AP.   TREENA SHAPIRO
02/17/2012 9:17 am

(AP) — A proposal to collect fees from customers who choose disposable paper and plastic shopping bags is gaining support as it works its way through Hawaii’s Legislature.

If lawmakers pass the House Bill 2260 this session, Hawaii would become the first state to enact this kind of pro-environment legislation.

The measure has been touted as a way to discourage shoppers from using single-use shopping bags by charging an extra 5 cents per bag. The average person uses 400 plastic bags each year, advocates say.

Mark Fox, Director of External Affairs for the Nature Conservancy, told a House committee Thursday that the legislation has two benefits: “It works on changing people’s behavior and encourages them to bring reusable bags. And if you’re unable to change your behavior, you can contribute to helping our watersheds.”

Maui, Kauai and Hawaii Island counties have all enacted measures to limit use of plastic bags.

Melissa Pavlicek, testifying on behalf of Safeway and Times Supermarket, said plastic bag bans on Maui and Kauai have led more shoppers to ask for costly paper bags instead of bringing their own reusable totes.

The grocery chains support the bill, however, but requested the state use some of the fee to help them cover the cost of administering the program. Read the full article

Aboard Mission Blue, scientist Greg Stone tells the story of how he helped the Republic of Kiribati create an enormous protected area in the middle of the Pacific — protecting fish, sealife and the island nation itself.

In 1996, as a volunteer certified diver, I went down to the Florida Keys to assist in mapping out the reef at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. I was one of more than 100 volunteer divers for this project. In three weeks we mapped out the entire reef for the state of Florida. This reef was to be preserved as a state park.

I have just learned that the bottom of this reef is currently full of garbage — not being preserved — and I am very perturbed that this could have happened. I find out that people are still hand-feeding dolphins, which is a federal offense, and they are dumping trash, which sinks to the bottom and has settled on the reef.

Garbage being on the bottom of the reef greatly threatens the wildlife that depends on the reef for housing and survival. Dolphins use the reef to hunt for the fish, as do crabs and other varieties. Bonefish, bonita, blue marlin, dolphins and all other species depend on the reef for their existence.I don’t understand why people don’t respect this.

I reside in the mountains of South Carolina, where I am retired. I would appeal to those who live in Monroe County to take up the cause and take care of your underwater wildlife at the John Pennekamp reef.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission does not have the funding and people resources to patrol these waters effectively. It is, therefore, incumbent upon the people residing in Monroe County to organize teams of volunteers to care for the waters in this area. Small teams of volunteers could be organized to start this process.

Perhaps someone reading this is an organizer. It only takes one dog in the pack to lead others. Of course, effective change starts with just one person and grows from there.

If you love your waters — those beautiful clear blue waters that many of us don’t have the access to — you’ll rise up and begin to save the gorgeous Pennekamp reef.

William Highfill

West Union, S.C.

(Reuters) – The United States said on Friday it was appealing a World Trade Organization ruling against U.S. dolphin-safe labeling measures for tuna in a longrunning spat with Mexico closely watched by environmentalists.

“Our dolphin-safe labeling measures for tuna products provide information for American consumers as they make food purchasing decisions for their families,” said Andrea Mead, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Trade Representative.

Read the full article at http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/20/us-usa-mexico-dolphins-idUSTRE80J1BC20120120

NOVEMBER 15, 2011

Watercolors is a compelling and riveting true story about the rescue of JJ the Whale, a day old gray whale that was found abandoned in Marina del Rey, California.  Tamminen tells an educational, moving, and remarkable story as he takes us through his incredible journey and the set-backs he encountered.  But most importantly, this book is a call to action: although we may not all have the chance encounter of meeting and directly saving a baby whale, our actions and decisions that we make on a daily basis are affecting these mysteriously beautiful creatures.

Help support Reef Relief by purchasing Terry Tamminen’s latest book Watercolors: How JJ the Whale Saved Us, a compelling and riveting true story about the rescue of JJ the Whale.  For each book purchased through the Watercolors website, $5.00 will be donated to our organization.

