Issue 2 Spring 2014 ISSN 2052-5273 The Royal Charter edition

The magazine of the Biologistmarine biological community Exploring and valuing planet Earth’s blue heart with Sylvia Earle

South Atlantic | Exploring mesophotic reefs | Marine conservation in Wales Editorial tion is key to better understanding and protecting the natural resources of a A warm welcome to The Marine vast but relatively poorly understood Biologist. We are presenting the second area of ocean. We also hear contrast- issue as the Royal Charter edition in ing views from highly experienced celebration of a real achievement for people in industry and conservation the Marine Biological Association. On on how we should go about protect- page 6 the MBA’s Deputy Director ing marine resources. I hope this will Editorial Office Matt Frost expands on what the Royal stimulate correspondence and debate Editor Guy Baker Charter means for the Association, which can be continued between for MBA members, and for how we editions of the magazine (see below). [email protected] aspire to promote the discipline of Returning to the theme of marine +44 (0)1752 633244 marine biology. We hope that this laboratories, and skipping across the Executive editor Matt Frost special issue answers questions you may Atlantic, we hear from the world- [email protected] have about the Charter and stimulates renowned Marine Biological Laboratory +44 (0)1752 633334 discussion about the future of our at Woods Hole, Massachusetts, and Editorial Board Guy Baker, Association at this exciting time. how a new partnership will build on Kelvin Boot, Matt Frost, Paul I am delighted to present the some extraordinary achievements and Rose, Mike Thorndyke. keystone article for this edition by open up new ventures for the future. Membership Alex Street MBA Honorary Fellow Sylvia Earle References, links and more can be [email protected] (see page 8), arguably the world’s found on The Marine Biologist website. +44 (0)1752 633337 leading ocean advocate, in which the Also online our new members-only www.mba.ac.uk/membership case for exploration, sharing knowledge LinkedIn page offers access to the latest Correspondence and improving the public perception news stories and information chosen The Marine Biological Association of “planet Earth’s blue heart” is pas- by the MBA as being relevant to the Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK sionately and eloquently made. We see marine biological community. See The Marine Biologist is published by how technology is being used not just page 5 for more information. I hope the Marine Biological Association, for physical exploration of the sea but you enjoy the new reviews section—I Registered Charity No. 1155893 to reach a global audience and deepen would like to see reviews provided by ISSN number: 2052-5273 our understanding of ocean issues. you, the members, so please contact Submissions Our second article takes us on a me if you would like to submit a We welcome submissions of original lively examination of the origin of review of a book, special publication, and relevant material, letters and marine laboratories, and a very timely film, website, DVD or TV series. responses to published articles. For glimpse into their role in the future. The original brief for the magazine guidance, please see the magazine website at The importance of habitats at depth was for an authoritative, credible www.mba.ac.uk/marinebiologist as refugia and repositories of biodiver- publication representative across the or contact the Editor. sity is increasingly recognized and we field of marine biology, consistent with Disclaimer: Views expressed venture—thanks to advanced scuba the MBA’s ethos of inclusivity and in The Marine Biologist are technology—into the mesophotic reefs accessibility. How are we doing so far? those of the authors and do not of the Philippines. Closer to home but Does The Marine Biologist meet your necessarily represent those of the Marine Biological Association. deeper still researchers from Heriot- expectations Copyright statement. Anyone wishing Watt University and the National of a member’s to reproduce material published in Oceanography Centre present a project magazine? The Marine Biologist must contact to map deep sea coral reefs which draws Please write the Marine Biological Association. upon remote sensing, unmanned vehi- or call me cles and ground-truthing by survey ves- to influence INE BIOL R O sels. This level of resource and expertise the way your A G M I

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T collaborations between institutions. evolves. A S N S O We learn about a new South Atlantic O C I ATI Est. 1884 research institute for which collabora- Incorporated by Royal Charter 2013 Front cover: Sylvia Earle at Aquarius, the undersea research laboratory in the Florida Keys. www.mba.ac.uk Image: Kip Evans. Back cover: The long snouted seahorse Hippocampus guttulatus. Image: Neil Garrick-Maidment/Seahorse Trust www.theseahorsetrust.org

02 The Marine Biologist | Spring 2014 Contents Issue 2 Spring 2014

02 Editorial 04 In brief A Royal Charter for the Marine Biological Association 06 Onwards and upwards for marine Biology by Matt Frost 08 Big, blue and beautiful by Sylvia Earle and Dan Laffoley Why exploring and valuing planet Earth’s blue heart is the key to future wealth, health and happiness

12 “The wheel comes full circle” marine laboratories 06 past, present and future by Mike Thorndyke and Fiona McGowan A fascinating look at how the role of marine laboratories has changed through time. Science letters 16 Power from the sea: stepping stones for non-native species? by Chris Nall New pathways for the introduction and spread of non-native species. 18 Refugia in the ‘twilight zone’ by Sonia J. Rowley Advanced scuba rebreathers facilitate discoveries in the Philippines 20 Mapping the treasures of the deep by Laurence De Clippele, Veerle Huvenne and Murray Roberts Joining forces to map cold-water coral habitats. 08 Environment and conservation 22 From equator to ice; environmental science in the south Atlantic by Deborah Davidson and Paul Brickle A new research institute oversees marine biodiversity and environmental management. 26 Has marine conservation in Wales lost its way? by Blaise Bullimore Despite the success of the Skomer Marine Nature Reserve marine conservation in Wales is struggling. 18 29 His world is oysters by Clive Askew Reflections on a career in commercial bivalve aquaculture 32 A traditional fishery enters a new era by Guy Baker We look at an artisanal fishery for native oysters in south west England. 33 A new chapter in a remarkable history by Pamela Clapp Hinkle The Marine Biological Laboratory celebrates 125 years and a new partnership. 22 Sharing marine science 36 So you want to be a marine biologist ... by Jack Sewell Introducing ‘Young Marine Biologist’ MBA membership for the next generation. 37 Reviews Reviews of recent books, films and all things marine. 32

Spring 2014 | The Marine Biologist 03 In brief

A new centre for earth and its way across the Pacific have proved The findings highlight a lack of marine science and technology unfounded. Massive dilution in the ocean knowledge about how microplastics The British Geological Survey (BGS) and meant that radioactivity concentrations mediate uptake of contaminants into Heriot-Watt University are joining forces rapidly declined to very low levels, and marine food webs. to create the Sir Charles Lyell Centre radiocaesium levels in tuna migrating The research was presented at the which will promote innovative research at across the Pacific to the US are tiny second annual Posters in Parliament the core of geoscience, marine ecology, (Madigan et al. 2012). But fishing bans event. See The Marine Biologist website computing, mathematics and engineering. remain in place over a large area along for links. The new fusion of pure and applied the Fukushima coast, partly because the The 11th MBA Postgraduate expertise between Heriot-Watt and BGS Japanese government adopted an ultra- conference takes place in Hull will enable the use of innovative methods safe consumption limit of 100 Bq/kg of The MBA’s Postgraduate Conference to create real-world solutions in areas radiocaesium: this is about 10 times lower took place this spring in the Centre including: global change and ecosystems; than is allowed in most other countries. for Environmental and Marine Science seafloor-mapping using advanced robotic Radioactivity concentrations in fish are at Hull University (Scarborough, UK). vehicles; earthquake and volcanic risk declining and most don’t exceed the 100 Growing strong in its 11th year, the and monitoring, and energy security. Bq/kg level (Iwata et al. 2013). Neverthe- Conference brings together a group BGS is relocating its Edinburgh office less, some fish in the near zone to Fuku- of early career scientists that are in to the £17m, purpose-built complex shima can exceed this limit many times. the midst of their masters and PhDs which is scheduled to open by 2015 Radiocaesium concentrations in water at top institutions across Europe. at Heriot-Watt University’s Edinburgh are now low even near Fuku- campus. There will be incubator space for shima, but sediments are a sink for spin-out and spin-in companies looking radioactivity and bottom-feeding fish to work with Heriot-Watt and BGS staff. tend to have the highest levels of David Willetts, Minister for Universi- contamination. These species also ties and Science said “The creation of show the slowest rates of decrease. the Sir Charles Lyell Centre assembles Though the fishing bans are having world-leading expertise from the Brit- a big economic impact, radiation ish Geological Survey and Heriot-Watt is unlikely to damage the marine University in a common enterprise ecosystem. A recent UN report bringing together investment and on Fukushima (UNSCEAR, 2014) skills from the UK Research Council found that dose rates to marine th and University sectors to support species were not high enough to Delegates at the 11 MBA Postgraduate conference future UK innovation and growth”. damage populations of fish and which took place in Hull, UK. Image: Conference Organising Committee. Fukushima - impacts on the other aquatic organisms, though marine environment seaweeds and bottom dwelling fish may The conference’s growing name is Professor James Smith of the University have been affected close to the release also reflected by the range and expertise of Portsmouth told TMB: more than three pipeline. The positive long-term outlook of keynote speakers holding esteemed years on from the Fukushima nuclear for marine organisms accords with studies positions within research institutions and disaster, many questions remain about at Chernobyl. The cooling water reservoir NGOs across the UK. These keynote the impacts of radioactive releases on the at Chernobyl has a thriving fish population speakers not only present their research marine environment. Early fears of large and our studies of lakes around Chernobyl but also provide words of wisdom on how amounts of radiocaesium—the most sig- showed invertebrate populations to be to build a career within the marine field. nificant long-term contaminant—making unaffected by the contamination (Murphy MBA Ambassador and previous bursary et al. 2011). But the science is less clear winner Rebecca Shellock said “it’s my on more subtle genetic and reproductive second year attending the conference effects and, as at Chernobyl, controversy and I know I will keep coming back. The over such effects is likely to continue. conference not only enables students Welcome to the plastisphere: to network with other like-minded microplastics modify the bio- individuals but provides them with an availability of co-contaminants early opportunity to present their research Research carried out by Vicky Sleight to a large but friendly audience. This has at Plymouth University showed that PVC prepared me greatly for other conferences microparticles reduced the bioavailability and networking events that I attend within Radiation hotspot in Kashiwa. of phenanthrene in zebra fish larvae. my role as a Marine Policy Research Image: Abasaa.

04 The Marine Biologist | Spring 2014 In brief

Assistant at Plymouth University.” origin of some very innovative projects, For its 12th year, the MBA Post- such as a joint project that installed a graduate Conference will return to Queens ‘ferry box’ on the cross-channel ferry University Belfast (Northern Ireland). to monitor changes in sea temperature Marinexus and salinity. The outreach activities People on both sides of the English have also been extremely enriching for Channel learned more about local marine all the partners of the project and the ecosystems and their ability to cope with feedback from schoolchildren and the the effects of human activity, thanks to general public has been very positive”. Marinexus, a 4-year €5 million EU Interreg An article on the achievements and project which brought together marine sci- learning gained through Marinexus will ence and outreach in Devon and Brittany. appear in the Autumn edition of the Marinexus funding underpinned magazine. research within three themes: long-term Connect and engage with marine observation programs, the impacts of biologists via social media non-native species and ocean acidification For established (or aspiring) social and the ability of native species to adapt media users, a new online hub for to changes in the environment. Support MBA members is on LinkedIn. Mem- upper-level undergraduate and Masters for some of the longest, broad-based bers receive ‘digests’ of the latest students. It also provides sound guidance ecosystem time series in the world has relevant news—a valuable benefit in for marine biology field work. helped unravel how communities respond an age of information overload—and The book is a practical guide based to natural and human influenced change. can post discussions, share content, on a clear exposition of the principles In addition to scientific advances, view job vacancies and connect with of marine ecology and species biology collaboration under Marinexus has other members around the world. (the main focus is on benthic species) to brought knowledge and learning to the The MBA will use the group to actively demonstrate how marine conservation public and stakeholders on both sides of engage with the global membership and issues and mechanisms have been tack- the Channel. The continuity of common encourage sharing of knowledge and led worldwide and the criteria, structures scientific heritage with regard to shared expertise. and decision trees that practitioners and ecosystems is vital for sustainable use of Your LinkedIn account will also give managers will find useful. Well illustrated natural resources and for innovation in the you access to the new searchable with conceptual diagrams and flow charts, broader sense. Under Marinexus, the shar- expert database, where members can the book includes case study examples look for other members with expertise from both temperate and tropical marine in specific areas willing to be con- environments. Marine Biodiversity Con- sulted on their field of knowledge. servation will be published by Earthscan Links to the experts database of the from Routledge on the 20th August 2014. Society of Biology are in the pipeline, Quote code DC361 for a 20% discount further expanding the professional from www.routledge.com/books network and pool of knowledge available. References and links for these To access the group, members stories can be found on The Marine can search for “Marine Biological Biologist website. Scan the QR Examining the ability of macroalgae to Association Members” in LinkedIn. code to view the web page. adapt to changes in the environment of For more information, contact the the western English Channel as part of the Membership Secretary, Alex Street. Marinexus project. Image: R. Lamoureaux Being practical about marine (photothèque CNRS). conservation ing of resources, ideas and approaches Effective marine biodiversity worked exceptionally well, and part of the conservation is dependent upon a clear final meeting was a discussion of themes scientific rationale for practical For marine events, see the for a possible Marinexus 2 project. interventions. This is the premise that UK Marine Science Events Mark Cock, Marinexus program underpins a new book by MBA Associate Calendar at www.mba.ac.uk coordinator said “The Marinexus project Fellow Keith Hiscock. This book is For the latest news from the has considerably strengthened scientific intended to provide knowledge and tools UK marine science community subscribe to the Marine Ripple Effect interactions between the French and for marine conservation practitioners and or follow on Twitter English partners and has been at the to identify issues and mechanisms for @MarineRipple

