caution is by far the best option, as unique autonomous and ship-based images of mobile animals just above viewed under UV light. The chlorophyll containment or remediation measures The author (right) collecting kelp from a wild research technologies (Figure 1). the seafloor (grenadier fish, jellyfish) appears in red and DNA is stained in green. population with her student Marine Vallet. The Benthic Rover (Figure 3) is an and on the sediment (brittle stars, Scale: Image is 1cm wide. are financially prohibitive and hard to sea cucumbers (Figure 4) and sea implement in the marine environment. urchins). The long time-series of As a first step towards exploiting and time-lapse camera deployments has preserving genetic diversity through shown strong seasonal and interan- rapid domestication, researchers nual variation in animal activity that now focus on unravelling the genetic correlates with changes in climate resources and natural variation available indicators and food supply. in wild seaweed stocks. The UK NERC- A recent addition to the array of funded global initiative GlobalSeaweed instruments at Station M is a stereo still aims to capture these efforts, and to underwater camera. The aim is to gather tackle emerging issues in seaweed aqua-

14 The Marine Biologist | Spring 2015 Spring 2015 | The Marine Biologist 15 Environment & Conservation Environment & Conservation Restoring seagrasses under extreme conditions Emma L. Jackson

Fig. 3. Seasnakes (left) are one of the natural of fieldwork on the Queensland coast. The Eastern shovelnosed ray,Aptychotrema rostrata (middle). The whelk (Pyrazus ebeninus) (right). Images: Emma Jackson. the science on how these important habitats maintain their conditions to be assessed. Secondly, modelling of landscape populations and how restoration (and creation—where level processes (particle dispersal modelling and habitat seagrass has not previously been recorded) can help promote suitability models) is being used to establish the metapopula- resilience within populations. Restoring seagrass beds in tion dynamics of the seagrass populations within the bay. a dynamic sub-tropical estuary has a number of challenges Fig. 4. Volunteers and students help out in the mud and seagrass on and identifying methods for promoting resilience is much Pelican Banks, Curtis Island. Image: Emma Jackson. harder than just finding a suitable site and planting some plants. There are at least five different seagrass species (Zos- tera muelleri (see Figure 2), Halodule uninervis, Halophila ovalis, Halophila spinulosa and Halophila decipiens) each showing different life history traits, succession and thresh- olds to environmental conditions. Meadows vary from small sparse patches to large dense continuous meadows that are square kilometres in area. They can be monospecific or Fig. 1. Identifying environmental tolerances using static mesocosms. mixed meadows and the persistence over time of different Image: Emma Jackson. meadows varies significantly, with some being ephemeral. Add to this the sub-tropical Increasing pressures on the marine environment necessitate Increasing economic prosperity climate—flood measures that promote resilience in coastal ecosystems. along the Queensland coast of north- events, tail ends Emma Jackson looks at the science and methodology of east Australia linked with the expan- of cyclones and restoring seagrass beds in a sub-tropical estuary. sion of port-based international trade then of course and heavy industry has increased the the multitude A metapopulation is a term originally coined by Dick entences such as ‘Seagrass beds pressures on the marine environment, of dangerous Levins in 1969 meaning a ‘population of populations’, each are an important coastal habitat in particular on sensitive habitats such animals including existing on a patch of suitable habitat separated from other Sproviding many ecosystem as seagrass. Port Curtis, which lies seasnakes (see occupied patches by unsuitable habitat (too deep, too rocky, services’ have adorned the first line of within the World Figure 3) sharks, A green turtle Chelonia mydas—one of the beneficiaries of manuscripts regarding these habitats Heritage Area, is currently undergoing cone shells, deadly seagrass ecosystem services. Image: Emma Jackson. for decades, and their ability to major port and industrial expansion jellyfish and influence the ecosystem functioning with the installation of three Liquid saltwater croco- and the delivery of ecosystem services is Natural Gas plants and significant Fig. 2. A fragment of Zostera muelleri, one diles—and you widely evidenced. In a group statement extensions of dredging programmes. of at least five seagrass species in the Port will get an idea of issued by the IUCN Seagrass Species Following concerns that the increased Curtis area. Image: Emma Jackson. the difficulties. Specialist Group in November 2014, activity in conjunction with storm The research seagrasses were identified as one of and flooding events may be negatively being carried out at CQU is tackling the problem from the most rapidly declining ecosystems impacting the seagrass, with implica- two angles and at two very different scales. First of all in on Earth. Although initiatives for tions for those species relying on the situ (Figure 4) and mesocosm-based trials (Figure 1) are seagrass recovery and conservation meadows, the Queensland Govern- being carried out to assess the tolerances and thresholds of are occurring in some areas, all ment is supporting seagrass restora- the different species of seagrass found in Port Curtis Bay regions of the globe are experiencing tion and habitat creation projects. to environmental factors such as sediment type, rate of Dr. Emma Jackson at the 11th International Seagrass Biology Workshop, Sanya, China, seagrass habitat loss from human A team at Central Queensland Uni- sedimentation, temperature, and salinity. This will 2014. pollution and coastline development. versity (CQU) has been researching allow decisions on species selection in relation to site specific

16 The Marine Biologist | Spring 2015 Spring 2015 | The Marine Biologist 17 Environment & Conservation Environment & Conservation