Visit www.watercolorsthebook.com/Purchase.html and be sure to choose our organization from the drop down menu.

Makes a great holiday gift!

(Dive Travel Business News – June 8, 2011) — Today is World Oceans Day – a time to celebrate our earth’s most beautiful blue resource, and to take a moment to consider how we are taking care of it. World Oceans Day, which had been unofficially celebrated every June 8 since its original proposal in 1992 by Canada at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  The day was officially recognized by the United Nations in 2008. Since then it has been coordinated internationally by The Ocean Project and the World Ocean Network with greater success and global participation each year.

Why should we care about the ocean?
Water is life!  The ocean brought life to this planet making us inextricably linked to the sea.   It is the earth’s great climate regulator;  It generates most of the air we breath; It cleans the water we drink; It helps to feed us; The ocean offers us a pharmacopoeia of potential life saving and life enhancing medicines; It is a source of recreation, exploration and inspiration.

The oceans are in trouble.
The health of marine life is a key indicator of the health of the ocean. The health of the ocean is critical to the very existence of life on our planet. Climate change has already been linked to the killing of coral reefs. Coupled with destructive fishing practices, there is a dramatic decline in many types of fish and sea life we depend on. The ocean is at the lowest point on the planet: What we dump into our kitchen sink or storm drain will eventually end up in the sea. All the waste that is not properly disposed of will end up in coastal waters, creating “dead zones” where sea life cannot survive. A priority is ensuring the safe disposal of human and chemical waste. Even fertilizer used in midwestern farmland will end up in the ocean, contaminating it. How we protect our earth and fresh water ways will ultimately protect the oceans that give us life.

Consider your carbon footprint.
The energy we consume and the carbon we emit is ending up in the atmosphere. Climate change is an inevitable result. Seventy-two percent of our planet is made up of water and this water acts as a huge carbon sink that absorbs carbon emissions. But it’s beyond its capacity and can no longer regulate our planet’s temperature as it once did. The result: the oceans are warming up. Global warming is the result. The warming of the oceans results in melting glacial ice, rising sea levels, heavy rain in some areas, and drought in others. It is causing the destruction of coral reefs.

According to the website Environment 360, “Almost half of all the carbon dioxide emitted since industrialization has been absorbed by the ocean. When carbon dioxide reacts with water, it forms carbonic acid, and releases more hydrogen ions into the sea, lowering pH and causing “acidification” of the ocean. Further, these hydrogen ions quickly bind with carbonate ions. This deprives animals like hard corals and certain mollusks and plankton of the raw material for their calcium carbonate shells and skeletons. This may ultimately cause the world’s oceans to become corrosive to such animals, and coral reefs to dissolve.”

Pressure on the ocean for food.
Increased demand and overfishing are pushing fish populations to the limit. At the current rate, scientists say that all wild fish species will be endangered before 2050.  According to the U.N., “approximately two-thirds of ocean species are overfished, and many types of ocean fish farming are highly damaging to coastal environments.”  When consuming seafood, we must be aware of the sustainability issue and whether the fish is safe to eat, i.e. doesn’t contain mercury or other toxic chemicals that we’ve dumped into the sea.  Visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch Program for a downloadable wallet-sized card indicating which fish are okay to eat and to find seafood recipes.

Reduce consumption of plastics.
A particular issue for oceans is the over-use of plastics: Our world’s oceans are ringed by coastal communities, and the plastic garbage created by these large population aggregations often ends up in the sea. The massive quantity of plastic waste we generate has caused huge gyres of plastic waste to form in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. These floating vortexes of plastic waste are miles wide and 6 feet deep in places. We have huge garbage dumps floating on the surface of the ocean and nobody is cleaning them up. They are just getting bigger. As it floats on the ocean surface and breaks down in the sun, the plastic releases highly toxic chemicals into our water and atmosphere, affecting marine life and our drinking water.  Mistaking it for food, marine life eat the plastic and die a slow, agonizing death. Recycling is no longer enough: we must significantly reduce the overall consumption of plastics to protect our world.