Spring 2014 | The Marine Biologist 05 The Royal Charter

“The oceans deserve our respect and care, 1884. The Royal Charter however pro- vides formal recognition for the MBA’s but you have to know something before role and, in 2013, the Charter was granted in ‘recognition of the MBA’s you can care about it.” – Sylvia Earle long and eminent history and its status within the field of marine biology’. The MBA is therefore the world’s only learned society dedicated purely to Onwards and the study and promotion of marine biology to receive a Royal Charter. Looking forward, the Association has invested a select group of indi- upwards for viduals as Honorary Fellows (see opposite) who will help us to continue to raise the profile of oceans and we look forward to working with Marine Biology them more closely in the future. Applications are also invited for the new MBA Fellows programme MBA Deputy Director Matt Frost on what (email for details to membership@ the award of the Royal Charter means mba.ac.uk)—part of our commitment for the Association to promote and maintain excellence in marine biology as a discipline. We ost people would know the led to the award of the Nobel Prize also want to recognise those outside names of Crick and Watson if in Physiology or Medicine in 1963 of academia but who nevertheless Masked about the discovery in (shared with John Eccles) but, as far play a vital role within the field of 1953 that the DNA molecule exists in as the wider public is concerned has marine biology. To help ensure that a the form of a three-dimensional double received far less attention. The same new generation has the opportunity helix. Nine years later in 1962 Francis comparisons can be drawn when look- to contribute to marine biology the Crick and James Watson, along with ing at ocean exploration. For example, Association is developing a new ‘Young Maurice Wilkins were awarded the the publication of a biography of one Marine Biologist’ category. See page Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. of the great ocean pioneers William 36 for the latest information on this. But consider another fundamental dis- Beebe in 2004, prompted one online It is also important to us that we covery in the biological sciences with reviewer to ask why Neil Armstrong provide a forum for marine biological an almost identical timeline. In 1952, was a household name yet the first discussion and represent the communi- Alan Hodgin and Andrew Huxley pub- person to explore the depths of the ty’s views, a key element of which is the lished their work on nerve cell excit- ocean remains relatively unknown. launch of The Marine Biologist maga- ability, with their findings recognised as It is this feeling that the discipline of zine. This edition of The Marine Biolo- being “a central pillar of modern neu- marine biology, although of enormous gist celebrates this pivotal event in the roscience research”1 and fundamental importance scientifically and from history of the Association by looking to all modern physiological research2. a conservation and socio-economic at the development of marine biology The work was only made possible by point of view, does not always merit both past and future with a focus on the discovery by J. Z. Young working the attention it deserves that prompted marine laboratories and the visionary at Plymouth, Woods Hole and Naples the MBA to consider an application individuals who established them. in the 1930s, of the giant axon in for a Royal Charter. The MBA has an If you have any questions squid that made these cephalopods international membership and has been about the Royal Charter, please the ideal model organism3. Hodgkin promoting marine biology and interest contact me or refer to and Huxley’s work, undertaken largely in the marine environment since its www.mba.ac.uk/membership/faq at the MBA laboratory in Plymouth, establishment as a learned society in Matt Frost ([email protected])

1 Catterall W. A., Raman I. M., Robinson H. P. C., Sejnowski T. J. and Paulsen O. (2012). The Journal of Neuroscience. October 10, 2012 32 (41):14064 –14073. 2 Vandenberg J. I. & Waxman S. G. (2012). Hodgkin and Huxley and the basis for electrical signalling: a remarkable legacy still going strong. The Journal of Physiology. 590.11 (2012) pp 2569–2570. 3 Schwiening C. J. (2012). A brief historical perspective: Hodgkin and Huxley. The Journal of Physiology. 590.11 (2012) pp 2571–2575.

06 The Marine Biologist | Spring 2014 The Royal Charter

New Honorary Fellows of the Marine Biological Association. From left to right: HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, His Serene Highness Prince Albert of Monaco, Dr Sylvia Earle, Professor James Lovelock and Sir Tim Hunt.

n event celebrating the granting London, and accepted an Honorary been long-standing supporters and of the Royal Charter, where the Fellowship along with His Serene are one of the founding organisations Afirst ever Honorary Fellows of Highness Prince Albert of Monaco, Dr instrumental in the establishment of the Association were announced, was Sylvia Earle, Professor James Lovelock the MBA as a learned society in 1884. held in March 2014. His Royal Highness and Sir Tim Hunt (see above). The following images show MBA The Duke of Edinburgh (Patron of the It is significant that the event was members and invited guests, who Marine Biological Association) attended held at the Worshipful Company of included MPs and leading figures in UK the event at the Fishmongers’ Hall in Fishmongers’ Hall in London; they have marine biology, enjoying the reception.

1. Left to right: Dr Matt Frost, Sir Geoffrey Holland, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and Professor Colin Brownlee with the Royal Charter. 2. Professor Sir John Beddington, President of the MBA. 3. Professor James Lovelock accepts his MBA Honorary Fellowship. 4. MBA student members. 5. MBA member Dr Mangaiyarkarasi Ravirajan from Tamil Nadu, India was visiting London and had the 1 opportunity to attend the event and meet HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. 2 6. Left to right: Jane and Keith Lawrey, and Giulio Relini speaking to HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. 7. Left to right: Jen Ashworth, Manager of Marine Conservation and Management Advice at Natural England, Sam Fanshawe, Chief Executive of the Marine Conserva- tion Society and Samantha Burgess, Chief Scientific Advisor at the Marine Management Organisa- tion. Images 1-7: Alex Farquhar Photography. 3 4

5 6 7

Spring 2014 | The Marine Biologist 07 The Royal Charter

ater covers nearly 71 per cent of Earth and over ability sometimes to act in wise and wonderful ways, we are 97% of the habitable ‘living space’ on our planet, really still under the impression that the ocean is so big, so Wyet we know more about distant stars and deep vast and so resilient that humans do not have the capacity dark space than we do about the deep blue ocean. We to harm it—and if we do, that it does not matter. We look understand why it is important to reach for the stars, to look at the scale and how unchanging the ocean seems to be and at ourselves in perspective of the universe, ask big questions assume it can all take care of itself, and that it is really not such as where did we come from, how is it that we are here something we should worry about—it might be an issue in this blue speck in space, and where are we going? And for future generations but not for us! What has become we have devoted a great amount of time and resources to increasingly clear, though, is our ability to really undermine moving forward, but meanwhile we have neglected under- the way the ocean works by what we take out and by what standing how this part of the solar system—our home—the we put in. This is not something for tomorrow, it is what is heart of our life support system—how this really functions. happening today and that is being measured, studied and Ocean exploration and the need to better connect people catalogued by marine scientists throughout the world. to the ocean’s plight are critical to better understanding, People ask—what is the biggest threat to the ocean? Over- better valuing, and better protecting the planetary systems fishing, pollution, climate change or ocean acidification are that support us. Knowing is the fundamental basis for doing, all usually mentioned. But by far and away the biggest threat and the need is as never before to dive below the surface of to the ocean is ignorance—our ignorance of what is happen- the sea to see, to realise, and to understand the significance ing, and why and how this matters. It is a lack of under- of our actions, or to be more precise, the significant scale standing that what we put in and take out matters—not just of current inactions and the consequences they hold for all to the ocean, but matters to all of us. The ocean cannot be of us. It is like trying to understand your own body—is it regarded as the planet’s ultimate dumpster or the ultimate good enough to only look at the skin? Do we not have to place to get free food. It is our life support system, and not delve in and understand how the heart works or the lungs being aware of the importance of the ocean to every breath or circulatory system, or do we just take that for granted? we take, every drop of water we drink, to a benign envelope It is incredible to think that whilst we humans have the of conditions that make the planet work—that is the biggest Big, blue and beautiful Why exploring and valuing planet Earth’s blue heart is the key to future wealth, health and happiness By Sylvia Earle and Dan Laffoley

Image: Tim Taylor The Royal Charter threat. Not knowing that it matters. By exploring the ocean we now understand better than ever before the consequences of what is happening. In a sense we now realise that we are sleep- walking ourselves into a nightmare. This is because changes are so slow but progressive, and at some point occur to a level when we finally do sit up and take notice. Often it is at a point that is too late given progressive changes, and is inherently linked to how much we spend on knowing what is happening. The ocean is difficult to study, much more so than dry land, but really there are no short cuts to gaining knowledge. The advent of SCUBA diving in the 1950s set up the current generation Scuba diving in Curacao. Image: Stephen Frink. with new tools to explore the shallowest margins of our watery world, and an of ocean science. It is therefore much impacting every part of the blue planet, explosion of knowledge followed. But more than unfortunate that just as we from polar areas to the deep sea, and what of the deep ocean? Our tempta- reach an era when we have the analyti- we are exploiting the deep sea even tion is to turn to machines as we have cal powers to start to make sense of how before we have explored it. We do not done in most aspects of our daily lives. our planet works we see a draw back in even know the names of the creatures But are machines good enough to take funding on manned exploration of the that are now being dragged from the our place? James Cameron—one of ocean. Recent actions have saved the ocean to provide animal food and food only two people alive today who has US National Oceanic and Atmospheric for us, too. What we do know is very travelled to the deepest part of the Administration’s Aquarius underwater worrying to an increasing number of ocean—believes (as do the authors), laboratory, located off Key Largo, people—not perhaps because they that a human heart lies at the centre Florida, so at least we have somewhere care for a particular ecosystem or where we can live for a while immersed in the ocean, but far and away the the number of countries with biggest threat to the submarine research capabilities ocean is ignorance continues to shrink. With the vast majority of the ocean yet to species, but because we are beginning be discovered this is a mistake, to realise how linked our wellbeing is and the hopes are that private to the wellbeing of the ocean. We now donors will step forward to bal- know that about half of the world’s ance out the loss of government coral reefs are either gone or in a funding for underwater explora- serious state of decline, as compared tion because it is mission critical to where they were in the middle of to somehow keep it going. the 20th century. Ninety per cent of What we do now know many of the big fish that we consume with the information we have are gone—tunas, swordfish, sharks, managed to gather to date is halibut, groupers, snappers, down to that the blue heart of the planet about ten per cent of what they were is in danger of malfunctioning 50 years ago. And we are changing because of actions we have the very chemistry of the blue part of taken in recent years. It is partly our world that sets us apart from any because there are now over other place we have so far discovered seven billion of us. The value in the universe. Excessive carbon Sylvia Earle in the Deep Rover submersible, 1,000 of seeing beneath the ocean dioxide emissions from our activities meter record dive 1986. Image: Courtesy of Sylvia A. surface is immense. We are now are not just changing the climate, Earle.

Spring 2014 | The Marine Biologist 09 The Royal Charter they are driving the balance of the ocean waters towards more acidic conditions with as yet unclear but likely significant consequences for some marine life. The impacts of these and many other effects will be felt by communities around the world—not just those in coastal-dependent communities but, with our superfast and super-efficient supply systems, people inland who are very remote from the ocean. It matters because we blindly rely on the ocean providing and yet we are degrading the blue heart of the planet that keeps our world habitable. Even the smallest items play a role, though most people would never give them a passing thought. Plankton drive the oxygen cycle, and we are all the beneficiaries of what those little green and blue-green creatures in the ocean do. About 70 per cent of the Technology allows people to venture into the deep ocean. Sylvia Earle in the Jim suit at 380 metres off Oahu, Hawaii. Image: Courtesy of oxygen in the atmosphere comes from these photosynthetic Sylvia A. Earle. organisms in the sea. Mangroves, saltmarshes, seagrass mead- ows, kelp forests—they are all being depleted at a shocking little fillet. That little fillet may be two centuries old. rate and yet until recently have been overlooked as carbon rich What we are doing to the ocean is like stripping the land habitats, their importance finally being recognised alongside of all the lions and tigers and leopards and bears and wolves similar values we have long attached to forests and peatlands. and eagles and owls, because most of what we take from the We forget in the hustle and bustle of our daily lives sea is from the top of the food chain. Not the grazers and that we are eating resources that have ‘grown in history’. not the producers, or the plants. Would you eat songbirds? Life in the deep ocean goes slower and species can live Would you consume eagles, owls, snow leopards, elephants, for much longer than we can easily relate to. Orange tigers, lions? That is the equivalent of what we find in our roughy, for example, is a deep sea fish that is taken from supermarkets and on our menus from the ocean. It is wildlife. 2,000 feet and more beneath the surface. Most people And for the most part, they are not grazers; they are high on do not have any idea what an orange roughy looks like the food chain. They are carnivores. What we raise on farms, because by the time it gets to the market, all you see is a on the land, they are all grazers. They are all plant eaters. And the conversion of sunlight through plants to protein is a very short route. And they are young—in our ‘terrestrial’ lives we are used to taking everything to market as quickly as possible, within a year. We do not raise ten year old cows or 30 year old chicken or 100 year old sheep. And yet, we will eat 100 year old deep sea fish without blinking an eye, mostly because we do not know that they are 100 years old. We need to reset how we connect people to the ocean to have a population better informed of what is at stake and what we can do. We can encourage ocean issues to be taught at school and encourage more people to get interested in the ocean. But those will always be limited routes, so connecting all of us in our modern-day lives to ocean issues has never been more important. Our work to create a new digital ocean on Google Earth has now benefited over a seventh of the planet’s population with a new perspective on the seas. With new steps we are taking this will reach dramatically more people once ocean issues and how we are already protecting it through Marine Protected Areas appear routinely on Google Maps. The concept of ‘hope spots’—places in the ocean that have yet to be protected—shows not just the scale of inaction but also hope for how we might move forwards quickly. Mobilising—literally—how people can interact with ocean issues is driving new forms of technology based Elkhorn coral. Image: Kip Evans. around apps for mobile phones and tablets. Soon the vision