ments examining species tolerances unique species such as the southern right whale (Figure can guide us on the likely survival 3), migratory birds such as the red knot and several of transplants at different sites and species of dolphin. But why is this area so important? from different donor populations. The decline Located in the north-west of the Gulf of San Matías, However, large-scale transplantation in the Province of Río Negro, the Bay of San Antonio is trials are needed to validate the theories 20 km long, 10 km wide and no more than 30 m deep. and model predictions. Local-scale The region is not only famous for its shallowness and environmental limiting factors may lack of strong currents, but also for having the warmest influence the long-term survival and waters of the entire Argentine coastline, with maximum growth of the transplants and also temperatures reaching around 24°C in summer and drop- influence their ecosystem functioning. ping by more than 16°C in winter. Other characteristics Over the next year, our aim is of the area are the large tidal range, clear waters, sandy to combine in situ observations of beaches and rocky coasts, and abundant food resources. realized seagrass niche, mesocosm All of these characteristics make the Bay of San Antonio experiments with predictive models the ideal home for a group of bottlenose dolphins, many to identify locations for a large scale of which remain in the area year-round. It is also one of restoration trial. Through a partner- the best places to observe them in their natural habitat, ship with James Cook University of bottlenose allowing an excellent opportunity to study their lives, habits (Cairns, Australia) and Griffiths and behaviour. Due to the enormous decrease in bottlenose Local traditional owners form the Gidarjil Development Corporation volunteer to help University (Gold Coast, Australia), dolphins in dolphin sightings in other areas, the Bay of San Antonio transplant seagrass and support the sustainable use of their Sea Country. CQU researchers are taking these may be one of the last remaining homes within Argen- Image: Emma Jackson. approaches to the next scale and tina for this species. As a result, the bottlenose dolphins increasing on environmental Argentina inhabiting this area have become the main focus of our too turbid, etc.). At any moment in and recolonization. Understanding managers to start to redress the first long-term research and conservation programme. time these suitable habitat patches may metapopulation dynamics allows damage being caused to these habitats. By Els Vermeulen, Neil Niru Dorrian and Research methods or may not be occupied by a popula- us to identify areas where we could Dr Emma L. Jackson Lorenzo Scala of the scientific and Whalefish Science Director Els Vermeulen began tion due to extinction and coloniza- successfully create or restore seagrass ([email protected]) conservation network Whalefish. researching the bottlenose dolphins in this region in 2006. tion processes, immigration and habitat (i.e. unoccupied but suitable Central Queensland University, Just as humans are unique, with distinctive characteristics emigration. The long-term persistence patches where poor immigration may School of Medical and Applied t Whalefish, we combine the experience and to distinguish one from another, most animals are also of the metapopulation depends on a prevent colonization or recolonization Sciences, Bryan Jordan Drive, PO knowledge of marine scientists to promote education, individually recognizable through unique and distinctive balance between population extinction respectively); sites where seagrass exists Box 1319, Gladstone, Queensland Aawareness and networking opportunities for markings that remain throughout their lives. In cetaceans, but could be enhanced to a critical 4680, Australia those who wish to help in our goal to improve marine tail flukes and dorsal fins are most commonly used in Emma Jackson and research assistant threshold whereby it is self-sustaining FURTHER READING conservation efforts. For nearly eight years, Whalefish identification as they often show the most distinctive scars Rebecca Hendry check the seagrass Coles, R., Rasheed, M.A., McKenzie,L., growing in CQUniversity’s flow-through tidal and able to sustain nearby populations scientists have been engaged in research and conservation and/or colour patterns that are unique for each individual. (contributing to the resilience of the Grech, A., York, P., Shaeves, M., McKenna, efforts in the Bay of San Antonio, northern Patagonia, Once a good photograph is obtained displaying an mesocosm system. Image: William Debois. S., Bryant, C. (2015). The Great Barrier metapopulation) and areas where it Reef World Heritage Area seagrasses: Argentina with a primary focus on marine mammals. individual’s unique characteristics, it is collated with other is not worth spending the time and Managing this iconic Australian ecosys- The Bay of San Antonio is privileged as it has protected data in a photo-identification catalogue (see Figure 2). tem resource for the future. Estuarine, money restoring these habitats. Coastal and Shelf Science 153, A1-A12. coasts and shallow waters (Figure 1) inhabited by It is very important to consistently add new pictures to Landscape ecology and restoration Fig. 1. The naturally protected Bay of San Antonio, northern Fig. 2. The scars and colour patterns on the dorsal fin and tail flukes Jackson, E.L., Rees, S.E., Wild- ecology are two mutually beneficial ing, C., Attrill, M.J. (2015). Use of a Patagonia, Argentina. Image: Whalefish. are used to identify individuals. Image: Whalefish. disciplines. Landscape ecology seagrass residency index to apportion commercial fishery landing values and principles can guide the selection recreation fisheries expenditure to of restoration sites, help to establish seagrass habitat service. Conservation realistic project goals and advise on Biology, DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12436 appropriate spatial configurations of McMahon, K., Ruiz-Montoya, L., Kend- restored habitat. Restoration ecology rick, G.A., Krauss, S.L., Waycott, M., Ver- duin, J., Lowe, R., Statton, J., Brown, E. & aids landscape ecology by provid- Duarte, C. (2014) The movement ecology of ing an opportunity to experiment seagrasses. Proceedings of the Royal Soci- ety B: Biological Sciences, 281, 20140878. over large spatial scales and validate landscape ecology dynamic models. Sale, P. F., Hanski, I. & Kritzer, J. P. 2006. The merging of metapopulation theory and The modelling methods we are marine ecology: establishing the historical using can identify potential locations context. Marine metapopulations, 3-23. (and reasons) for habitat creation and restoration, and the small scale experi-

18 The Marine Biologist | Spring 2015 Spring 2015 | The Marine Biologist 19 Environment & Conservation Environment & Conservation

country, along with other anthropo- ecological needs. Indeed, the global genic activities, we suggest that this population trend is currently listed population is highly vulnerable and as unknown by the IUCN, even at risk of extinction. Bearing in mind though the global population status is the disappearance of the bottlenose listed as of least concern. The largest dolphin elsewhere in the country, this gaps in information for this species local extinction risk could have dev- exist in Africa and South America. astating consequences on the general Bottlenose dolphins have been presence of the species in Argentina. among the most frequently observed Coastal common bottlenose cetacean species in Argentine coastal dolphins are amongst the best-studied waters for decades; however, this cetacean species in the world, due situation has drastically changed to their accessibility in the wild and current numbers suggest the and common presence in captivity. bottlenose dolphin has become the However, despite extensive research, most endangered marine mammal increasing numbers of coastal popula- species in the country. Adding the tions are reported to be declining available abundance estimates from worldwide. Unfortunately, local the coastline of Uruguay and south Fig. 3. The southern right whale Eubalaena australis. Image: Whalefish. declines of common species are Brazil, the bottlenose dolphin may Fig. 5. The Bottlenose dolphins in the Bay of San Antonio are named by the locals as the catalogue so that changes in the that, although this community clearly easily overlooked when establishing be seriously endangered in the larger “Tonina”. Image Els Vermeulen. particular characteristics of the known qualifies as a fission–fusion society priorities for conservation. The failure south-western Atlantic. This reveals is to study in more detail the population measures with the aim of preserving individuals can be monitored. Using typical for the species, the associations to recognize local population declines, a gross misconception about the dynamics and viability of the bottlenose the bottlenose dolphin in Argentina. this technique of photo-identification, within this population were much and thus failure to apply precise conservation status of the bottlenose dolphins in North Patagonia. Addition- Educational outreach is vital to we can follow the dolphins over an stronger when compared to other conservation measures, causes the dolphin in this part of the world. ally, we aim to reveal the population Whalefish, and the project intends extensive period in a non-invasive dolphin populations worldwide; this frequent problem of once-common The precise cause of the current structure over the larger Argentine coast to build upon the educational work way, thereby allowing us to estimate is most likely linked to the popula- species sliding towards extinction. situation for the Bay of San Antonio by multiple site comparison of photo- undertaken through the book Dolphins the number of individuals in the tion’s small size and its closed nature. Future research population is beyond the scope of the identification data. In the long term, the of the Bay (Toninas de la Bahía–—see population, and to learn about the Additionally, further research showed a Most information on the bottlenose study outlined here, but it reveals the project will help identify causal factors Figure 5). This educational book was many aspects of their life history such clear genetic isolation and low genetic dolphin comes from captive studies, urgent need for continued research and affecting the bottlenose dolphins’ con- distributed to over 3,000 schoolchil- as their social structure, reproduction diversity. Considering the continu- and much less appears to be known conservation efforts. Consequently, servation status, feeding directly into the dren in the three villages surrounding status, number of offspring, move- ously increasing urbanization of the about wild population structures and Whalefish scientists are working on identification of priority conservation the Bay of San Antonio, and is freely ment patterns and home ranges. a continuation of the bottlenose actions. Based on these results, new and downloadable via our website. Fig. 4. A mother bottlenose dolphin ‘Saffi’ with her calf. The birth rate among the dolphins Results of the Bay of San Antonio is too low to maintain the population at its current size. dolphin research project in Argentina. improved directives will be proposed to Visit www.whalefish.org The first results of our research Image: Els Vermeulen. The general objective of this project enhance current marine conservation indicated that the Bay of San Antonio is home to a highly resident population of bottlenose dolphins, and possibly the last remaining one in Argentina. We estimate there are around 80 individuals in this population, making it smaller than most other known coastal bottlenose dolphin popula- tions. Furthermore, results showed that this population is declining over the years due to a calf recruitment rate which appears insufficient to maintain the population at its cur- rent size (see Figure 4). The high contamination of heavy metals and overfishing in the area, reported in the literature, is suggested to be among the possible causes of this decline and requires further investigation. Analysis of social structure indicates

