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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 Plus North Atlantic killer whales Climate effects: predictions & complexity NE BIO RI LO A G M I C E Argentina’s dolphins in decline A H L T A S N The black beaches of Spain S O O C I ATI Est. 1884 Incorporated by Royal Charter Seagrass restoration | Ghost fishing | Visual media for research 50 years of the European Marine Biology 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 Pacific Kathy 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 USA Dana 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. INE BIO R LO 1 http://journals.plos.org/plosone/ A G M I article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0111913 C E A 24 H L T 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.