10 The Marine Biologist | Spring 2014 Sylvia Earle with Wisdom. At 63, this Laysan albatross is the world’s oldest known bird in the wild. Image: Susan Middleton. of the public being able to contribute Fish do not manufacture omega 3s, the land. We need much more devo- observations from their mobile devices they acquire it from the plankton. tion to both land and sea. We need to straight to experts living elsewhere So we must redouble efforts. Onward realise this is not a luxury. This is not on the planet will become a reality. and downward. Let us make it our an option. This is critical to our health Imagine being able to not only marvel mission to go deeper, stay longer, and and to our survival. We need to take with your children at the discovery of explore more of the ocean. The world seriously the importance of caring for say a seahorse on the seashore, but then needs to be re-sensitised, just as in the the natural systems that take care of us. to contribute that observation to help 1950s and 1960s, to explore and go do Sylvia Earle is an oceanographer, map and determine the status of spe- it. Now we understand that life exists explorer, author, and lecturer. cies. Such ‘crowd sourcing’ should help from the surface to the greatest depths. She is also the founder of Deep revolutionise and accelerate our under- And now we know that our lives Ocean Exploration and Research, standing of the health and well-being Inc., founder of Mission Blue and We need to reset how SEAlliance, and chair of the Advisory of marine species around the world. we connect people to Councils of the Harte Research Through these and other com- Institute and the Ocean in Google munication and education routes we the ocean Earth. In March 2014, Dr Earle can start to make headway on reset- became an Honorary Fellow of the ting the story and dispelling myths. depend on the ocean, and the creatures Marine Biological Association. When we think of how we use the that live there. It is our life support Support mission-blue.org ocean, for example, raising carnivores system. It is a shocking truth but for @SylviaEarle such as salmon simply does not make every pound that goes to land conserva- Dan Laffoley is a leading global sense. It takes a lot of wild fish to feed tion, birds, freshwater, whatever it is, expert on ocean conservation. At salmon. And in the process, all the the terrestrial parts of the planet, a IUCN he is Principal Advisor, Marine things that the small fish have been penny goes for ocean protection. And Science and Conservation for the Global Marine and Polar Programme, eating get concentrated up the food that is a reflection of the attitudes and has the global honorary role chain when they are fed to salmon. people have. They understand that the as Marine Vice Chair for the World Your doctor says eat fish, but think forests and the rivers and the lakes are Commission on Protected Areas. about it. For omega 3s, we should be in trouble—and they are—so we should danlaffoley.com cultivating and consuming plankton. not take a penny away from protecting @WCPA_Marine

Spring 2014 | The Marine Biologist 11 The Royal Charter

grammes such as the European Marine ‘The wheel comes full circle’ Biological Resource Centre (EMBRC). One of the objectives of EMBRC is to Marine laboratories past, promote the application of genomics and systems biology to biomedical present and future sciences, marine biology and ecology. Mike Thorndyke and Fiona McGowan take a look at This will bring about the long-awaited the role of marine labs into the future. ‘marriage’ between large scale global considerations and biological systems here has always been a healthy (1859), Naples and Roscoff (both (environment and human impact on it, competition amongst the 1872), and the Marine Biological human health and sustainable exploita- Tmarine research laboratory Association, Plymouth (1884). tion). Marine model organisms have community to lay claim to being There are fascinating parallels from a historical and future role in basic the first marine station founded. this period that have resonance with cutting edge biological research (see Most now agree that Pierre-Joseph the modern day marine biologist. Nobel laureates mentioned earlier) and van Beneden established the first Many of these early marine biologists in the future models should be selected marine station in Ostend, Belgium had been trained in medicine and which have an ecological significance as in 1843. Interestingly even then, this well as a medical “value”. This dynamic involved collaboration with industry is the front where the main future and attention to the undoubted socio- development of marine biology will be. economic benefits of marine research To facilitate this, Europe is leading a as well as the increasing habit of ‘taking global initiative to coordinate activities the waters’ at the coast so beloved between the European Network of in Victorian England. van Beneden Marine Research Institutes and Sta- located this first laboratory (‘The Dune tions (MARS) and other international Laboratory’) at the Valcke-Deknuyt oyster farm and adjacent to the now famous leisure beaches of Ostend quickly recognized the potential which even at that time were becoming of marine organisms for providing popularized, not least by the Belgian answers to important questions in royal family, as a place to relax and biology. This thread has remained enjoy the health promoting effects of with the last 50 or more years seeing the coast. Van Beneden had almost many Nobel laureates emerge from certainly been inspired to set up this the ranks of marine biologists1. laboratory by a colony of Swedish Since their inauguration in the latter and other naturalists that gathered half of the 19th century there has been groupings such as the National Asso- each summer on the Swedish west a long-standing tradition of sharing ciation of Marine Laboratories in the coast to carry out marine research. At facilities and access in marine laborato- USA (NAML) under the banner of the the time they would hire seaside huts ries. Currently we are seeing a reawak- World Association of Marine Laborato- and boathouses from local fishermen; ening of this spirit of cooperation ries (WAMS). One of the driving issues these fishermen would also bring with the advent of the ‘omic’ sciences, for WAMS will be to develop its action them marine specimens. This research climate change, and the importance plan with a focus on capacity building would later lead to the formation of ‘ocean observation’ accompanied by in less well-developed regions, which of the Kristineberg Marine Station the critical need to share and integrate are often those most impacted by (1877), which joined an illustrious data. This, the new frontier for the climate change together with anthropo- family of stations in what was in many marine sciences, is exemplified by the genic exploitation. The WAMS action respects a (first) Golden Age of marine creation of consortia of marine labora- plan therefore highlights (Box 1) those stations and included Concarneau tories, best known in Europe from pro- issues crucial for the protection and sustainability of our seas and oceans.

Station Biologique de Roscoff (top). Image: W. Thomas / Station Biologique de Roscoff ( CNRS/UPMC). The Marine Biological Association, Plymouth (right). Image: Keith Hiscock. Kristineberg Marine Station (left).

1 Eccles, Hodgkin, Huxley (squid axon); Hartwell, Hunt, Nurse (urchin eggs), Tsien, and Chalfie, Shimomura (jellyfish and Green Fluorescent Protein): www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates The Royal Charter

Box 1. Objectives of the World Association knowledge about represents an important stakeholder of Marine Stations marine organisms group for marine stations and what and ecosystems. we do. Until now, ‘knowledge • Identifying interest and major gaps from participating countries, for example from Africa, First, the sea provides exchange’ and ‘knowledge transfer’ South America and Asia. amazing biological have mostly focused on the undoubted • Making contact with potential new members from diversity (of 34 and apparently insatiable interest in these and other areas. fundamental phyla, marine life and the natural history of • Determine how best to contribute to IOC activities 17 occur on land, our coasts that exists in wider society. in research, education and training. whereas 32 occur in Recent years have witnessed the • Promote and participate in workshops to develop the sea and 13 are emergence of the ‘blue gym’ concept. project ideas that fulfil global needs, specifically in exclusively marine). This has been a natural development relation to climate change impacts on marine This diversity and from the ‘green gym’ whereby posi- ecosystems and ecosystem services. the relatively large tive experiences in the environment • Encourage ‘bottom-up’ science-based number of exclu- bring measurable benefits to human discussions. sively marine species health and well-being. This represents • Identify common training needs and opportunities are the reasons why a totally new way of thinking for for all staff, both scientists and technical and the sea is an impor- marine laboratories and the way administrative support personnel. tant new source of they might engage with the public. • To cooperate with on-going IOC programmes biotechnology mate- Fortunately, our colleagues in the such as OBIS. rials, chemicals and social sciences, particularly medical • To explore further scientific partnerships. processes. Second, sociology and public health, have a • To support the 20 points of Rio+20. marine organisms wealth of experience in this area. There often possess unique is a substantial literature and research This exciting prospect has the support structures, metabolic pathways, concerning the impact of environment of the Intergovernmental Oceano- reproductive systems and sensory and on human health and well-being. For graphic Commission of UNESCO defence mechanisms because they example, there has been increasing and should herald a second Golden have adapted to extreme environments recognition that individual health Age for marine research stations. ranging from the sub-zero polar seas to is shaped and determined by many Since those early days, marine the great pressures of the ocean floor. factors; political, economic, social, research stations have been established The exploitation of marine organ- cultural, behavioural, biological and all around the world and serve a isms for food and industrial processes environmental factors can all favour vital role in science and in the wider has an impact on one of the other health or be harmful to it. One of the community (see Box 2). In this main uses we make of the marine key principles of health promotion set respect, marine laboratories should be environment—leisure and recrea- out by the World Health Organization considered ‘windows on the ocean’ and tion. Scaling up these processes will (WHO) is that of ‘creating supportive ideal places for the study of marine have a direct and Box 2. Role of marine laboratories in the modern world life as well wonderful places for the tangible impact on public to see research taking place. The marine ecosystems • Provide access to marine ecosystems role of marine laboratories is also to and will certainly including valuable (historical) time-series data. provide opportunities for the public to change the way we • Provide access to marine models for biomedicine, enhance their ‘ocean literacy’, an issue perceive this environ- ecotoxicology, biodiversity and gene discovery. of increasing importance in these days ment. One major • Provide logistics and modern equipment where climate change and its impacts objective for coastal for ex situ experiments, in biology, long-term on our seas and oceans is becoming a marine stations in culture and experimental climate control. daily discussion point in the media. the future will be to • Ideal for long-term ecological research, real Many people will associate a marine develop a dialogue time data collection and detecting change. station with being somewhere which with industry and • Inexpensive test-beds for new ocean features on a David Attenborough stakeholders through instrumentation. TV programme and is a nice place to research to arrive at • Base stations for ocean observing systems, visit with an attractive coastal loca- a consensus on how buoys, cabled arrays and submersibles. tion. While this is, of course, true, it to use, and not to • Support bases for research vessels and research is important for us all to recognize the abuse, this resource. entailing diving. enormous socio-economic benefits to As noted earlier, • Places to integrate social science and natural be obtained by a greater and deeper the wider public science research and education.

Spring 2014 | The Marine Biologist 13 The Royal Charter environments’ recognizing that ‘the quality. inextricable link between people and In May 2013 the their environment constitutes the European Environment basis for a socio-ecological approach Agency published a to health’ (Ottawa Charter for report which recognized Health Promotion, WHO, 1986). the limitations of Increasingly, health outcomes can environmental quality be linked directly to environment—be indicators in assessments that physical, social, working, living or of human health and leisure—those ‘places’ where everyday drew further attention lives are enacted and those which to the ways in which ultimately impact life chances. Place health, environment and space have become central consid- and social aspects are erations in health promotion—terms interconnected. It stated: which refer to far more than simply ‘Health inequalities are pervasive in Indeed, one of the earliest stations, geographical location, rather the EU member states, similarly, environ- Stazione Zoologica ‘Anton Dohrn’ spatial context in which lives are lived. mental and socio-economic conditions, founded in Naples in 1872 was built Included here is the way in which which determine the risk of people with an adjoining public aquarium human experience interacts with the getting ill, their ability to prevent sick- to provide the public with a ‘window natural environment and how environ- on the sea’, while at the same time mental or structural factors determine ‘access to nature can generating income that supported human behaviour. The 2010 UK Fac- significantly contribute to research in the laboratories next door. ulty of Public Health report (The Great our mental capital That same year in Brittany, the marine Outdoors: How our Natural Health and wellbeing’ station at Roscoff was opened in an Service uses Green Space to improve area famous for thalassotherapy—a wellbeing) emphasized how ‘access to ness and get access to treatment, are treatment that employs the use of sea- nature can significantly contribute to unequally distributed within societies’. water, sea products and shore climate our mental capital and wellbeing’ and We can see then, that the role of for the benefit of human health, and cited evidence demonstrating how marine stations is one of continual perhaps dates back to ancient Greek or green space is an important beneficial development and evolution, reflecting Roman times. So, nothing is new but factor in tackling health and social societal needs, perhaps even shaping one thing is certain, marine stations problems such as obesity, them. They have always have always been in the vanguard of mental ill health, been popular and social change and sensitive to the needs anti-social located in of society. Perhaps in the future we behaviours popular shall see forward thinking directors of and places. marine laboratories working together health with public health agencies to promote ine- the marine environment as one which confers significant health and wellbeing advantages for the whole population. Michael Thorndyke (mike.thorndyke@ bioenv.gu.se ) is professor at the Department of Biology Biological and Environmental Sciences and Head of International Development at The Sven Lovén Centre for Marine Sciences. Fiona McGowan (f.mcgowan@uel. ac.uk) is Senior Lecturer in Public Health at the School of Health, Sport Reproduced & Bioscience, University of East from A health London map for the local human FURTHER READING habitat. The Please see www.mba.ac.uk/marinebiol- ogist for references and links for this article. Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health 2006 126: 252-253 The Marine Biologist

The 49th European Marine Biology Symposium will be held on September 8–12, 2014 in St. Petersburg, Russia, at the Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences. The conference will cover a wide range of themes with the overarching theme being “Home, sweet home: A variety of interactions in the marine environment”.