20 The Marine Biologist | Spring 2015 Spring 2015 | The Marine Biologist 21 Environment & Conservation Sharing marine science

rooms kept unnecessary visitors at of the River Yealm. Students witnessed Ghost fishing in the USA The way we were bay to prevent contamination. trawling and dredging on the RV Sula Geoff Smaldon worked as Overseeing all of this, and more, was and RV Gammarus. The classes were A recent study is amongst the first to quantify an Assistant in the Sale of the modest presence of Director Sir always popular and fully-booked. the damage caused by derelict fishing traps Specimens Department of Frederick Russell, an ex-World War Three research vessels catered for the in US coastal waters. Article by Dana Weiss. 1 observer with the Royal Naval Air needs of staff and visiting scientists. the MBA from 1962-1966. Service and an authority on medusae. RV Sarsia, which had been built in loating patches of plastic are eye-catching, but less he ‘Lab’ was its people; a family Visitors were the life-blood of the Lab Dartmouth in the early 1950s and obvious marine debris may have more harmful which, like all families, and many were annual regulars. In this sadly now lies half-submerged in a Feffects. Fishing gear that has been accidentally Thad good times and bad, period the fundamental and important Birkenhead dock, was a multi-purpose lost or intentionally discarded continues to fish for quarrels, misunderstandings, fun work on the conduction of the nerve vessel used for cruises to the Western some time. This phenomenon, known as ‘ghost and occasional sadness. I worked impulse was carried out at Plymouth Approaches and the Bay of Biscay. She fishing’, is usually related to nets and lines. there from 1962–1966; here is by Alan Hodgkin, Hans Meves and was used, for example, by Malcolm Recently, Courtney Arthur and colleagues at the United my take on the way we were. Knox Chandler, using the giant axons Clarke for mid-water trawling for States’ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration In the mid-1960s computers were of Loligo. The squid were caught fresh squid, and Alan and Eve Southward (NOAA) reviewed studies from seven key fisheries in US in their infancy, marine ecology was each day by RV Sula and sent ashore in in their dredging for Pogonophora coastal waters to provide one of the first meta-analyses yet to become mathematically-based, large vacuum flasks. Experimental work off the Spanish continental shelf. focusing on ecological and economic impacts of derelict and much of the science was essentially began immediately and often went on RV Sula was a trawler which fishing traps (DFTs) (Figure 1). These fisheries target the a hang-over from the 19th century. into the night. Professor Hodgkin was supplied the daily needs of those Dungeness crab (Cancer magister) in Alaska and Puget In amongst this, however, there were awarded a Nobel Prize for his work working on squid, fish and Sound, the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) in Maryland, elegant and complex experiments being and sent a barrel of beer to the crew dredge samples from areas such Virginia and North Carolina, the spiny lobster (Panulirus conducted on cuttlefish by of RV Sula in thanks. Other marine as the Eddystone shell gravel. argus) in Florida, and fish in the US Virgin Islands. Eric Denton, who went on to look at scientists visited: Gordon Newell in his RV Gammarus was a willing little According to the analysis, the average number of the adaptive camouflage produced by huge Rolls Royce coupé; Marie Lebour; launch which worked the estuaries derelict traps ranges from 5 to 47 DFTs km2. Their rates fish scales. Oscilloscopes surrounded Vera Fretter, working on molluscs; and habitats such as Chelson Mead- of ghost fishing at a given moment amount to 5 to 40%. Fig. 2. Opposing effects: while colonizing communities use traps as the physiologists Trevor Shaw, Quentin and Jack Llewellyn and his research ows. Skippered by Alf Briggs, who substrate, marine growth can disable the opening of escape panels. students investigating monogenean fish had rounded Cape Horn under sail The yearly catch of a trap is estimated at 4 to 76 target Images: Randy Clark, NOAA/NCCOS/CCMA Biogeography Branch. Bone and Vic Howarth, whilst Colin species individuals. For example, 178,874 harvestable Nicol investigated the reflecting eyes parasites. The list is long and the names as a young man, she also provided Dungeness crabs fall victim each year to derelict traps in than anticipated: from 4 months to more than 6 years. of elasmobranchs.Large-scale ecologi- in it are significant in the develop- material for the Sale of Specimens the Puget Sound, equalling a monetary value of $744,000 Close examinations have revealed that rot cord, a mitiga- cal investigations by Norman Holme ment of marine science in the UK. Department which supplied university or 4.5% of the average annual harvest. The uninten- tion measure which closes the escape panels, disintegrates of the bottom fauna of the English departments with teaching material. tional catches also include individuals prohibited from slowly. Meanwhile, marine growth and material fatigue Channel consumed many hours of Every year the MBA Council would harvest, such as non-mature or egg-bearing females, as disable proper lid opening (Figure 2). In many cases ship-time. Malcolm Spooner published meet at Plymouth and be given a tour well as non-target species, such as shrimps, fish, urchins ‘self-baiting’ occurs where dead organisms serve as bait on amphipods and aspects of marine of inspection: the labs; the facilities; and and terrapins. Thus, the traps can impact breeding attracting further victims. Furthermore, storms drive ecology, while D. P. Wilson carried out the impressive library, watched over by populations, especially those of threatened species. intact traps across the seabed. These tend, for example in pioneering work on the development librarian Leila Serpell and her team. The Derelict fishing traps continue to ghost fish for longer the US Virgin Islands, to accumulate in sensitive habi- of polychaete larvae, devising a rearing tall figure of Sir Alister Hardy could not tats, where they scrape and break sponges and corals. apparatus made from Meccano which be missed as he viewed the first-floor The NOAA-researchers consider the pervasive and would have been the envy of Heath tank-rooms and their occupants. persistent effects of derelict fishing traps to be largely Robinson. Bob Forster used SCUBA The daily rhythm was predictable: preventable. They propose a ‘DFT Management Strategy’ apparatus in his research on Hali- in the mid-afternoon the laboratory which comprises constructing traps with biodegradable otis while Alan and Eve Southward, van’s horn was sounded to announce escape panels, spatial planning to avoid loss of traps due to always wide-ranging in their work, that the ships’ catches were on-board Alan and Eve Southward examining material interference with boat traffic, incentives for proper disposal published some of the first papers and ready for collection from the on the deck of the RV Sarsia ca. 1964. of fishing gear on land, education to counter vandalism, on the enigmatic Pogonophora, as Image: Geoff Smaldon. yard. A scurry of expectant scientists, and regular removal of traps to minimize habitat damage. well as significant accounts of shore laboratory assistants, the specimen- Dr Dana Weiss ([email protected]), MBA member, ecology and barnacle populations. The annual ‘Easter Class’ was sales team and hopeful scroungers biologist and journalist. The chemists were in their first-floor attended by undergraduates from vari- sorted out their needs and then all was laboratories: Dr Cooper; and F. A. ous universities and provided a good quiet once again, until tomorrow. FURTHER READING J. Armstrong who drove an amazing grounding in shore and shallow-sea Geoff Smaldon Arthur, C., Sutton-Grier, A. E., Murphy, P. & Bamford, H. (2014) Out of sight but not out of mind: harmful effects of Austin Atlantic, rare even in those ecology. Norman Holme, Peter Corbin After a first degree and PhD at derelict traps in selected U.S. coastal waters. Marine Pol- days. The botanists Mary Parke, Gerald and Malcolm Spooner took groups of Swansea University Geoff Smaldon Fig.1. Derelict fishing traps may not only continue to ghost lution Bulletin 86 (1–2), 19–28, September 2014 (available students to explore the fauna of Mill- spent several years in crustacean online July 2014). Link to the open access article: www.sci- Boalch and their team, culturing fish for years, but may also move about the seabed and harm bay, Salcombe and the muddier shores research. sensitive habitats. encedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X14004305 diatoms and algae in north-facing

22 The Marine Biologist | Spring 2015 Spring 2015 | The Marine Biologist 23 High impact imagery, low cost investment Section name

any scientists worldwide are beginning to recognize with them. The STEM (science, technology, engi- By Christine Shepard the value of visual media in connection to their neering and maths) push has trickled down to Mresearch and outreach, but are still at a loss for almost every university department, so this partner- how to begin. Based on my experiences as the full-time ship might be just what they are looking for. Media and Virtual Learning Manager at the University of Integrating visual media into your research laboratory Miami’s Shark Research Laboratory, I would love to share • Scholarly articles include student photography some quick tips and lessons learned for incorporating or have a media student help you design a better visual media into your laboratory, so that your valuable figure or diagram for your upcoming publication. marine research can have the greater impact it deserves. • Brochures/flyers find a graphic design stu- Uncovering a valuable local resource: dent or even a whole class to design a new bro- communications students chure or flyer for your laboratory. It is a bonus if In my final year of undergraduate communication studies, they also can do photography and writing. I was ready for my work to mean something. I still needed • Funding report/grant applications again, find a some practice before graduating, so I asked myself: why photography student and/or graphic design student not practise in a real world setting, where my class projects to help spruce up an upcoming grant application. Just could further a meaningful cause? Herein was the perfect including a few extra high-impact images and more opportunity ripe for the picking. At almost all universities, modern, approachable design can help make a great there is a communications, art or journalism department. impression on your potential funding agency. Students are working to develop their skills but often do • Video trailer partner with an intermediate not have provided content for their projects. As a marine or advanced video production class to have them scientist, you have great content, but may not have the skills create a video package about your laboratory or or time to communicate it in visually engaging forms. your most cutting-edge research project. Feature the Look into your local communications, art or journal- video on your website homepage, share it through ism department to see which classes are offered. Contact social media, and send it over to your university individual academic staff members teaching subjects of or institution’s marketing/PR department. interest (photography, documentary production, writing • Website for smaller laboratories, redesigning your for electronic media, infographics, web design, interactive website and refreshing its content could make for a perfect media, etc.) or even internship coordinators to discus how undergraduate thesis project. For larger laboratories, hours you do not have. This is a perfect outlet for ‘bite- folders by research project, type of media project, date, or a you can highlighting one initiative or research project in a mini sized’ graphics, photos, and videos that will expand combination thereof. partner interactive website could be more attainable for a student. your outreach community into the online realm. • Require students, especially photographers, to input • Social media while you might be able to run a Tips for a smooth and gratifying process metadata. By key-wording and captioning each photo they Facebook or Twitter account yourself, the right • Be choosy with your media interns and students. Even edit and archive, you will be able to more efficiently utilize media intern will offer you new if you are not a media expert yourself, trust your gut about those assets in the future. strategies, fresh perspectives which students will be strong independent workers and posit • With top-quality media projects, take some extra and themselves as an asset to your team. Prioritize quality over time to help students feed them to mass media outlets. quantity. This will help your work and theirs to • Set realistic, attainable and be disseminated and have a larger measureable goals for student pro- impact. jects. This is not their only work all • Show and share your apprecia- term, so challenge them, but make tion for their work. After all, these sure the project is achievable. students are donating their time to your • Identify a media advisor for the laboratory, so make sure they know how student to check in with them weekly/ much they are valued. monthly and assist with technical Working with communication aspects of the project. This could be one students to augment your laboratory’s of their current lecturers, a graduate outreach goals can be an easy, fun, and student, or another lecturer within their surprisingly valuable experience. With department. all the diverse demands on scientists • Develop a standardized organiza- these days, finding and embracing those tional system for your media projects. mutually beneficial partnerships will Most media students will work on a streamline and enhance your career. Mac computer, so keep a hard drive Christine Shepard is a freelance (plus back up) where they will archive wildlife photographer. their work for you. Organize into www.christineshepard.com

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for the exchange of information, with the smaller-scale of the EMBS compared with some conferences (i.e. hundreds instead of thousands of attendees) helping to encourage networking with this. These practical reasons, coupled with the relatively informal atmosphere, mean there is no doubt that a vast number of collaborative research projects over the last 5 decades owe their existence to the EMBS. Not forgetting to have fun… An important tradition of the EMBS is the Yellow Submarine contest, an afternoon full of marine related games or activities, in which competition with colleagues Celebrating 50 years of from other countries for the trophy can be fierce (see Figure 1) and at times bizarre (from throwing dead sea urchins at balloons in a Norwegian fjord to a potato peeling contest the European Marine in Germany). There may be cash prizes from the MBA and MARS for best student talk and poster respectively, Fig. 1. The almost victorious Dutch team (Vincent Escaravage, Biology Symposium but the Yellow Submarine trophy is often the most coveted Herman Hummel, Christiaan Hummel and Sander Wijnhoven) during (so much so that the original trophy disappeared after the Yellow Submarine competition of the 43rd EMBS in 2008, the the Swedes had won it and took it to Gothenborg). Azores, Portugal. The next 50 years… for the next three years following the 50th EMBS at There have of course been a number of changes over Helgoland (www.awi.de/embs50) with the symposium the years. For example, the first symposium proceedings being planned for Rhodes (Greece), Piran (Slovenia) Herman Hummel, Matthew Frost often appeared in books, and sometimes in special issues and Wilhelmshaven (Germany), respectively. of various journals. From 2014 onwards, the proceed- So here’s to another 50 years! and Christiaan Hummel ings will be printed as a special issue of the Journal of the Herman Hummel1, Matthew Frost2 & Christiaan Hummel1 Marine Biological Association, thus guaranteeing publica- 1. EMBS Presidency, EMBS Board and MARS Secretariat tion in a well-respected, long-established journal. Monitor Taskforce, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea The basic format and ethos of the EMBS contin- Research (NIOZ), Korringaweg 7, 4401 NT Yerseke, the ues however, and the enthusiasm of marine research Netherlands institutes and stations to organize an EMBS meeting 2. The Marine Biological Association, Citadel Hill, Symposium. The first EMBS was so successful that it has is as high as ever. Offers have already been put forward Plymouth, Devon, PL1 2PB, United Kingdom t all began in the autumn of 1966 on the small island of been held every year without interruption since, attract- Helgoland off the north coast of Germany, when marine ing marine scientists not only from Europe but from all The participants of the 46th EMBS in 2011 at Arendal, Norway. Iscientists gathered for the very first European Marine over the world. Each year the host institute also focuses Biology Symposium (EMBS). In September 2015, marine on two or three specific themes, reflecting their core scientists from Europe and beyond will once more descend business and interests. The EMBS has from its outset on Helgoland for the 50th EMBS meeting. In addition to been driven forward and developed in response to the presentations and discussions on the latest developments in needs of the marine science community, rather than being marine biology, there will also be events celebrating the driven entirely by one specific institute or organization. EMBS as one of the longest running annual symposia Bringing the marine community together specifically focused on marine biological sciences. One of the attractions of the EMBS is that it has facili- The aim of the EMBS is to advance the science of marine tated networking on an international scale; since 1966 it biology within Europe and beyond; but in an ever busier has been held in a wide number of venues in 20 countries calendar of international meetings and conferences, what has including most recently in St Petersburg, Russia. Network- been the secret of the success and longevity of this ing is also facilitated by the fact that there are rarely multiple symposium? parallel sessions, which means that everyone is able to sit A symposium emerged from the sea in on all presentations and engage in discussions with all The history of the EMBS starts in 1960 when a series colleagues, whether student or senior researcher, up and of German marine biological symposia was initiated by coming scientists or an established expert. The lack of Otto Kinne, at the time Director of the Biologische Anstalt parallel sessions is appreciated both by speakers, as they Helgoland. These symposia attracted marine scientists know they will be able to present their research to the whole from all over Europe, and this enthusiasm prompted a symposium, and the audience who are encouraged to explore questionnaire which found that 98% of the respondents new areas and hear new speakers rather than just choose were in favour of a regular European Marine Biology their areas of speciality. The poster sessions are also vital areas