Further details on the programme and on how to register can be found on the conference website http://www.onlinereg.ru/embs49. Philipp Hienstorfer

Spring 2014 | The Marine Biologist 15 Power from the sea: stepping stones for non-native species? Marine energy extraction and the introduction and spread of non- native species by Chris Nall.

enewable energy is a to the local area as a growing industry whose result of the exclusion of Rviability is increasing as the destructive fishing activities. unsustainability and environmental One negative impact pressures of conventional energy that has received less generation become more apparent. attention from researchers In the UK a large proportion of the and regulators is the potential future renewable energy production for the marine renewable energy is planned to be generated in the industry to facilitate the introduction marine environment from offshore and spread of non-native species. Fig. 1. Didemnum vexillum smothering wind, wave and tidal stream energy Non-native species are considered to mussels. Image: Chris Nall (ERI). farms. At present there are a number be one of the greatest threats to marine of offshore wind farms already biodiversity and they can cause severe association of hard substratum non- operational and some experimental ecological and economic damage if native species with artificial structure wave and tidal stream devices are they become invasive. For example, the indicates a number of potential being tested; currently over 90 marine invasive carpet sea squirt, Didemnum ways the marine renewable industry energy farms are planned or already vexillum (Figure 1), overgrows organ- may facilitate the introduction and installed. Each farm will contain an isms and has been shown to smother spread of non-native species. array of energy extraction devices fish spawning grounds and reduce Increased vessel activity during the (wind / tidal turbines or wave production in shellfish aquaculture. installation and maintenance phases energy converters) amounting to Any activity which may promote the of development could cause non- 400 devices at some large sites. invasion of this and similar species native species introductions. Vessels This represents a huge amount of needs be investigated and potentially are well known vectors of non-native offshore and coastal development mitigated against. However, species through hull fouling and and the installation of a large while there is legislation in place ballast water exchange. Some of the amount of artificial structure, (e.g. Wildlife And Natural highly specialised vessels used in the not only of the device arrays Environment (Scotland) Act installation will be well travelled and but also from the installation 2011), and national strategies therefore have a greater potential to of support technologies (e.g. that attempt to reduce the The marine renewable cables, foundations and introduction and impact of substations) and the expansion non-native species, the issue industry may facilitate of harbours in order to is not considered one of the the introduction and service this industry. major potential impacts spread of non-native There are a number of of the marine renewable species potential environmental industry and therefore impacts associated with very little research has bring in exotic organisms. If wet- the marine renewable been done. towed, the devices themselves may also energy industry. Some of these Our act as vectors of non-native species include: collision hazards of energy scientific introduction through hull fouling. devices causing fatality or displacement knowledge Floating wave devices or floating to marine animals, noise from opera- of invasion wind and tidal turbines may be towed tion and installation interfering with pathways from construction or maintenance the behaviour of acoustically sensitive and the locations where they have been left species, and an increase in biodiversity known quayside for sufficient time for hard

16 The Marine Biologist | Spring 2014 Science letters

their competitive advantage over marine energy park and the assessment native species. This will amplify the of the detection abilities of different impacts of these non-natives on native monitoring methods. Future work biodiversity and the local economy. will investigate the potential introduc- In addition many of the areas with tion pathway of wet towed floating planned energy farms are located devices and also will assess how device in parts of the UK where there is material, habitat orientation and season relatively low vector activity and a affect non-native species composition. small number of non-native species, The results of this research will inform for example, northern Scotland. This best practices for future monitoring therefore increases the likelihood that programmes and suggest control meas- non-native species new to an area ures which aim to reduce the introduc- will be introduced by activities of the tion and spread of non-native species. renewable industry and if they become It is necessary to mention that established it increases the severity of although some non-natives are known the ecological and economic damage. to be damaging to the marine environ- Surveys of biofouling communities ment, the impacts of many of them Fig. 2. Biofouling on a navigation buoy (analogous structure to an offshore energy growing on offshore wind turbines in (including those known to colonise device). Image: Adrian Macleod (SAMS). the southern North Sea and navigation renewable devices) are still unknown. buoys in Scottish waters have been Establishment of hard substratum foul- substratum communities to form. carried out to assess the presence and ing species, whether indigenous or not, Marine renewable devices and abundance of non-native species. A on marine renewable energy devices support technologies provide hard number of non-native species were may in fact provide benefits, such as substratum space for fouling non- found to be thriving on these offshore increased productivity and additional native species to colonise (Figure 2). structures. Species with particularly food sources for fish species. With the Non-native species are often found in high abundances include the invasive potential for increased population size high abundance on submerged artificial amphipod, Caprella mutica (Figure 3) and increased spread of non-natives as a structures. These novel habitats are and the marine midge, Telmatogeton result of the marine renewable industry, widely thought to convey a competitive japonicus. This advantage to non-native species over confirms that some indigenous species. In the case of soft non-native species are sediment areas, where many energy capable of recruiting farms are planned to be developed, to hard substrata installation of artificial structure will in exposed offshore provide habitat for fouling non-native environments and species in areas they are currently that they are likely to unable to settle. Provided they are establish populations capable of establishing populations in on marine renew- these exposed high energy environ- able devices. ments, offshore artificial structures Researchers at could aid secondary dispersal of the Environmental non-native species. Populations of Research Institute and non-native species living on devices the Scottish Asso- Fig. 3. The Japanese skeleton shrimp, Caprella mutica residing could source propagules to nearby ciation for Marine on an offshore navigation buoy. Image: Adrian Macleod (SAMS). natural habitat and networks of devices Science are currently could link otherwise unconnected hard investigating ways substratum habitats by providing a dis- in which to monitor and reduce the regulators and statutory consultants persal corridor for non-native species. impact the renewable industry will need to fully understand both the The installation of a large number of have on facilitating the invasion of positive and negative environmental renewable devices around the UK will non-native species. So far this work has impacts in order to give the best advice also allow non-native species tolerant of included the completion of a baseline for focused management procedures. offshore environments to expand their survey for the presence and distribu- Chris Nall ([email protected]) is population size considerably, increasing tion of fouling non-native species a PhD Student at the Environment propagule supply and strengthening within the Pentland Firth and Orkney Research Institute.

Spring 2014 | The Marine Biologist 17 By SoniaJ.Rowley Refugia in the ‘twilight zone’: discoveries from the Philippines O of teries the mys- to penetrate has enabledus rebreather technology using advanced closed-circuit submersible. However, exploration shallow tojustifythecostofadeep-sea ous forconventional SCUBA and too sible oroverlooked, beingtooprecari- mesophotic reefs were largelyinacces- recent technologicaladvances, such environmental disturbances.Until and positedtoactasrefugia against priority ecosystems(e.g.IUCN) MCEs are classifiedasconservation ‘mesophotic coralecosystems’ (MCEs). between 40and200mare termed ate and/orexacerbatenaturalprocesses. ashumanimpactsacceler- particularly responses toenvironmental change, geographical distributionsare species determining reef biodiversity andbio- the region. Nevertheless, centralto and migrationfrom withinoroutside generating hypothesesofspeciation much controversy andinvestigation such diversity remains thesubjectof per geographicalarea. Theoriginof number ofislands(more than7,100) due toithavingamongthehighest the Philippine archipelago largely Triangle, ismostnotablethroughout considered atitspeakwithintheCoral environments. Coralreef biodiversity, Coral reefs inthe‘twilight zone’ continuously shapedcoralreef geological sealevel changeshave ver themillennia, perpetual we are caughtinpeace As inquisitiveexplorers and exhilaration Leptoseris, low-light habitatsthroughout members ofthezooxanthellate genus Hawai’i whichare oftendominatedby such patternsduplicatedinotherareas? surrounding habitatsifatall,andare are theybeneficiallyconnectedtothe present, how how dotheysurvive, time. What faunaandeven floraare tion relationships over geological and theevolution ofstructure–func- questions ofpersistence,polyphyly, discovered, theyalsoholdthekeysto and interactionsjustwaitingtobe species,behaviours a myriadofnew in time.Not onlydoMCEsharbour reefs are back akintobeingtransported mesophotic reef before us. To methese attenuation ofthedeepslopeand exhilaration between theenticing explorers we are caughtinpeaceand is notwithoutrisks.Asinquisitive away from thebustleofshallows, the Batangas region ofthePhilippines. characterize mesophoticreefs within and todiscover, documentand Poseidon nextgenerationrebreather; team wastwofold:totest-pilotthe sion astheBishop Museum rebreather by theSeaverported Institute, ourmis- of acollaborative research teamsup- these little-studiedreefs. Here, aspart With theexception ofreefs within Descending todepthsunexplored, the Pacific are typicallycharac- terized by gorgonian sea fans, soft sea fans,soft corals, corals, sponges sponges and and Science letters

black corals, the majority of which are depth. The swim bladders of sampled unknown to science. The Philippines fish are vented with needles as we are no exception; on this trip alone ascend (the notorious ‘Pyle’ stop). At we have discovered at least seven new the surface, specimens are catalogued fish and 20 new gorgonian species at and preserved, whilst digital imagery is depth, the latter providing substrate systematically documented for immedi- for fish to lay their eggs. Our diving ate dissemination in the web-based experience tells us that it is at around archive Explorers Log. The discovery 80 m depth that the temperature of the twilight zone is not exclusive— Images: Opposite: A typical mesophotic drops, a shelf emerges, and where such everyone can immediately enjoy! assemblage from the Solomon Islands with characteristic ‘twilight’ assemblages Are shallow reefs being seeded by the deep-reef Griffis’ AngelfishApolem - begin to be found. Dynamic sea-level deep reefs? Are certain taxa habitat spe- ichthys griffisi. Carlson & Taylor 1981. This changes produce extreme variations in cialists or bathymetric migrators? These page, from top left: Chromis n. sp.. Plectran- shallow water habitats of up to 80–100 questions remain to be elucidated, thias n.sp.. Dr. Luiz Rocha with the pinecone m, with these deeper reefs remaining but when they are, key evolutionary fishMonocentris sp.. Mesophotic reefs of gorgonians in the Philippines. Mesophotic relatively unchanged, and less than mechanisms facilitating survival over reefs of gorgonians in Fiji. Dr. Brian Bowen. 50% species overlap with shallow taxa. geological time will undoubtedly be The PI team: Brian Greene, David Pence, Therefore, gorgonian corals and reef unveiled. So even though as humans Dr. Richard Pyle, Joshua Copus, Dr. Sonia fish are key taxonomic groups within we are challenged to save habitats Rowley, Robert Whitton, with Poseidon deep-reefs with some taxa spanning from their ongoing destruction, prototypes and Inspiration Rebreathers. considerable depths (e.g. 5–2,000 m). ‘twilight’ reefs of refugia may likely At depths greater than 100 m we replenish many of their inhabitants. work against time, determined by the Dr. Sonia Rowley (soniajrowley@ ratio between the saturation of our gmail.com) is an invertebrate mortal tissue with dissolved gas and zoologist at the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, and the University the safety gas that we carry. Yet no of Hawai’i, USA. part of what we encounter is lost; all Funding and collaborations: digital imagery is synchronized with Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, the rebreathers’ advanced electronics, Hawai’i, USA; Hawai’i Institute of capturing time, depth and specimen Marine Biology, Hawai’i, USA information. I continue to collect California Academy of Sciences, gorgonians as we ascend—intrigued by California, USA; Seaver Institute, their dynamic patterns of diversity with California, USA

Spring 2014 | The Marine Biologist 19 Science letters Mapping the treasures of the deep sea

Heriot-Watt University and the National Oceanography Centre join forces to map cold-water coral habitats. By Laurence De Clippele, Veerle Huvenne and Murray Roberts.

he oceans cover more than 70 per cent of the world’s information about the physical attributes of the seabed. The surface, yet the deep-sea remains largely unexplored. depth and texture of the seabed can indicate the occurrence TCold-water corals are one of the deep sea’s treasures. of cold-water corals and, alongside ground-truthing with These corals may grow as single polyps, as individual visual surveys and sampling, can be used to build up wide tree-like colonies or form complex reefs providing a range area habitat maps. In deep-sea surveys, sampling and species of habitats for many other species. Cold-water coral habitats identification remain vital components of habitat mapping. are recognized by the United Nations as ‘Vulnerable Marine Few recent studies have focused on the associated fauna Ecosystems’, and many have been declared ‘Ecologically and of deep-water coral habitats but cold-water corals, and Biologically Significant Areas’ under the Convention on especially scleractinians such as Lophelia pertusa, are today Biological Diversity, indicating their importance and need known to provide biodiversity hotspots thanks to their eco- for protection. Mapping marine habitats and species distri- system engineering capacities. Their generally tree-like archi- butions is essential in conservation and resource manage- tecture provides biomass, structural complexity, modifies the ment. The generation of such maps, however, is particularly seascape and produces a great diversity of microhabitats. The challenging within poorly-sampled deep-sea ecosystems. Norwegian L. pertusa reefs, for example, are known to sup- In 2013 Heriot-Watt University and the National port four major types of habitat: the surface of living coral; Oceanography Centre (NOC) began a new study to map the surface of dead corals; cavities within the coral skeleton; and characterize cold-water coral sites in the North Atlantic and spaces between the branches. The corals provide shelter, Ocean. This three-year project will integrate a series of data- food sources and spawning habitats to deep-sea fish and sets including one of the largest archives of high definition shark communities and to a wide range of other organisms, video data, acquired by remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) ranging from micro- to megafauna. A recent study recorded from the Logachev cold-water coral carbonate mound more than 1300 species associated with the stony coral L. province and other sites on Rockall Bank. See Figure 1. pertusa on the European continental slope or shelf. Filter It was the pioneering work of 19th century biologists that feeding organisms like crinoids tend to use the corals as provided the only information on cold-water coral distribu- feeding platforms to position themselves higher up in the tion in British waters until the 1970s when distributional currents increasing their ability to capture food. Further- data were first collated and more, as the skeleton of manned submersibles were the coral can remain long first used in seafloor surveys. after the corals’ extensive Cold-water coral reefs are lifespan, cold-water corals hard to find as they grow are very likely to maintain in waters too deep to allow benthic communities the use of satellite-based in different succession remote sensing techniques. states at the same time. In addition, the areas of Unfortunately, the sig- the continental shelf edge nificant loss of live coral, and slope suitable for reef owing to climate change development are too large and other anthropogenic for extensive visual survey disturbances, can cause using submersibles or severe losses to reef- towed cameras. Luckily our inhabiting macroinverte- ability to chart the seafloor brates, especially mobile has improved dramatically taxa, including crustaceans following the development and crinoids that rely on of multibeam echosound- the reefs as refuges from ers. These can be used not Fig. 1. High definition video and still imagery of the seabed were taken predation. A large number only to measure water using the ROV Holland-1 during the Changing Oceans Expedition, RRS of video observations have depth, but also to generate James Cook cruise 073 which took place in May-June 2012. (1) Mingulay not only documented a backscatter record giving Reef Complex, (2) Logachev Mound Province, (3) Pisces 9 dive site. the rich biodiversity of

20 The Marine Biologist | Spring 2014 Science letters deep-sea ecosystems such as cold-water occurrence likely to be less prevalent This page, left: Finding shark eggs in coral reefs, but also gathered evidence in reality. Despite improvements in cold-water coral habitats demonstrates that many of these biological communi- model algorithms, environmental how a key ecosystem function of coral reefs (habitat provision) co-benefits both sharks ties had been impacted or destroyed by data and species presences, there are and humans. Centre: Cold-water corals are human activities, especially by bottom still limitations to the reliability of known as ecosystem engineers because, trawl fishing. The reef-framework form- these techniques, especially in poorly like trees, they change the environment ing scleractinian corals build their skel- studied areas such as the deep sea. by their own physical structure. Crabs etons from aragonite, the more soluble The Coral Ecosystems Research (Gastroptychus sp.) using the black coral mineral form of calcium carbonate. Group at Heriot-Watt University Leiopathes to position themselves higher up in the currents to optimize access to Because of this, ocean acidification (Edinburgh, Scotland) takes an food. Right: Munida sarsi can benefit from could cause these complex structures integrated, interdisciplinary approach the protection of gorgonians, scleractinians to collapse, resulting in the loss of to understanding the biology and but also from piles of coral rubble. They use macroinvertebrate habitat. Ocean ecology of cold-water corals. This them as a home base that provides shelter acidification can also directly affect the approach will be used in our new against predators.

physiology, reproduction, behaviour, project to map the habitats associated entific advice on sustainable habitat and neuronal functions and survival of with cold-water coral reefs and mounds fisheries management of deep-water. many groups of marine organisms. at a series of north-east Atlantic sites, Laurence De Clippele1 Global declines in biodiversity in collaboration with the Seafloor and ([email protected]), Veerle Huvenne2 have ignited responses from local Habitat Mapping Team of the NOC. ([email protected]) and Murray to international scales, aiming to Combining ecological, geophysical and Roberts3 ([email protected]) establish management methods for hydrographical survey data, our study 1. Centre for Marine Biodiversity and the effective protection of species aims to achieve a more detailed quanti- Biotechnology, Heriot-Watt University and ecosystems, and the limitation of fication of the roles of the environmen- 2. National Oceanography Center human impact on the environment. tal factors that control the biodiversity 3. School of Life Sciences, Heriot- To date, decisions on area closures patterns of macrofaunal species in Watt University for the protection of ‘listed’ deep-sea the North-Atlantic. Data from ROV Further reading: habitats have been based on maps transects recorded during the 2012 Vierod A.D.T., Guinotte J.M. and of recorded presence of species that Changing Oceans Expedition (RRS Davies A.J. (2013) Predicting the distribu- tion of vulnerable marine ecosystems in are taken as being indicative of that the deep sea using presence–background habitat. However, large parts of the ocean acidification could models. Deep-Sea Research II, http:// (deep) ocean have never been sampled cause these complex dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2013.06.010. or investigated, leaving large blank Henry L.A., Navas J.M., Hennige structures to collapse S.J., Wicks L.C., Vad J. and Roberts areas on the management maps. J.M. (2013) Cold-water coral reef Conservationists, researchers, resource James Cook cruise 073) will be used in habitats benefit recreationally valuable sharks. managers, and governmental bodies combination with data from acoustic Biological Conservation 161, 67–70. are increasingly turning to predictive sources gathered by Heriot-Watt Uni- Huvenne V.A.I., Beyer A., de Haas H., Dekindt K., Henriet J.P., Kozachenko species distribution models to identify versity and NOC. A large spatial extent M., Olu-Le Roy K., Wheeler A.J. and the the potential presence of species in areas was covered, as this is a central require- TOBI/Pelagia 197 and CARACOLE cruise that have not been sampled. Predictive ment for the correct estimation of participants (2005) The seabed appear- ance of different coral bank provinces in the habitat modelling may provide a useful general patterns of species distribution. Porcupine Seabight, NE Atlantic: results method, but can only give an indication Research on cold-water corals and from sidescan sonar and ROV seabed of the probability that a certain habitat their associated fauna is necessary to mapping. In Freiwald A. and Roberts J.M. (eds) Cold-water corals and ecosystems. will occur. Given the coarse resolution assess their ecological importance, while Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag, pp. 535–569. of the models, percentages should be efforts to map and date these long-lived The full reading list for this article is available at taken as maximal figures, with habitat habitats are vital to develop sound sci- www.mba.ac.uk/marinebiologist

Spring 2014 | The Marine Biologist 21 22 The Marine Biologist | Spring 2014 Environment & Conservation From equator to ice; environmental science in the south Atlantic Drs Deborah Davidson and local and international research into Paul Brickle describe a the natural and physical sciences, but new research institute that also to teach students and build further oversees marine biodiversity capacity between the SA OTs and other international research institutes. and environmental In September 2013, a GIS special- management. ist was recruited thus forming the in the 1920s to 1930s by the Discovery he South Atlantic Environmental foundation of the GIS Centre. Work Investigation cruises, in a joint project Research Institute (SAERI) was in this area and capacity building led by the Marine Biological Associa- Tcreated by the Falkland Islands across the SA OTs has begun and is tion. In a similar vein, in conjunction Government (FIG) in 2012 when the progressing rapidly. The GIS officer with Aberystwyth University an MSc need for an umbrella organization to is crucial in furthering many of the project looked at data collected on the produce environmental science within projects undertaken by SAERI both benthic fauna of Adventure Sound the Falkland Islands and the South within the Falkland Islands and in on the east island of the Falklands, to Atlantic became evident. The aim was the other SA OTs, but also provides determine the species richness and com- to enhance and encourage existing local munities of the species and link these to research activities and to increase the environmental variables within the area. volume of scientific research conducted The Institute also has three established within the Falklands and the other PhD students, joint with the University South Atlantic Overseas Territories (SA of Aberdeen. One PhD student is OTs), both locally and internationally, investigating the uncertainties inherent with a focus on localizing research and within the South Georgia mackerel work that is currently being conducted icefish (Champsocephalus gunnari) elsewhere by other researchers and surveys. Another project aims to address institutes. The scope of the research the gaps in knowledge about the algal centre encompasses environmental biodiversity of the Falkland Islands, research in geology, climate change, with particular focus on identifying oceanography, inshore marine environ- the numerous red algae found in these ment, fisheries, agriculture, biodiversity waters. The project will also compare and renewable energy, extending the algae species and species distribu- geographically across all the UK SA training and expert help to the other tion between the Falkland Islands and OTs, from the equator down to the FIG departments and sectors. South Georgia. The third PhD began ice in Antarctica. One goal was also Thus far, however, the main focus in January 2014 and is modelling the to produce a GIS Centre, based in the of the work undertaken by SAERI has life history and reproductive biology of Falkland Islands, which would provide been on the marine environment and the Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus GIS knowledge and expertise through- fisheries-related research. The marine eleginoides) in South Georgia. SAERI out the SA OTs. However, the purpose and terrestrial environments of the has also found the funding for a PhD to of the Institute is not only to conduct South Atlantic and South Atlantic examine coastal benthic ecology in tem- OTs are relatively poorly understood poral and spatial scales for a Falkland compared to other world regions. Island graduate starting in April 2014. Several short-term projects have been This year is proving to be an exciting undertaken since its establishment, year for SAERI and will see a further including creating a baseline database of increase in the faculty numbers, with marine biodiversity using data collected four new projects commencing by

Top: Patagonian toothfishDissostichus eleginoides. Image: Dr Martin Collins University of Aberdeen. Bottom: Tree kelp Lessonia vadosa. Opposite: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera. Algae images: Shallow Marine Surveys Group (SMSG).

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Clockwise from top left: Patagonian scallop Zygochlamys patagonica, painted shrimp Campylonotus vagans, naked urchin Arbacia dufresnii, Patagonian red octopus Enteroctopus megalocyathus, giant mussel Choromytilus chorus and ribbed mussel Aulacomya ater. Images: Shallow Marine Surveys Group (SMSG).

April. One such, funded by the FIG, is exploring the poorly little is known about their behaviour, making it difficult to understood inshore marine resources of the Falkland Islands. determine potential impacts on these top marine predators. Today, there are still areas where the biodiversity of the With the onset of oil production forthcoming it was decided shallow marine environment is not properly known and the that this gap in the knowledge base should be addressed. life history, and therefore suitability for sustainable exploita- Therefore, the Falkland Islands Offshore Hydrocarbons Envi- tion, of many of the species found in these waters is not ronmental Forum (FIOHEF), comprising FIG, the Falkland understood. Except for a small crab fishery in the south-east Islands Petroleum License-holders Association (FIPLA) and of the Islands, little artisanal fishing occurs within the coastal other members of the private sector, created two projects waters; however, it is believed that there are several inshore which would identify (and in the longer term, address) these species which may lend themselves to sustainable exploita- knowledge gaps within the marine environment. Both pro- tion. The project therefore aims to determine both the life jects will collect, collate and analyse extant data, with respect history of several candidate shallow marine invertebrate spe- to benthic ecology, oceanography and seabird and pinniped cies and their potential as a fished resource. The FIG sees the behaviour and life history, respectively. The marine predators’ importance of understanding the near shore systems before position will also involve tagging of pinnipeds and seabirds fisheries take off, something that is not evident in many other in order to understand more of their foraging behaviour. regions where sadly, science and assessment have to play Another up-coming project will address the lack of a catch up against the backdrop of boom and bust scenarios. strategic approach to marine spatial planning within the With the burgeoning oil industry due to take off within Falkland Islands. Awarded Darwin Plus funding, the Marine the next few years, understanding the marine environment Spatial Planning project aims to provide the framework for with respect to the habitats and species present, both inshore future legislation and practice with regards to marine protec- and offshore, becomes even more crucial. Some works have tion. The project will entail collation and analysis of marine been conducted throughout the past century, but there are habitat and species data (benthic and pelagic flora and still many areas where there is little to no knowledge about fauna), in order to determine biodiversity and conservation the marine environment, and even the data that do exist as yet ‘hot spots’ which may prove to be candidate sites for future remain separate and un-collated. Marine predators, in particu- protection. The project will feed directly into other research lar seabirds such as penguin and albatross and pinnipeds, are projects and into the oil activities within the Falklands. potentially at risk from oil-related activities, but comparatively Since its establishment SAERI has worked closely with

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their funding, time and capacity was rather limited. Therefore, this project will provide three marine/fisheries scientists in order to build the understanding of the marine environment and biodiversity and also to provide the science base needed for sustainably managed inshore and offshore fisheries. Partner organisa- tions in this project include SMSG, BAS, and RSPB. Within the Falkland Islands, SAERI have hosted several parties of visiting scientists studying geological Diversity and abundance at Ascension Island. Image: Shallow Marine Surveys Group (SMSG). indicators of climate change, and a PhD project will the British Antarctic Survey (BAS). A Shallow Marine begin this year in a consortium with the Natural History Surveys Group (SMSG) and SAERI member of staff was Museum, Nottingham University and Imperial College. the coastal marine biologist on-board the RRS James Peatlands provide a detailed record of climate and how Clark Ross during a survey of the waters around both it has changed over time and the project will investigate South Georgia and Tristan da Cunha. SAERI and BAS peatlands as records of island ecosystem sensitivity to also share two of the aforementioned PhD students, and environmental change in the South Atlantic. The intention the aim is for the two Institutes to work closely together is to study the large amount of peat found in the Falkland in the future. Further collaborative research surveys will Islands to better understand the processes associated with be conducted on-board the BAS research vessels, and a the formation and transformation of peat and soil and the collaborative project is being undertaken later this year response of these sensitive ecosystems to climate change. involving autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs or SAERI will shortly become an incorporated charitable ‘gliders’) to help to gain a better understanding of the institute and therefore other sources of funding must be Falkland Islands’ large and mesoscale oceanography. found to support the many projects that are happening SAERI’s goal of creating work and capacity within the currently, and in the future. Obviously, grant opportunities other SA OTs has already begun: Darwin funding was are both limited and highly competitive therefore SAERI is approved (2013) for a project, in conjunction with the involved in several consultancy opportunities, mostly Ascension Island Government, aiming to substantially focused on environmental surveys and will soon be increase the currently poor marine biodiversity knowledge delivering fisheries consultancy work for various and fisheries science capacity within Ascension Island. Much international fisheries. of the existing knowledge about shallow marine biodiversity Dr Deborah Davidson ([email protected]) and was established by a SAERI partner organization, SMSG, a Dr Paul Brickle ([email protected]). group of volunteer divers and marine scientists based in the FURTHER READING Falkland Islands, who conducted dive surveys at several sites For more information on South Atlantic marine and environ- around Ascension Island during 2012 and 2013. However, mental science please visit www.south-atlantic-research.org Wandering albatross Diomedea exulans, king penguins Aptenodytes patagonica, elephant seal Mirounga leonine. Images: Dr Judith Brown. Environment & Conservation Has marine conservation in Wales lost its way? Blaise Bullimore has been involved in monitoring the Skomer Marine Nature Reserve since 1977. He charts the progress of marine nature conservation in Wales.