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An MBA student bursary only are multiple stressors likely to student this was extremely beneficial to more space to cope with the rapidly was run by able administrators and continues to provide essential support helped fund Joseph coincide in natural systems, but they start the ball rolling for life beyond a expanding collections and trying to assistants but today librarians have allowing users to access the latest Kenworthy’s trip to: are also not straightforward to inter- PhD and to get me thinking of career secure funding to keep the collec- to be professionally trained informa- scientific literature whether physical or pret, resulting in additive, cumulative progression as an early career scientist. tions up to date. Concerning funding tion technologists able to deal with electronic but it could be argued that the World Conference or synergistic effects dependent on Other activities included attending a it is noticeable that a special MBA everything from copyright issues to it serves a larger purpose. The Marine on Marine Biodiversity, the system or stress in question. It workshop on getting published in inter- library committee set up by the then digital archives and repositories. As Biological Laboratory at Woods Hole, Qingdao, China was valuable to learn about contem- national journals. This was extremely MBA Director (E. J. Allen) in 1928 Feltes et al. (2012) state in their look USA states on its website that ‘For over porary research of multiple stressors beneficial given that publications are reported ‘a still very topical complaint at the future of science libraries: ‘In n October 2014 I presented my on different systems and this session the next step on my PhD journey. about the increasing cost of scientific the 21st century research institution, “I use desktop services, PhD research at this event, in allowed me to gain new insights and I am very grateful to the MBA for journals that meant even though librarians/science informationists will such as electronic journals, Ia talk entitled ‘The context perspectives on familiar topics. granting the financial support that library expenditure had doubled […] play many roles: collaborator, educator, specialised databases and dependency of multiple stressor Besides the fantastic banquets of Chi- enabled me to see some fantastic talks, consultant, data manager, developer search tools, every working effects on estuarine sediment nese cuisine, the international experi- meet interesting people, and dissemi- and preserver of metadata standards day, and I appreciate the fact communities: a cross continental ence of visiting Asia and the conference nate my research to a large scientific and ontologies, a connector, and the that my access is facilitated study’. This paper detailed experiments organized brewery tour, this meeting community. This conference has been curator of the institutional identity’. and managed by staff in the undertaken from a collaborative brought together supervisors from both beneficial both in terms of career There is also the challenge in decid- library. That being said, there is a particular thrill to browsing project between the University of St of my partner universities, a tough feat progression and simply gaining valu- ing how to manage physical collections library shelves, searching not Andrews, in Scotland, and Macquarie given they are on opposite sides of the able experience presenting my research. built up over many years. Ironically, to find something particular University in Sydney, Australia. world. It also became a great network- Joseph Kenworthy after decades where space has been (there are catalogues and My research appeared in a special ing platform to meet researchers from ([email protected]) a major issue, many institutes faced indexes for that), but to find the session on the effects of multiple China, the USA as well as from other Scottish Oceans Institute with reduced funding have ended up unexpected, the interesting, the Like many marine science libraries the stressors on marine biodiversity. Not European countries. As a 3rd year PhD University of St Andrews undertaking stock reduction exercises new (to you). What is learning, NMBL offers visitors a stunning location. St Andrews, Fife, KY16 8LB or just getting rid of their physical but to discover and assimilate it was still not possible to buy all libraries altogether, using the space that which you did not know?” The MBA National Marine Biological Library: Changing Times the desirable new journals’. With a for other income generating activities. Dr Paul Somerfield, marine far higher number of journals being In facing many of the same issues the biologist at Plymouth Marine he World Association of Marine Stations (WAMS) 1889 beginning with the statement ‘the efficiency of a published today, it is little wonder MBA, whose library was recognized Laboratory, and former estimates that nearly a thousand coastal laboratories marine laboratory being in the highest degree depend- that this is still a major challenge. as nationally and internationally MBA Council member. Tand institutes are located around the world’s oceans ent upon the completeness of its library’ followed by an It is in the late 20th century to pre- important back in the 1990s, found including over 60 stations in Europe, over 120 in the USA appeal for donations. In many cases it is the remoteness sent, however, that the development in that much of the stock is unique and 120 years, the MBLWHOI Library and over 150 in Japan. Their history and current and future of the marine stations that leads to the requirement for information technologies brings about irreplaceable including rare books, has been the intellectual heart of the importance was recently emphasized by Professor Mike a dedicated in-house library. For example, the Nikolai the most rapid change to libraries. On expedition reports, grey literature and Woods Hole scientific community’. Thorndyke in this publication (The Marine BiologistIssue Pertsov White Sea Biological Station in Russia is part of the one hand increasing amounts of reports (the oldest books date back to This succinctly captures the point that 2, Spring 2014). Most of us would expect these marine Moscow State University, however, the fact that it is in traditional library material being pub- 1554) which makes freeing up space the importance of libraries goes far stations to have seawater tanks, state of the art laboratories the Arctic Circle and 36 hours by train from Moscow lished online (and often online only) a difficult task. Much of this unique beyond their role in just providing and research vessels. There is, however, a facility that is just means having closer access to the appropriate literature including journals, reports, mono- collection documents the MBA’s access to books and journals—they­ as important for supporting research and that is the library. is crucial (on a recent visit I was delighted to find that graphs and reference works is creating a history and the evolution of marine represent the history and develop- At the MBA it was realised from the outset that good there is indeed an excellent library on site with over new hybrid ecosystem of information. biological sciences in Great Britain and ment of marine biology itself, and research would demand good library facilities. In a taste 35,000 publications, periodicals and other literature). This necessitates new strategies for col- beyond. And it is this wider role of the are a stimulus for future study. It is of things to come however, the financial implications Challenges—changing use and connectivity lection, maintenance and securing their marine science library that is so hard to important therefore that we see these were immediately clear with the first Director’s report in In our modern days of connectivity the practicalities future accessibility. On the other hand define, especially to potential funders. resources not as historical repositories of providing access to literature to remote places—or user expectations have diversified with The basic challenge though is how to of an obsolete format but as constantly indeed to any place—have changed dramatically. some expecting books on shelves and manage, maintain and keep an up- evolving resources with a vital role to Libraries of all shapes and sizes are going through corresponding catalogue entries while to-date world-class marine collection play in helping marine scientists meet a period of substantial change and this is not only others expect instant access to material when there is barely enough funding the challenges of the 21st century. due to the changing mode of access to literature. from their office, laptop or mobile to maintain the online resources. Dr Matt Frost ([email protected]) Throughout much of the 20th century many libraries devices. Libraries are therefore finding The future - changing library services FURTHER READING grew rapidly to account for the ever expanding literature new ways of presenting and delivering So why maintain library collections Feltes et al. (2012) Envisioning the base. The MBA’s National Marine Biological Laboratory resources and frequently offer training in small or medium sized research Future of Science Libraries At Academic (NMBL), for example, went from housing around 700 in information literacy on the way. institutes? Because within all this Research Institutions. Available at: http:// books in a single room in 1889 to over 30,000 items For many marine science librar- change one thing remains the same: www.mblwhoilibrary.org/about-library by 1961, and there are tens of thousands of titles today ies these changes have immediate libraries exist to enable users to gain Brophy, P. (2007): The library in the twenty-first century - new services for the held over three floors. The major issues facing libraries implications. For example, for the access to and use the information that information age. Library Association Pub- throughout this period therefore tended to be the need for first 70 years of the MBA the library they need. Today, therefore, the NMBL lishing, London, 240pp ISBN 1-85604-75-4