he first shoots of marine nature conservation in Wales itoring site on Skomer’s ‘North Wall’ to document change sprang from the Field Studies Council’s Pembrokeshire in some of the species whose growth rates and lifespans we TDale Fort Field Centre (DFFC) in the late 1960s. knew little about, and how communities changed seasonally Increasing numbers of professional marine scientists visiting and over longer time scales. Additional sites were soon added the Centre, its developing focus on subtidal biology, the to broaden the habitats and species included. Early findings rapid development of recreational diving and the collection confirmed that some species grew extremely slowly, but there of shellfish and curios by divers becoming conspicuous, were also surprises such as the rapid growth of some sponges and a point of conflict with local fishermen, all coincided and the extent to which others regressed when conditions got to foster a growing awareness that environmental steward- tough—for instance in unusually low winter sea temperatures ship might be just as necessary in the sea as on land. or particularly high levels of suspended sediment—and recov- Although Skomer Island had become a National ered later. The importance of such factors as temperature Nature Reserve for its nesting sea birds in 1959, the and water quality in influencing species condition quickly conservation value of the surrounding sea went largely became obvious and this knowledge played a major role in unrecognised despite its importance as the birds’ food the way the MNR monitoring programme later developed. resource. Nevertheless, DFFC staff began a dialogue with After provisions for statutory MNRs were introduced the Nature Conservancy and Skomer Island’s manag- and four years of negotiation, Skomer MNR was designated ers that eventually led to declaration of the near-shore in July 1990, becoming the UK’s second MNR. Since area surrounding Skomer and the adjacent Marloes MNR legislation was recognised as weak, the emphasis Peninsula as a voluntary marine reserve in 1976. for its management was public engagement, high profile Surveys carried out by recreational divers during deterrence presence and monitoring. Over two decades later the on-water public engagement and patrolling and onshore outreach and education have won hearts and minds and secured the support of most users. Designation of the statutory MNR brought with it staff and resources to expand and improve the targeting of monitoring. Focus shifted from trying to establish what was ‘normal’ to determining the condition of habitats, species and communities. Particular atten- tion was paid to what were understood to be vulner- able species and habitats, in part moving toward what has since become known as risk-based monitoring. It was clear that simply assessing condition and detecting change, particularly adverse change, was not Routine diver-monitoring sampling is non-destructive whenever going to be enough on its own to inform manage- possible, using either photography, video or in-situ recording, to ment requirements. As we needed to be able to explain ensure it has minimal or no effect on the species and communities changes and identify whether their cause was natural under observation. Image: Rohan Holt. or anthropogenic, complementary surveillance of both human activities in and near the MNR and hydrographic Underwater Conservation Year in 1977 paved the way for and other influential processes was also begun. three projects that are now a cornerstone of the ‘citizen Since 1992 the MNR’s annual monitoring programme science’ contribution to the Marine Nature Reserve’s has been a mix of in-house projects, contracts and, since (MNR) monitoring programme. That same year, Dr Robin 1997, a four-year cycle of citizen science projects which Crump—then the voluntary reserve’s scientific secretary— require modest taxonomic expertise but a lot of diver- and I discussed the need for long-term monitoring. power. Intertidal community and grey seal monitoring are Eventually, in 1981 I established a permanent photo-mon- essential parts of the annual programme but most effort

26 The Marine Biologist | Spring 2014 Environment & Conservation is expended on sublittoral species marina) extent and density (see Box 1) to be doing best are those that have and communities, ranging from and demonstrated consistently higher management in place to protect them. anemones to Zostera (eel-grass), densities of territorial wrasse at Skomer Over time it became clear that via sea-slugs, soft-corals, sponges, Island sites (no angling) compared with ‘low-impact’ shellfish potting was starfish and sediment communities. Marloes Peninsula sites (shore angling). not quite so benign as had been Every year a dedicated group of The volunteer projects together popularly assumed (see photographs volunteer divers book early to join with other Reserve monitoring have below) especially as fishing intensity that year’s labour-intensive resurvey of recorded real conservation gains. Since increased—doubling between 2000 either the MNR’s eel-grass bed, sea- dredging was prohibited, benthic and 2005. Designation of the MNR urchin and starfish, scallop or territorial sediment infaunal communities in as a ‘no take zone’ was proposed in fish populations, collecting invaluable information over two weekends with MNR staff support and guidance. An experimental investigation of scallop dredging’s impacts undertaken in 1985 resulted in the local Sea Fisheries Committee introducing a bye-law prohibiting dredging, beam trawling and collecting scallops by any method. Scallop surveys by volunteer divers have helped show that the consequential conservation benefits are still accumulating, recording an Ropes connecting shellfish pots are a direct threat to fragile erect species such as the encouraging and dramatic population seafan Euncicella verrucosa (l), and Ross coral Pentapora folicea (r). Image: NRW/SMNR. recovery since collection was prohibited in 1988. Mean density has increased by formerly scallop-dredged areas have 2005 but, despite two years of care- more than 25 times, though recovery at gradually developed into some of the ful negotiations, the proposal, which some sites slowed after 2006 and most diverse in Wales. The MNR would have enabled fishermen then recovery at one or two sites has been also makes a major contribution using the MNR to phase out their much weaker than at others. to Wales’ European Marine Site effort over ten years and for angling to Volunteer diver data have also (EMS) monitoring programme. continue in the most popular area, was enabled compilation of a time-series The noise in many datasets makes rejected by the Sea Fisheries Commit- of detailed maps of eel-grass (Zostera determination of change or stasis tee; potting effort then almost doubled difficult to determine for many species. again in the following three years. Small species such as cup-corals, Just five wholly Welsh European anemones and small sponges may Habitats Directive EMSs and two be obscured by sediment deposited cross-border estuary sites cover over in calm weather or luxuriant algal 70% of the coastline and 36% of growth. Sessile marine species change territorial sea area. So, when the their appearance and volume from one 2009 Marine and Coastal Access Act sampling event to the next depending introduced provisions for Marine on a host of environmental factors. Conservation Zones (MCZs), rather Many years of consistent observations than increase the area of designated are essential to enable any judge- sites, the Welsh Government ment as to these species’ condition. announced its intention to use the Despite the noise in the data and new powers to create highly protected the protection afforded by the MNR, MCZs (HPMCZs) within which numbers of soft corals Eunicella no extraction, deposition or damag- verrucosa (pink seafan) and Alcyonium ing activities would be allowed. glomeratum (red sea-fingers) have By the time a prolonged, shown a gradual decrease and the size complicated and secretive site Volunteer diver scallop surveys by have distribution of Ross coral (Pentapora selection process was completed the revealed a dramatic population recovery since collection by dredging and diving was foliacea) colonies appear skewed toward rationale for the HPMCZ approach prohibited. Image: Blaise Bullimore. smaller sizes. The species that appear had been forgotten. The consultation

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Box 1. Volunteer divers survey seagrass (Zostera marina) board, stating that more needs to be understood about the beds in Skomer Marine Nature Reserve wide range of marine habitats and species that are already protected before designating more sites and tying the future of MCZs in Wales to the government’s ‘blue growth agenda’. Ministers and civil servants rightly stress the need for evidence to support decision-making. So why was there no acknowledgement of the 140+ relevant survey and monitor- ing reports listed in the MCZ consultation document, nor of the MNR’s plethora of monitoring outputs and growing list of research publications from academics at universities from Swansea to Poland to Wellington, New Zealand? Of course we always want more information but it appears that no matter how much ecological information is collected, it is deemed insufficient or not good enough. Yet, the same standards of evidence are not demanded from challengers to MPAs, whose assertions of potential economic losses seem Zostera marina shoot density map 2010 compiled using accepted without question. volunteer survey data from a 5 metre grid. Marine conservation in Wales is struggling. The success and value of the single MNR has been underappreciated almost since the day it was designated and EMS implemen- tation has been, at best, disappointing. At present the MCZ process seems to have set progress back, not moved it forward. Where does this leave Skomer MNR? Twenty metres below the surface on Skomer Island’s North Wall is a big seafan which I first photographed in 1982. I have been back almost every year since and it is now an old friend but hardly any bigger. It is not as cute as seal pups, clown-faced puffins or charismatic dolphins. Alone, it has negligible economic value and does not provide much in the way of ecosystem services. But its continued presence and health are still Zostera marina density contour maps compiled using volunteer important. survey data from a 5 metre grid for 1997 (upper L) 2002 (upper It is difficult not to feel a bond with wildlife we have R), 2007 (lower L), 2010 (lower R). The bed has increased in known personally for decades. I hope this fan will still be area, expanding to the south and east, but after increasing between 1997 and 2002, shoot density has decreased in the here next year. It is vulnerable to so many threats, suspended middle and west of the bed. sediments, plastic debris and the fins of passing divers to name a few, but a direct hit from a rope on a string of pots is Phil Newman, Skomer MNR possibly the greatest risk. Since it is tucked into a cleft on a manager, marvels at the enthu- vertical cliff, perhaps it is safe. I hope so, and I also hope the siasm of volunteer eel-grass surveyors: “It’s unbelievable MNR team will still be there with the resources to go back that so many people keep next year to check. coming back to spend hours Blaise Bullimore first became involved with marine nature diving in poor visibility to count conservation in his twenties. He’s just turned sixty and blades of grass!” observes that over three decades have flown by and Wales still doesn’t have a single square metre of seabed which followed was badly mishandled and generated very completely protected from damaging and exploitative activities. He began sublittoral monitoring on Skomer vocal and politically active objection to the HPMCZ in 1982, carried out the support work for the Skomer proposals. A Task and Finish Group was appointed by MNR consultation and was its first manager. He is now the environment minister to ‘reflect on’ the almost 7,000 an Honorary Warden and still helps with the annual responses to the consultation—81% of which actually monitoring work. supported HPMCZs—and, advised by a Stakeholder FURTHER INFORMATION Focus Group, to advise on the way ahead with MCZs. Skomer MNR’s annual project status reports include details and In July 2013 the Minister announced that all propos- data summaries of all the individual projects; they are available on line als were scrapped and that we are back to the drawing here: www.wwmc.org.uk/skomer-mnr-allies/science-monitoring/

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riting as a marine biologist tion this means the marine food chain. with a view to increasing the harvest nearing the end of a 50-year When I first entered marine biology, from inshore waters. Leading marine Wcareer, mainly spent in I was fortunate that my home town of biologists, including F.S. Russell and C. commercial bivalve aquaculture, I Poole was the centre of not only a small M. Yonge in their classic book The Seas feel I should be well placed to give oyster industry but also had a laboratory (1928), had pointed out that farm- an overview of changes I have seen at the power station, run jointly with ing the sea for bivalves was the most in my lifetime and some thoughts on Southampton University. The team productive way of producing food in the future possible direction of food there was led terms of unit surface area. They quoted production from the seas. Central a report by the old Ministry of Agricul- to this will be finding a bal- ture and Fisheries (MAFF) showing anced resolution between that an acre of good mussel bed can sustaining marine produce much more food (10,000 habitats whilst hope- lbs of mussel meat p.a.) than any fully producing system of terrestrial farming more valuable of animals. This is without any food for His world input of feedstock or chemicals. humans. So from an early stage in my career I was able to culture phyto- is oysters plankton, measure it in the sea by chlorophyll analysis, filtration and by counting using an inverted microscope. Clive Askew reflects I was taught that harvesting from close to the bottom of the marine food on a career in by the chain by filter feeders was the most commercial bivalve late Alan environmentally benign way of produc- aquaculture Ansell, ing food, because there were no inputs DSc, to other than the seed bivalves, oysters, whom the mussels or clams, and that the size of marine aquarium at the resource at such a low trophic level the Scottish Associa- was so great that the impact of harvest- It tion for Marine Science ing by humans would be negligible. was (SAMS) is now dedicated. Working A few years later, eutrophication from Sir Alistair Hardy, at the laboratory as a summer vaca- terrestrial inputs became a hot issue no less, who first proposed the idea tion. student, it may come as a surprise and we were able to show that, by that humans have an aquatic ancestry. to many to hear that we were culturing removing biomass from the system The implications of this for human phytoplankton in large scale outdoor we were effectively improving water nutrition, most notably a relatively tanks, with the aeration enriched with quality in very inshore waters. Indeed large requirement for long-chain CO2 from the power station flue gas. mussels have since been used for pre- omega-3 fatty acids, a major compo- This was in 1962, long before global cisely that purpose in Swedish waters. nent of the brain and nervous system, warming had been thought about. Marine conservation was very much has been highlighted by proponents The phytoplankton was then fed to in its infancy. For my doctorate study such as Professor Michael Crawford, American hard clams (Mercenaria I monitored growth of hatchery-reared who has pointed out that the only mercenaria) a non-native species which native oysters at a number of sites in other species on the planet with such had been found in Southampton Water Hampshire and Sussex. One of these large brains, dolphins, are fish eaters. and the Solent and which had become was Pagham Harbour in West Sussex, Our ability to synthesise long-chain an important ‘bonus’ fishery in the area. which even in those days was a highly fatty acids (notably EPA and DHA) When I studied biological oceanog- protected reserve. Nevertheless, I from the short chain ones found in raphy at Southampton, much emphasis was given permission to include an terrestrial plants and hence through- was placed on measurement of marine experimental tray of native oysters there, out the terrestrial food-chain is very productivity, the topic of Professor John though use of a boat was not permitted limited. The only ready-made source of Raymont’s magnum opus Plankton and and the trial had to be accessed from long-chain fatty acids is algae and the Productivity in the Oceans (1963). He the shore, a minor inconvenience. All aquatic food chain sustained by them. had led a project during the Second the agencies I dealt with were highly In terms of the global human popula- World War to fertilise a Scottish sea loch supportive (Sea Fisheries Committees,

Spring 2014 | The Marine Biologist 29 Environment & Conservation

MAFF and the old White Fish Authority alien, even though they have greatly reduced (WFA)—now Seafish). In 1965 the first Pacific fishing pressure on native oysters and in areas oysters (Crassostrea gigas) from Canada were like the Thames estuary they frequently act as brought into quarantine by MAFF at Conwy ‘cultch’ for juvenile native oysters, so aiding and semi-commercial quantities began to be their recovery. A new book, Where Do Camels provided by the WFA, which had set up a Belong? by Ken Thompson (Profile Books, hatchery on the same site. So I was able to 2014) considers the arbitrary nature of such compare growth and mortality rates of both decisions and should be read by all involved native and Pacific oysters. It became clear that it in this debate, as it is so central to the issue. was the high natural mortality rate of the native An offer of work managing a hatchery oyster, rather than its slower growth rate, that for native oysters in Galicia, northern Spain was the key factor preventing its successful large took me into the world of fully commercial scale cultivation. Since then, Pacific oysters have shellfish farming. It was here that I first come to be regarded by many as an unwanted witnessed large-scale shellfish farming, in Mussel aquaculture in the Spanish Rías Baixas developed locally using home- grown expertise, but was supported by marine science led by personalities such as Miguel Torre at the Instituto Oceanográfico in La Coruña, looking at the upwelling off the north-west coast coast, and Antonio Figueras Snr, who originally worked in a hut built on an inter-tidal rock at Vilanova de Arousa, now the site of the CIMA laboratory. Growth was impressive though the 1970s and 1980s, with the introduction of mechanisa- tion in grading, thinning and re-encording the mussels on to vertical growing ropes. At its peak, with about 3,500 large (up to 20 m × 27 m) rafts in the four rias, concerns grew that this intensity of aquaculture was resulting in excessive deposition of sediment below the rafts with consequential reduction in biodiversity in the immediate area. Controls included strict limits on the number of rafts permitted and a limit on the length of the vertical ‘dropper’ ropes to 12 m, (some operators had started to use ropes up to 27 m deep). The industry has stabilised and is now rigorously controlled, especially for algal toxins, which are frequent in the very productive upwelling water. Old (top) and new (bottom) ‘bateas’ (rafts) from which mussel growing ropes are suspended. Images: Alejandro Guerra / CIMA.

30 The Marine Biologist | Spring 2014 Environment & Conservation

Morecambe Bay Oysters. We should celebrate the fact that a modern and environmentally benign form of oyster farming, from hatchery, through nursery stage and then to final on-growing to market size can still exist in Britain, given that it is an industry which all but disappeared fifty years ago. Images: Kelsey Thompson of Morecambe Bay Oysters.

the form of large mussel rafts in the Rías survived over 50 years of extremely intensive Baixas, of the Atlantic coast. That experi- oyster dredging during the massive boom ence, though brief, was life changing. The in oyster fishery from about 1860 till the fact that seafood was so much an everyday outbreak of the First World War. The decline part of the diet of most Galicians and so of Zostera beds happened when oyster dredg- important in the local economy was very ing was at a very low point. So the question different from all my previous experience. arises whether Zostera beds in sedimentary Clearly any form of food production in estuaries may actually benefit from some the sea, either fishing wild stocks or growing disturbance. In a recent TV programme fish or shellfish in aquaculture farms, will on Africa, Sir David Attenborough showed have environmental consequences of some a seagrass bed being maintained precisely degree. The aim should be to understand because it is cropped by sea turtles. On land them and to manage them. That requires we manage even highly protected grasslands good marine experimental and observational by cropping. I do not believe we have suf- science. A good example of such an approach ficient evidence or experience of the best way is the long standing experimental closure of of managing seagrass beds and some good selected scallop beds around the Isle of Man. experimental marine science is needed here. The benign bureaucracy that existed The marine environment is dynamic and previously has now become so complex that I should be viewed as a mosaic in space and would not feel capable of starting an aquacul- time. This means that marine conservation ture business today, however small. Indeed, zones should be fluid, requiring constant mon- the costs of having to deal with bureaucracy itoring and be susceptible to change or even to and the legal costs it could impose if any, even being rescinded as evidence of that changing entirely innocent, error were made, would mosaic emerges, not just immutable bounda- make it difficult to sleep peacefully at night, ries laid down for all time. The ‘iterative’ even if the business reached profitability. I approach to their identification and nomina- have the greatest admiration for those few tion, as currently employed by the govern- people who have succeeded in this (see above). ment, serves as a progressive approach towards An area in which I have a particular interest the moving target of appropriate conservation is that of seagrass (Zostera) management, zones, but it cannot simply cease with their particularly because getting this wrong can designation. The sea will carry on changing. have a very serious impact on shellfishing. Clive Askew ([email protected]. Looking at the history of its decline from co.uk) is a bivalve aquaculture consultant a fungal ‘wasting disease’ in the 1920s and and former (retired) Fisheries Consultant to 1930s, it is clear that inshore Zostera beds had the Fishmongers’ Company.

Spring 2014 | The Marine Biologist 31 Environment & Conservation

Like many of the oyster fishermen, A traditional fishery Richard Clapham has a summer job to make ends meet in the closed season. The fishery is artisanal and typical of the region, but it is also a livelihood for enters ‘a new era’ local people in a region where unem- ative oysters Ostrea edulis are capacity for accumulating copper and ployment is high. Are the demands fished in the Fal estuary in zinc, and Fal oysters can assume a green of making a living and sustainability NCornwall, south west England colour through accumulation of copper. using only traditional sailing and Oysters must also compete rowing vessels. In December I accom- for food and space with invasive panied Richard Clapham on board non-native species such as slipper the Falmouth working boat Holly- limpets (Crepidula fornicata) and Anne to see this fishery first-hand. the non-native red seaweed Solieria Dredges are dragged across the chordalis. The latter has proliferated seabed by sail or by hand-operated in recent years, smothering an oyster winches from rowing boats. The bed in the north east Carrick Roads; repeated ‘tilling’ of the estuary bed fishermen have only recently returned pulls the oyster shells and other hard to the area after the winter storms substratum out of the sediment and shifted the seaweed off the banks. onto the surface. ‘Cultch’ in the form of New rules for protecting site features shell debris is repeatedly laid, raising the in Special Areas of Conservation substratum above the silt so that oyster (SACs) mean that from October 2014, spat have a clean surface to settle on. oyster and mussel dredging in the One of the selling points for Fal Fal can only continue under a new oysters is their metallic taste—The Regulating Order. Simon Cadnam of A native oyster Ostrea edulis. The assem- the Cornwall IFCA said “A new era blage of flora and fauna appearing in the of shellfisheries management is about dredges is a result of human management —a marine parallel to a heathland or flower to begin in the Fal. Under [the new meadow. Order] we will work closely with fisher- men to make decisions which effectively in conflict? As in any fishing com- manage and improve the exploitation munity there are different ideas of what of natural shellfisheries resources”. constitutes sustainability and whilst Paul Ferris is the Fal Oyster Bailiff. various combinations of wind and In his view the main issues are more tide tend to distribute fishing effort rules and restrictions, invasive species naturally around the estuary, some and water quality. He told me “On fishermen work the beds with more the plus side we now have a Protected concern for sustainability than others. Designation of Origin for our oysters After 4 hours on the water we which may help with marketing and have 7 kg of oysters. The dealer will better prices, and the IFCA may be able pay £20, and each oyster may fetch to put more into improving the fishery.” £4 in a restaurant. Not a great day’s Adding that the continued existence fishing and I wonder uneasily how Richard Clapham hauls in the dredge. of the fishery is proof that the current much Richard would have landed Oysters have been extracted in this way for management works, Paul said “The had he been alone. The wind has died well over 200 years. fishery is self-sustaining and regulat- completely as we return to the moor- Shellfish Association of Great Britain ing in terms of fishing effort—a kind ing and I reflect on how the working characterise this as “a lingering light tin of conservation by inefficiency”. boats, the marine life of the estuary and copper finish”. The Carrick Roads How will the relationship between and a local way of life have evolved are impacted by past mining activi- the fishermen and the relatively new together and continue to coexist while ties, which continue to influence the IFCA develop? Will the present ‘light so much around them has changed. system through mine water discharges touch’ management continue or are Guy Baker ([email protected]) and remobilisation of contaminated there changes over the horizon that With thanks to Richard Clapham. sediment. Oysters have a particular the fishermen will find unwelcome? Images: MBA.

32 The Marine Biologist | Spring 2014 The Marine Biologist

for an institution of its size. Since A new chapter in its founding, more than 50 Nobel Laureates have been associated with the MBL, either as students, faculty or a remarkable history researchers. Entire fields of scientific endeavour—developmental biology, neurobiology and ecosystems science, The Marine Biological Laboratory is celebrating 125 years for example—have been nurtured here. and a new partnership with the University of Chicago. By While the MBL’s name would Pamela Clapp Hinkle suggest that its science is largely marine-focused, its mission has The MBL was founded in 1888 by always been to conduct creative, basic the Women’s Education Association research and provide discovery-based of Boston and the Boston Society of training in biology. Of course, the Natural History. Its roots and mantra MBL’s Woods Hole location, which is ‘study nature not books’, can be traced a day’s cruise from the cold waters of to the great laboratories of Europe— the Labrador Current and the warm the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, waters of the Gulf Stream just offshore, Roscoff, Villefrance-sur-mer—and means that scientists have easy access the more modest Anderson School of to a wide variety of marine species Natural History, founded by Harvard’s to use as models for their studies. Louis Agassiz (who coined the mantra) Basic research using these locally on the desolate island of Penikese, abundant organisms has resulted in located just south of Woods Hole. a greater understanding of biological There a group of young teachers and processes common to all living things, biologists—among them the MBL’s including humans. By studying the first director and later University giant axon of squid, for example, of Chicago professor Charles Otis MBL scientists discovered how nerve The Lillie building at the Marine Biological Whitman—gathered for two sum- cells generate electrical impulses, how Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts. mers in the mid-19th century. Many organelles and proteins are transported would eventually help shape the early within them, and how ion channels he Marine Biological Laboratory history of the MBL and its impact on facilitate the exchange of electrical (MBL) has been a leading force 20th century biology more generally. current across the cell membrane. Tin biological discovery and Under the early leadership of Studies using the horseshoe crab research training since its founding Whitman and others from universi- uncovered the basic mechanisms of in 1888. During the summer of 2013 ties around the country, the MBL photoreceptor function. And studies the laboratory celebrated its 125th built its reputation as, in the words of its blood revealed its special ability anniversary and began writing a new of essayist Lewis Thomas, America’s chapter in its remarkable history with ‘National Biological Laboratory’. the announcement of an exciting A summer institution for its first affiliation with the internationally eight decades, the MBL’s educational renowned University of Chicago. and research programmes attracted Located in the south-western corner the world’s top biologists and their of Cape Cod in the seaside village families, who relished the opportunity of Woods Hole, Massachusetts, the to gather, collaborate and exchange MBL is the oldest private marine ideas in a beautiful location. laboratory in the Americas. From the ‘The history of the [MBL] is more Eggs from sea urchins are important tools for research on cell division. beginning, the MBL has been driving than the history of a distinguished fundamental advances in the biological institution. It is also the history of biol- to clot when exposed to bacterial sciences and catalysing scientific careers ogy itself during the past 100 years’, endotoxins, resulting in the develop- by providing an intellectual home wrote science historian Garland Allen ment of an assay now used worldwide for leading biologists and promising in 1988 during the MBL’s Centennial. to test for contaminants in drugs students who gather from around the The MBL’s impact on the biological and other pharmaceutical products. world to collaborate across disciplines. sciences has been significant, especially The MBL’s contributions to cell