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and novel compounds in anti- Marine biology at the fouling and marine protection. Damage: ecotoxicology and the impacts of pollutants such University of Portsmouth as pharmaceuticals; non-native species, coastal fisheries, and ortsmouth is the UK’s only island city. It is a city within them is nationally and internationally impor- the effects of ocean acidifica- steeped in maritime heritage and intimately tant, and under threat from the expansion of industry tion and climate change. Plinked to the sea. It was the site of the world’s and human use within Portsmouth and the wider Protection: conservation first naval dock established in the 1500s to “build the Solent region. To protect these habitats and species a and management of fish king’s ships”. In line with the nation’s increasing plethora of conservation areas have been established. stocks and benthic sediment dependence on sea power, the city became a The Solent is a European Marine Site (SEMS) with systems using MPAs, and hub of maritime industries with Portsmouth nearly every part of its coast protected under EU mangrove management. dockyard described in 1800 as the world’s Natura 2000 legislation (SACs and SPAs), SSSIs or The research-enhanced curricu- largest industrial complex. This industrial local nature reserves. The UK government’s aim lum (especially in the third year) and military might has supported some of of producing an ecologically coherent network ensures that students are learning the most famous ships in the world such of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) has also material and developing skills as Admiral Lord Nelson’s HMS Victory identified many more sites within the region. at the cutting edge of marine (Figure 1), which can be seen today As a marine biology student of the University biology, and taught by academics at Portsmouth’s historic dry dock. In of Portsmouth you are, therefore, ideally who are world-leaders in their recent years the economies of the city placed to study the exploitation, damage and field. Our recent REF 2014 score and the Solent region have had to conservation of the marine environment—key Fig. 3. The Institute of Marine Sciences is located on a shingle spit at the mouth of Langstone confirms this excellence—100% diversify, but the link to the marine themes of 21st century marine biology. The Harbour, Portsmouth, on the south coast of England. of our research impact in the environment of this ‘blue economy’, University of Portsmouth has a long tradition environmental-related area was for example through tourism of teaching marine biology that started in (Figures 6 and 7) with a week-long and scales including: mangrove and classed as outstanding or very consider- (Spinnaker Tower, Figure 2), sailing the early 1960s. However, marine sciences residential field trip in year two and coral reef ecology; plankton; algal able in terms of reach and significance, (Ben Ainslie’s racing team HQ) or research in Portsmouth has been happening numerous trips embedded within biology; soft-sediment ecology; and 72% of our research outputs were marine renewable energy (testing off for close to 80 years, and since the late 1990s all years to marinas, dune systems, larval biology; trophic interactions; classed as world leading or internation- the Isle of Wight) is still paramount. at the Institute of Marine Sciences (IMS). an aquaculture facility, rocky shores parasitism; and vertebrate ecology. ally excellent. Our research income The ecological heritage of the Unlike a number of other UK universi- and a marina, to name but a few. Exploitation: aquaculture for the also saw a three-fold increase compared Solent’s coastal habitats and the species ties which have constrained marine biology IMS also provides access to UK- marine aquarium trade, coastal fisheries to the previous assessment period. research and teaching to city-centre based leading facilities in our purpose-built surveys, biofuel generation from Students will experience this multi- facilities, IMS is about as close as you can get aquatics centre. Filtered seawater is marine invertebrate enzymes, biofilms disciplinary research environment to the marine environment without getting supplied to over 300 tanks ranging Fig. 4. The Institute of Marine Sciences, University of Portsmouth. your feet wet! Located on a shingle spit at the in size from 30 to 6000 litres in both mouth of Langstone Harbour, the sea is only 5 outdoor and environmentally con- metres away at high tide (Figures 3 and 4). This trolled conditions. The systems can location provides unrivalled access to the varied provide pristine water quality enabling ecosystems of the Solent including sediment us to maintain any type of organism shores, salt marshes, dune systems, estuaries and (including Home Office licensed numerous manmade facilities (such as marinas species). An inshore and soon-to-be and coastal defences). Strong emphasis is, acquired offshore research vessel enable therefore, placed on field and practical skills access to difficult-to-reach habitats. Fig. 1. HMS Victory The interaction of humans with the Fig. 2. The Spinnaker Tower marine environment is an overarching theme of much of the research at IMS and the University of Portsmouth Environment Network (UPEN). This theme is composed of three sub- areas—these are listed below with some examples of recent projects undertaken. Supporting and underpinning these applied areas is the curiosity-driven research across a wide range of habitats

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their individual interests. For example, lenges of living in each environment basic and scientific help the reader to understand how adaptations and species charac- units can be taken that make up part of Reviews teristics allow them to exist, and the second year, or aquatic microbiol- special points of interest and caution ogy or global climate change options should help the inexperienced to can be chosen from in the third year. Seashores: An Ecological Guide get the most out of a field visit. Over the last 50 years our marine- There are good chapters on sand based undergraduate and postgraduate dunes, slacks, shingle and dune degrees have produced countless succession, which can be overlooked in traditional guides. Saltmarsh plants students who have gone on to have can be neglected in ID books for the successful careers in a wide variety more intriguing invertebrates, but of sectors (including environmental here they are shown as important consultancies, academic and industrial and interesting in their own right, research, conservation NGOs, govern- with descriptions of how they tolerate ment agencies, and teaching), and with their tough environment. The final many also going on to further study chapter on threats and conservation does not go into great detail, but at academic institutions across the gives an overview of the different globe. As far as the understanding of pressures on the marine environment. conservation. It uses examples from the marine environment goes marine This is a lovely introduction to worldwide so will be of value to scientists have only just dipped their shore ecology for a beginner but the those working outside Europe and it toes in the water. However, for the book also provides sufficient detail makes excellent use of case-studies, world to have healthy and productive for those with more experience. This boxes, figures, tables, flowcharts and Fig. 6. Students undertaking soft sediment field work. seas for future generations there is so book is beautifully illustrated with decision trees to show the breadth much more to learn, and there is so photographs of various species to of the topic to those familiar with the keep the eye interested throughout, subject, students (especially at MSc directly during their final year project Biology pathway is that first year much that needs to be fixed. We hope Author: Julian Cremona particularly in the plankton sec- level) and new practitioners alike. (working alongside postgraduates, units are shared with other degrees. that for the next 50 years, we will be tion. Again, usually omitted from ID ISBN: 9781847978042 The book rightly emphasises doctoral scientists and academics This flexibility allows the student to able to continue to develop passionate guides, these photographs of inverte- the functional aspects (i.e. rate in multi-user laboratories). Project experience a wide range of subjects marine biologists who will contribute Published by: The Crowood Press brate larval stages and phytoplankton processes) of marine systems and supervisors provide titles, which before confirming initial selection at to making our seas a better place. Bookshops are awash with sea- are important in understanding ecol- not just the structural aspects (the align with their own research areas, the end of their first year, enabling Gordon Watson shore ID guides, but these rarely put ogy and how species interact with ‘what’ is present rather than ‘why’ but a student’s own idea can also be students to tailor their degree to suit ([email protected]) the species identified into the context their environment. Magnified photo- it is present) which have so often of their habitats or communities. This graphs of hydroids and bryozoans developed as a project. For those dominated marine conservation. addition to the marine life bookshelf show the reader how complex and Within this, Keith details the physico- Fig. 7. Students undertaking rocky shore field work on the south coast of England. students who want a more exotic from Julian Cremona fills that gap beautiful these organisms are, when chemical influences on the biological location than the UK, the project with a richly illustrated guide to they are so often glanced over in situ. system and collates the lists of system is flexible, thus enabling seashore ecology. Already an author While a little large to be carried activities causing change as well as students to complete practical work of photography books, Julian has to the shore, and not intended as a the mechanisms (the pressures) of at other research facilities. We have produced an easy-to-follow guide to comprehensive species guide, this change. Hence it gives attention to strong links with non-governmental a topic that he is clearly passionate book will complement any good ID the effects of human activities and about, having had years of experi- book and would make a nice edition organizations (NGOs), and through our means of monitoring those using ence with the Field Studies Council. to any naturalist’s book collection. methods, approaches and various the EU Erasmus scheme many The book begins with simple Bryony Townhill indicators. Because of this, it does European universities and institutes. introductions to coastal ecological cross-refer to national, regional and These links make, if you will pardon concepts and physical processes, Marine Biodiversity Conservation global initiatives for management the marine-based pun, the world your with explanations about tides, waves - a practical approach such as laws, directives and con- oyster when it comes to projects. and nutrient flow which help the ventions. Hopefully, it will convince The university offers a variety of reader to see how each component Author: Keith Hiscock practitioners that they cannot remain IMarEST accredited and Society of of a habitat is important. This leads ISBN: 978-0-415-72356-5 (pbk) in their ‘ecological bubbles’ but in nicely onto the main chapters which this modern world have to embrace Biology recognized degrees including Published by: Routledge contain detailed descriptions of the the natural and social sciences if three year (BSc Marine Biology) and communities, species and ecology of This excellently produced book they want to secure successful and four year (Masters in Marine Biol- the common UK seashore habitats. ‘does what it says on the tin’ – it sustainable marine management. ogy) degree programmes in addition Text and photographs are provided really is a practical guide to the The book rightly gives a lot of to taught (MSc in Applied Aquatic for identifying each community and increasingly complex world of emphasis to Marine Protected marine conservation and is based on Biology) and research-focused MRes, the characteristic species found. Tips Areas as one of the main tools Keith Hiscock’s career over several MPhil and PhD programmes. A are also given for identifying burrows at our disposal for protecting the and casts. Sections on the chal- decades at the sharp end of marine popular feature of the BSc Marine seas. It summarises experiences

32 The Marine Biologist | Spring 2015 Spring 2015 | The Marine Biologist 33 Sharing marine science Sharing marine science worldwide in attempting to create sistent and the structure labyrinthine. successful MPAs although it could It is hard work navigating through MBA members can apply for awards and grants. give even more attention to the a hierarchy of subheadings often We offer £100 bursaries to support Student Members attending marine debate regarding the difficulties of four or five layers deep, sometimes biology related conferences and meetings. The next quarterly application designating areas against chang- with little logic (e.g. 3.2.4.4.4 - ‘Bio- deadline is on 1st May 2015. To find out more, please visit: www.mba.ac.uk/ ing baselines, for example under luminescence’ - is a subsection of awards-grants global climate change, and of ‘Deep-sea regions’), and with no The new membership prices are listed below and the joining page is at the co-location of activities. The chapter-ending summaries to help re- www.mba.ac.uk/membership/join analysis gives the design principles focus. This is pitched as a text book; for these and other types of pro- a few years teaching it as a course MBA MEMBERSHIP (prices per annum) Price from 1st March 2015 tected areas and although some may have helped to separate essen- Young Marine Biologist (YMB) £12.50 tial components from superfluous of this has a UK and European Student Member £25.00 emphasis, it will be immensely detail. Deciphering sources is ham- valuable to those in other areas. pered by the numbered references Associate Member £40.00 (direct debit discount £5) The history of marine conservation and abbreviated reference list; while Professional Member, Mem.MBA £45.00 (direct debit discount £5) mirrors Keith’s career and so this separating the colour plates means MBA Fellow, FMBA £120.00 (direct debit discount £5) reflection should be required reading reading requires at least two thumbs for all those with, or who aspire to, - but at least it creates a central Institutional Member £340.00 careers in marine conservation. Its catalogue of poor data visualisation. JOURNAL SUBSCRIPTION (MBA price added to the above membership fees, with the Glossary and very extensive refer- All of this I put up with in antici- exception of YMB as no Journal option for this category) ence list should help the readers pation of Chapter 11’s promised Online Journal £20.00 to take things further although, as cal time and into the Anthropocene. ‘macroecological theory on the has been significant progress in a expected in such a fast-moving field, Two aspects of this work par- arrangement of life’ (although the number of disciplines. This included Print Journal £60.00 some of the aspects are slightly out ticularly appeal to me. Throughout, ‘scenarising’ in the chapter title is assessment of biodiversity in the Print & Online Journal £80.00 of date immediately as the book is Beaugrand is refreshingly comfort- one of numerous words that should vicinity of licensed areas, improved published. However, this does not able using terrestrial examples to have been underlined by an editor, or understanding of dredging methods detract from the value of the book. illustrate his points, arguing that an English spellchecker). The theory and better ways of communicating While many of us have complained generalities in ecology ought to in question is interesting and much research to a non-technical audience. that some marine conservation and cross the land-sea boundary. I also needed, but, as the author admits, The introductory chapter of the management practitioners don’t have agree that putting emergent proper- it is far from finished. ‘It may soon report describes the demand for the time (or inclination?) to read the ties of marine ecosystems under become apparent that the theory terrestrial and marine aggregates primary literature, I am hoping that the ‘macroscope’ is a good route explains many ecogeographical and how the latter may be used the wealth of information in this book to uncovering such generalities. patterns found in nature’, he claims. through the use of rail transport to will be used by them – it may even Yet despite these significant points Should Beaugrand’s confidence be a viable environmental alterna- stop a bit of wheel-reinventing! of agreement, this book left me turn out to be well placed, I would tive to lorry based journeys, e.g. frustrated rather than inspired. The Mike Elliott expect a book written at that future contributing to the building of major problem is that Beaugrand point to be more rewarding. the London Olympics. The report covers too much ground. After Marine Biodiversity, Climatic Tom Webb primarily covers marine habitat and just two chapters, we have already conservation issues, the impacts Variability and Global Change covered the state of knowledge of Aggregate Dredging and the on the environment, recolonization Author: Grégory Beaugrand marine biodiversity (though with and recovery of different species. no mention of the global standard Marine Environment: an ISBN: 978-0-415-51703-4 overview of recent research and Each chapter has been written by World Register of Marine Species), a leading exponent of that area Published by: Routledge current industry practice climatology and . of research and this includes the Much writing on marine biodi- From there, the book races through Edited by: Richard Newell long neglected subject of marine versity focuses on the depths of contemporary and historical patterns and Tania Woodcock archaeology and heritage. The socio- our ignorance - how little of the in the distribution of biodiversity, ISBN: 978-1-906410-41-4 economic aspects provide useful oceans have been explored, how followed by a whistle-stop tour of examples that link with other nation- Published by: The Crown Estate, much there remains to find out. But major human impacts on the oceans. ally significant work undertaken and available via there is an alternative narrative: The range of subjects inevitably by the Natural Capital Initiative. www.thecrownestate.co.uk after centuries of exploration and leads to superficial coverage of some The report highlights the chal- decades of systematic surveys, important and controversial topics. This comprehensive report lenges of assessing e.g. cumulative we know enough to sketch out the Moreover, while the breadth of continues the excellent series of effects of dredging in adjacent main features of life in our seas. A reading is impressive, some sections publications produced under the licensed areas and comparing proponent of this view, pioneering and statistics seem dated; work from Marine Aggregate Levy Sustainability the impact with trawling meth- studies of the dynamics of marine a decade ago is frequently referred Fund (MALSF) which ended in 2011. ods used by different sectors of biodiversity at large spatial scales, to as ‘current’ or ‘recent’, even for The MALSF was set up to reduce the fishing industry. Reports of Grégory Beaugrand now brings this fast-moving areas like biological the use of primary aggregates and related projects can be accessed perspective to a book promising to responses to climate change. improve understanding of the poten- at the following website: www. expose how life in the oceans has A book this ambitious is destined tial environmental impact and costs. cefas.defra.gov.uk/alsf.aspx been associated with the Earth’s to be a difficult read, but this one is The report shows the scale and use Paul Leonard changing climate throughout geologi- especially so. The writing is incon- of aggregate dredging and that there