Spring 2014 | The Marine Biologist 33 The Marine Biologist

Research-based education programmes are a hallmark of the MBL. Students regularly report that their experiences in MBL courses are ‘transformative’ and ‘career-changing’. Image: Tom Kleindinst. biology, developmental biology and The MBL evolved from a summer the latest Intergovernmental Policy reproductive biology are also signifi- institution to a year-round enterprise on Climate Change report, and cant. Work using eggs of surf clams in the latter part of the 20th century. providing research-based information and sea urchins provided fundamental Nobel Laureate Albert Szent-Györgyi to legislators and policy makers. information about how certain proteins was one of the first to set up a year- Today the MBL employs more regulate cell division. The MBL’s role round laboratory at the MBL in than 270 scientists and support staff in the development of new technolo- the late 1940s, and celebrated light year-round working in the biological gies in microscopy and imaging are microscopist and cell biologist Shinya and environmental sciences. Research also legendary, and the availability Inoué followed in the 1970s. primarily focuses on ecosystems pro- of the latest instrumentation in the The MBL’s first fully-formed cesses and climate change; microbial MBL’s renowned summer courses puts resident research programme—the ecology, genomics and molecular evo- its international faculty and students lution; regenerative biology and tissue at the forefront of experimentation. MBL scientists engineering; imaging and cell biology; The MBL’s research-based summer serve on the world and sensory biology and behaviour. education programmes are a hallmark stage, co-authoring The staff is joined each year by more of the institution. The Physiology and than 300 visiting scientists, summer Embryology courses are almost as old key environmental staff, and research associates from as the institution itself, but the MBL’s documents hundreds of institutions world-wide. commitment to regularly refreshing Like generations of scientists before course leadership and focus keeps Ecosystems Center—was established them, many consider the MBL their these and all the MBL’s educational in 1975. With an early focus on intellectual home, and return year after programmes at the leading edge of studying the global carbon cycle, year to take advantage of the MBL’s their fields. In turn, the outstanding the Ecosystems Center has long unique collaborative environment. faculty—recruited from universities been a leader in basic ecological In addition, more than 1,200 worldwide—remark that the fresh research. The Center is among the students and faculty from more than perspectives, creativity and enthusiasm world’s best, and its scientists serve 500 institutions and 45 countries of these bright students inspire them on the world stage, co-authoring key participate each year in the MBL’s 25 to do some of their own best work. environmental documents such as advanced laboratory-based research

34 The Marine Biologist | Spring 2014 The Marine Biologist

Director and Chair of the University of Chicago’s Department of Zoology. These awards will provide funding for scientists to develop novel, col- laborative projects based at the MBL. ‘National and international col- laborations are increasingly essential in biological research as we pursue fundamental problems that require many perspectives and specialties’, said University of Chicago President Robert J. Zimmer upon the announce- ment of the affiliation. ‘I am delighted that the University of Chicago is partnering with the MBL to develop new possibilities for discovery and for training the next generation of A view of the MBL from Eel Pond. Image: Tom Kleindinst. science leaders. The MBL has an training programmes offered in On 1 July 2013, the MBL became extraordinarily valuable role as a fields such as cellular physiology, an affiliate of one of the leading source of innovation and creative embryology, neurobiology, molecular research universities in the world: the collaboration in modern biology’. evolution and microbiology. In 2003 University of Chicago. It seemed an ‘Our new partnership with the the MBL expanded its educational interesting choice to some, who won- University of Chicago allows us to opportunities by partnering with dered why the MBL had not selected a build on the MBL’s extraordinary nearby Brown University to establish more local partner. But the University strengths in biological, biomedical a graduate programme in biologi- of Chicago’s outstanding international and environmental sciences, as well cal and environmental sciences. reputation as a research institution, its as develop new and exciting ventures In spite of its notable history and experience with its other distinguished going forward’, said MBL’s President extraordinary contributions to 20th affiliates Argonne National Laboratory and Director Joan V. Ruderman. century biology, the MBL has never and Fermilab, and, most importantly, Pamela Clapp Hinkle (phinkle@ been financially robust. Fiercely its shared values and early history with mbl.edu) is the MBL’s Director of independent and governed for the MBL made for an ideal partner. Development & External Relations. much of its history by scientists for The MBL retains its status as a scientists, fundraising was seldom a separate research institution, as well as high priority. Today, with an annual its independent Board of Trustees. The budget of $41M and an endow- University is working with the MBL to ment hovering around $70M, the expand access to federal and founda- MBL is severely under-capitalized. tion grants, enhance philanthropy and Despite its recent successful $125M build new educational programmes. fundraising campaign—only the The MBL also expects to benefit second major effort in the history substantially from several kinds of of the institution—the MBL still savings and synergies that flow from found itself in a precarious financial being an affiliate of the University. situation. The economic downturn Both operational and scientific strategic and challenging funding climate that planning activities are now underway. affected all independent research Early plans are already taking shape institutions has not spared the MBL. to take advantage of MBL’s facilities In late 2012 the MBL’s Board of during the academic year by developing Trustees, with the leadership of a variety of training programmes that Board Chair John W. (Jack) Rowe will benefit students at the University and new President and Director of Chicago and elsewhere. Another Joan V. Ruderman, began to explore plus is the creation of the Frank R. Students on the graduate programme in strengthening the institution’s position Lillie Research Innovation Awards, biological and environmental science. through a university partnership. named in honour of the MBL’s second Image: Tom Kleindinst.

Spring 2014 | The Marine Biologist 35 Sharing marine science

So you want to be a marine biologist? Jack Sewell introduces a new MBA membership category for young people

ost of us who work in the people in helping to encourage an marine biological sciences can interest in marine biological science. Mremember a pivotal moment That is why ever since the incorpora- when our passion for life beneath the tion of a public aquarium in the newly waves or on the shore was ignited. For built Citadel Hill Laboratory in 1888, many it will have been an image or the Association has endeavoured to video, for others an encounter with a provide such experiences and support- creature in the wild or a person with an ing resources. In the 21st Century, out- infectious enthusiasm for the subject. reach, training and education remain The Marine Biological Association active parts of the Association’s role. has always recognised the importance For the first time in its 130 year of experiences such as these for young history, the MBA is inviting school- students of all ages to join the marine biological community and engage with the subject in a more in-depth and meaningful way than ever before. The Young Marine Biologist membership category will be officially launched their lives. It is hoped that the stimula- and open to members in the autumn tion provided by membership of the of 2014 with the release of a new, Association from such a young age biannual YMB magazine and a series will support and encourage the next of additional benefits, events and generation of marine scientists. resources to excite and enthuse all If you would like more informa- budding marine biologists. This is a tion about the new membership great opportunity to actively engage category please contact me. young people in marine biology at a Jack Sewell ([email protected]) is time when they are deciding on the Education Officer at the Marine academic and professional pathways Biological Association. that they will follow for the rest of Images: MBA.

36 The Marine Biologist | Spring 2014 Sharing marine science

encouraging product enhancement I definitely don’t expect to be for customers, such as using gripped or hugely entertained. organic methods in aquaculture to Blackfish however is a documentary Reviews make their outputs more attractive that has gripped, entertained and to sensitive consumers. For many inspired audiences since its premier and new titles of the measures advocated, there at the Sundance Film Festival in 2013. seemed resistance from industry The film focuses on the supposed Economic incentives for marine —perhaps that will change if inhumane treatment of one particular consumers work harder to demand orca named Tilikum who it is alleged and coastal conservation: products only from well-managed has been responsible for the deaths of prospects, challenges and fisheries and aquaculture. three trainers over 30 years. The film policy implications The final chapter is about ‘perverse links this behaviour to the appalling subsidies’, using an example treatment of Tilikum (and killer whales Edited by Essam Yassin Mohammed from Mexico, that only served to in general) whilst in captivity. Alleged ISBN 978-0-415-85598-3 increase the pressure on fish stocks abuses include breaking up groups of Published by Routledge resulting in decline in those stocks. orca in the wild in order to supply the Perhaps an example from Europe marine park industry and separating would have been appropriate! calves born in captivity from their What is clear is that every country mothers. The case against SeaWorld will have different cultural and and associated parks is built up economic characteristics to take over the course of the film giving it account of in determining what more of a mystery and suspense measures can be taken to protect feel rather than just a straightforward ecosystems and ecosystem services. explanation of the issues. So, the book is not a manual but If there is a difficulty with the film it does give some ideas of some is that most of the accusations come of the possibilities and problems from former SeaWorld employees that can be used to inform new making it hard to ascertain how economic measures in support of impartial the film makers are being marine and coastal conservation. in their use of facts. SeaWorld claim Keith Hiscock the film is ‘deliberately misleading and scientifically inaccurate’ and Blackfish (2013, Cert 15) their refusal to participate in the film definitely makes the documentary Ecologists and what might be Director: Gabriela Cowperthwaite more of a polemic than a balanced called ‘fair-minded people’ would debate. Whatever your opinion, there like to see a good stewardship ethos is no doubting the power of the film. across all that we do with the natural It has resulted in a backlash against environment. But, the reality is that marine parks with various celebrities sustainable use and protection of rushing to criticise the idea of orcas natural resources may only happen being held in captivity and bands if we can prove that all of those cancelling gigs at SeaWorld affiliated resources are worth something venues. As a result, SeaWorld are now (usually in monetary terms). The seeking to tell their side of the story. authors of most of the chapters in this So if you want to join the debate book have, at the centre of their case on the educational and scientific studies, the concept of Payment for value of marine parks versus Ecosystem Services (PES): financial animal welfare and commercial incentives and compensation for exploitation, or just want to enjoy good behavior. Furthermore, the a film that is both unsettling and chapters are predominantly about riveting, Blackfish will do the trick. fisheries although mangroves and Matt Frost coral reefs do get a look-in together When it comes to documentary with recreational values especially films on the environment, I always of marine protected areas. find myself approaching them with RSPB Handbook of the Seashore In exploring how economic that slight sinking feeling. I expect incentives can change behaviour, them to be worthy, educational Author: Maya Plass the authors draw attention to perhaps but ultimately, well, a bit dull. ISBN 978-1-4081-7836-2 successes and analyze failures of When it comes to documentaries some of those incentives. They also with a marine environmental theme Published by Bloomsbury include mention of such approaches it is even worse as I feel as I ‘ought’ This small book of 240 pages as allocating fishing rights and to watch a film on ‘my subject’. covers most things that one is

Spring 2014 | The Marine Biologist 37 Sharing marine science likely to find on the seashore— found are described and illustrated except birds! These are of course with good colour photographs. For covered in another RSPB book. each species an indication is given There are introductory chapters of size, where it occurs on the shore on the tidal cycle, how to read tide and other similar species with which tables, where to look, The Seashore it may be confused. Finally there is Code, keeping a nature journal, a chapter on things found on the what to do if you find something strandline. A glossary is followed unusual, the value of the coast by further reading, useful websites and sea, and conservation and and an index. This is certainly a climate change. Then each group handy little book for those wishing of organisms is dealt with in turn. to identify most of the life found In the introduction to each group on the seashore. It is a convenient there is an account of the main size to carry onto the beach and features and in some cases these the cover and pages should be are illustrated with line drawings to some extent water resistant. and diagrams of the life cycles. Gerald T. Boalch The 208 species most commonly MBA Postgraduate Conference The first MBA Postgraduate ates and post-docs could meet, discuss by the post-graduates with support workshop was held in April 2002 at their work and exchange ideas. As a from the Association including the the MBA’s Citadel Hill Laboratory in result of the success of the meeting award of bursaries to attendees. Ben Plymouth and was attended by stu- it was agreed that the profit made Harvey (Aberystwyth University) dents and post-docs from as far afield would be used towards organising the and Fadilah Ali each received a as Dublin, Belfast and France. Before next workshop and the Annual MBA bursary to attend the latest work- this time, there were no UK marine Postgraduate conference was born. shop (held at Hull, UK). Fadilah biological meetings where postgradu- The conferences are organised reports on her experience below. Experience at the 11th Marine Biological Association Postgraduate Conference 2014, University of Hull, UK, Scarborough Campus y being awarded one of the Marine Biological Association’s Student BBursaries, I was not only able to present on my research, but also experi- ence some exciting and informative presentations from the other delegates as well as the keynote speakers. My research on the lionfish invasion in the Caribbean was unique and well received as many people were intrigued about the indestructible nature of lionfish and their ability to devastate the native populations. At this conference there was also a diverse array of research presented, including topics such as deep sea species, coastal protection, marine protected areas, ocean acidification and invertebrate ecology to name a few. The conference and its social activities represented a fantastic networking opportunity to get to know other current postgraduate studies as well as the representatives from the University of Hull. This was especially important since these individuals who are postgraduate students now, may very well end up continuing to be my peers in the future, or hold reputable positions at the academic, government or industry level. Thus this confer- ence could quite possibly be an invaluable investment for the future. The fieldtrip to Flamborough Head and Bempton Cliffs was especially enjoyable even with the sometimes inclement weather. Being an international student it was great to experience the beauty and wonder of the British environ- ment, which ranged from breathtaking chalk cliffs and caves to diverse intertidal rocky shores, to great expanses of rolling hills. The session at Bempton Cliffs was quite informative and gratifying as we were able to learn to identify a variety of species and had the chance to see puffins and a peregrine falcon! I would like to commend the organising committee at the University of Hull for the superb session and also thank the MBA for granting me the opportunity to attend this conference. Images: Organising Committee of the 11th MBA PG Conference Fadilah Ali, PhD Student, University of Southampton Lionfish: Albert Kok

38 The Marine Biologist | Spring 2014 The Marine Biologist Royal Charter Royal Charters are granted by the sovereign on the advice of the Privy Council to organisations that can demonstrate pre-eminence, stability and permanence in their particular field. A Royal Charter comes into force legally once it has passed under the Great Seal of the Realm. The MBA Charter, printed on vellum and with the accompanying Great Seal (scarlet red), is shown below.

Spring 2014 | The Marine Biologist 39 Issue 3 of The Marine Biologist TheMarine

BiologistThe magazine of the marine biological community Autumn 2014

www.mba.ac.uk/marinebiologist