34 The Marine Biologist | Spring 2015 Spring 2015 | The Marine Biologist 35 Section name Sharing marine science

diving and to use that to lead marine life expeditions, it’s the Going for it: Paul Rose talks about opportunities, perfect slot for me. There’s a natural progression in there somewhere [Laughs]. communication and pristine seas Have you had any experiences with marine life that changed your life? Where and how? Paul Rose is an explorer and one of I really have. Diving with a bigeye sixgill shark (Hex- the world’s most experienced divers to Illinois and that wonderful American ‘go for anchus nakamurai) with BBC Oceans off the Straits of and polar experts. He is Expedition it’ attitude. When I heard about PADI (Profes- Messina in Italy. We’d spent 4 days trying to get there, Leader for the National Geographic sional Association of Diving Instructors), I and we finally hit on the idea of tying 8 kg of fresh tuna Pristine Seas Expeditions and has realized I could become a to my belt, and if there was a shark there it would just finished his second term as Vice and I went for it! I started teaching at high be attracted to me. I was in 50 m of water and we saw schools and the YMCA, then I got my com- nothing. Then in the last 15 minutes of the dive this 4 President of the Royal Geographical mercial diving ticket and won some small m prehistoric-looking shark came over and I was able to Antarctic diving: first find your water. Image: Paul Rose. Society. The Marine Biologist caught contracts. Then I found out about the Great touch it as it went past. Looking in those big green eyes up with him between expeditions. Lakes Naval Training Center (GLNTC). was an amazing moment for me. I remember going up and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands]. We have They had restructured and a leaving him down there swimming lazy figures-of-eight. big hopes that they will be announced as a marine reserve by What first got you interested contract came up for a diving What is the role of communicators like you in tackling the UK Government before the next election. I can talk in a in marine life? instructor, so I went for that big challenges like ocean acidification and plastic in the non-scientific way about marine reserves acting like a volcano I grew up in Essex, south-east as well! I became Director of ocean? of fish, and people get this image in their minds. For scientists England in a council flat and you the US Navy SCUBA diving We’ve got enough data on climate change and ocean its spillover; the whole ecosystem can return to a balance, can’t get much further from the programme at the GLNTC acidification that we know what’s happening, but we’re where you’ve got that lovely upside-down pyramid—where sea and wild places. I remember and I left the engineer- not going to change anything until we learn how to top predators like sharks make up a much higher propor- watching ing world behind me. communicate it properly. My job is finding innovative tion of biomass than fish lower down the food chain—a big and Hans Haas on TV, and of At that time I realized ways of using science to get these messages across. turnover rate and healthy more resilient corals. The fish don’t course those great black and there were opportunities The benefit of not being a scientist is I can cut to the chase know where the edges of a marine reserve are and this whole white shark images; when you’re a in Antarctica with the and get away with simplifying concepts—although not beautiful ecosystem starts bursting after only 4–5 years, the young boy they get you excited. British Antarctic Survey dumbing them down. So if we know that toxic, persistent spillover gets massive and fishermen around the edges are You have a great job, how (BAS) and I became chemicals are getting into birds, fish and seals via micro- doing much better than they were in the first place. Scientists did you get to be where a Field Assistant (a plastics then it stands to reason they must be in us too. might think: hang on, a volcano of fish is a bit strong, but you are, and what have mountain guide for If we talk about the great Pacific garbage patch and see been the turning points? scientists). I’ve got a films of albatross chicks on Marshall Island, guts full I certainly do. I was 11 years good head for science; of things we throw in the sea, it seems so remote and old and I’d just failed the 11+ and taking a complex distant. But if I can walk around the coast of Britain, as inevitably I managed to fail the science idea and I did a couple of years ago, and pick up a dead fulmar 13+ as well! I fell into a bad group turning it into practical and pull out bits of plastic, bits of margarine tubs, then and became disconnected from logistics came naturally people say, blimey, that’s on the coast of Yorkshire. school. Then a geography teacher to me. After a few I do talks for the UK shellfish industry. They are investing took us lads who were struggling at school to years BAS offered me a lot of time and effort in communicating about ocean a youth hostel near Merthyr Tydfil in Wales. I the job as base commander acidification and doing a good job of raising concerns and couldn’t do trigonometry or geometry in class, but and during my 10 years there I lobbying for the science that will inform better policies. doing night navigation with the map and compass set up all the diving protocols and Why should we care about big marine reserves? I got it! I remember sitting out on the back step operations. What a life! Every dive We take from the ocean through fishing, expecting it to peeling potatoes and thinking, wow, I’m alive! was a world’s first with some of the manage all our CO and using it as a dumping ground for Paul Rose with Galapagos sharks in Marotiri. Image: Manu 2 San-Felix and National Geographic Pristine Seas. I got my diving qualification through the BSAC world’s finest marine scientists. all our waste. Then if I talk about a savings bank, we have (British Sub Aqua Club) during my apprenticeship I think the same part of the brain to put some savings in there—the way you manage your people like me in the communications business need powerful at the Ford plant in Essex and in Easter 1969 I did that translates a hypothesis into money—and people start to get it. That’s my work with ways to get people engaged in the science side of things. my first sea dive at Chesil Cove on the south coast of practical logistics also works for National Geographic, we are pushing the point that we have What is the biggest challenge for society if our generation England. All of a sudden I was underwater; there I was in communicating it, so that’s overfished, overused and polluted the sea and we continue to is to reverse decades of marine environmental the least understood ecosystem on the planet, a wonderful where the broadcasting work do damage, but remarkably there are still some pristine places degradation? moment that convinced me I was on the right track. came in and I picked that and our job is to go to the last wild places in the ocean and The biggest challenge is to get across why people should care When I finished my apprenticeship, the UK was a grey up with the BBC about help the host countries turn them into marine reserves. So about ocean issues, so that they can influence politicians. In place; everybody on strike. I replied to an advertisement in nine years ago.It’s a far we’ve done that for over 1 million km2 and the one I’m the UK when an ocean issue comes up and we want our the Sunday People for toolmakers with Johnson Outboards beautiful life, to take my working on now is Pitcairn [the proposed MPAs in the UK politicians to act then we stand a chance of it happening. in the US. So in 1973 I went from grey, depressed Britain love of the sea and Overseas Territories: Pitcairn Islands, Ascension Island and Similarly in America: look what Obama has just done with

36 The Marine Biologist | Spring 2015 Spring 2015 | The Marine Biologist 37 Sharing marine science the Pacific Remote Islands marine reserves. There is an ocean to commercial fishing. Also, the President of Gabon has constituency and Obama and his team have the political will. outlawed commercial fishing in 23% of his nation’s waters. Where it is difficult is in places without an ocean constituency. What advice would you give to a young person I led an expedition to Mozambique last year. Because of their who wants to be involved in marine biology? difficult history and 20 years of civil war, they’ve lost their Go diving. When you finish your degree don’t worry if connection to the sea. They need to do something about their you don’t get a job as a scientist; for every field scientist beautiful waters pretty quickly or they’ll go beyond the point there are two to four science support workers who dive, of no return. It’s a slow job but by working with kids there run boats, drive trucks and keep generators going. There and then influencing partners who are connected to the are jobs for plumbers, carpenters, electricians, ground- Mozambique Government, we are helping them build up an ocean constitu- ency so that we can influence political leaders to make the right decisions. The UK has the fifth largest marine zone in the world. If the proposed MPAs in the UK Overseas Territories are designated do you think the rules can be enforced in any meaningful way? Absolutely. Monitoring of illegal fishing used to be almost impossible and until a few years ago the UK Government shied away from designating these big marine reserves. Now, with the satellite Catapult system, regulators know when ships turn their Automatic Identifica- tion System (AIS) on or off and can detect and track vessel behaviour such as the pattern of longlining or setting Paul Rose at the Zurich Museum of Design and the amount of plastic that enters the sea nets. At the World Parks Congress in every 15 seconds. Image: Paul Rose. Sydney in November Google launched Global Fishing Watch. The prototype is using year-old workers. Get a job in front line science support. data but soon they will use real-time data and then there What is your next challenge? will be crowd watching; everybody who is interested can I’m getting ready for four expeditions: the outer atolls go online for free and say, I know this is a marine reserve, of the Seychelles in March; north-west Greenland in let’s see how many ships are going through it. So all of a summer; Galapagos deep seamounts; and then Patago- sudden there’s nowhere to hide for these ships. The trick nia in November. Four big ones this year [Laughs]. now is how do we manage that in terms of international Are you an ocean optimist? Why? law? If a Panamanian registered vessel belonging to a Totally. I really am. We don’t have all the for Korean fish company goes through UK waters and sells fish marine issues but we’re working on it. We’re not chuck- in Chile, who prosecutes? Some of the big fish wholesale ing as much in the sea as we used to. I’m working with companies are agreeing to track fish so when it comes a team in Hong Kong who can tell where plastic comes to market it is guaranteed legal and sourced from open from—like plastic DNA. In regions strongly affected by fishing areas. Consumers will get smarter too. It won’t climate change we can see where ecosystems have adapted be long before people in supermarkets will be asking to and some can adapt very quickly. I’ve worked on corals see the stamp that shows that fish are legally sourced. in Eritrea where its 34°C and they’re absolutely thriv- The MBA’s Coat of Arms Now with these systems we’re almost at the end of illegal ing. I have been back to reefs in the Seychelles after the fishing. We’re in a sweet spot for people who love the sea. 1999 bleaching event and they are absolutely beautiful. The Marine Biological Association was granted a Royal Charter from You travel the world a lot. Which countries or How long you are you going to continue Her Majesty the Queen in 2013, in recognition of the Association’s long and eminent regions seem to you to be leading in terms of working in ocean exploration? history and its status within the field of marine biology. The MBA took the opportunity taking action to protect marine resources? For the rest of my life. I’m never going to stop. to petition for a Grant of Armorial Bearings, and this was approved in 2014. The The UK is a leader. The language used in the US by Obama, FURTHER READING: Letters Patent granting the Arms will be signed by the King of Arms this year. Kerry and NOAA on ocean exploration is really good, really National Geographic—Pristine Seas (http://ocean. inspirational. Palau’s Exclusive Economic Zone is closed nationalgeographic.com/ocean/explore/pristine-seas/).

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