What can you do?
This WOD, wear blue clothing to raise awareness for ocean conservation.  Let those around you know why you’re wearing blue and share two facts about why it’s important to protect our world oceans; or ways they can take personal action and help. Here are some tips on how we can protect our oceans:

• Using natural pest control to avoid runoff of chemicals;
• Buy organic food – it forces farmers to reconsider use of chemicals;
• Buy only sustainable seafood and locally grown food whenever possible;
• Reducing meat and fish consumption;
• Turn out the lights when you leave a room, and change your light bulbs to compact fluorescent light bulbs;
• Recycle plastic whenever possible and reduce the consumption of plastics in general;
• Reduce energy use at home, get a home energy audit, buy EnergyStar appliances, unplug appliances when you are not using them, lower your thermostat in the winter and raise it in the summer;
• Commute wisely; Try biking, take public transportation regularly, seek carpooling partners, or consider telecommuting;
• Ride share, and plan your car errands to conserve energy;
• Use ocean-friendly i.e. “green” household cleaning methods and products;
• Connect by volunteering with a local watershed or ocean group;
• Buy less stuff!

Celebrate World Oceans Day.
The World Oceans Day 2011 & 2012 theme is Youth: the Next Wave for Change. For more information, visit the World Oceans Day website at http://www.worldoceansday.org/

** This RSS Feed is brought to you by www.DiveTravelBusinessNews.com **

Resources:
http://www.worldoceansday.org/
ttp://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/seafoodwatch.aspx
http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/june11/worldoceanday.html
http://e360.yale.edu/
http://www.un.org/Depts/los/reference_files/worldoceansday.htm
http://www.squidoo.com/world-oceans-day
http://www.divetravelbusinessnews.com/article/great-pacific-garbage-patc…

Source: http://www.divetravelbusinessnews.com/article/make-every-day-world-oceans-day

Photograph by Sebastian Meckelmann. source: National Geographic

1. Mind Your Carbon Footprint and Reduce Energy Consumption
Reduce the effects of climate change on the ocean by leaving the car at home when you can and being conscious of your energy use at home and work. A few things you can do to get started today: Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs, take the stairs, and bundle up or use a fan to avoid oversetting your thermostat.

2. Make Safe, Sustainable Seafood Choices
Global fish populations are rapidly being depleted due to demand, loss of habitat, and unsustainable fishing practices. When shopping or dining out, help reduce the demand for overexploited species by choosing seafood that is both healthful and sustainable.

3. Use Fewer Plastic Products
Plastics that end up as ocean debris contribute to habitat destruction and entangle and kill tens of thousands of marine animals each year. To limit your impact, carry a reusable water bottle, store food in nondisposable containers, bring your own cloth tote or other reusable bag when shopping, and recycle whenever possible.

4. Help Take Care of the Beach
Whether you enjoy diving, surfing, or relaxing on the beach, always clean up after yourself. Explore and appreciate the ocean without interfering with wildlife or removing rocks and coral. Go even further by encouraging others to respect the marine environment or by participating in local beach cleanups.

5. Don’t Purchase Items That Exploit Marine Life
Certain products contribute to the harming of fragile coral reefs and marine populations. Avoid purchasing items such as coral jewelry, tortoiseshell hair accessories (made from hawksbill turtles), and shark products.

6. Be an Ocean-Friendly Pet Owner
Read pet food labels and consider seafood sustainability when choosing a diet for your pet. Never flush cat litter, which can contain pathogens harmful to marine life. Avoid stocking your aquarium with wild-caught saltwater fish, and never release any aquarium fish into the ocean or other bodies of water, a practice that can introduce non-native species harmful to the existing ecosystem.

7. Support Organizations Working to Protect the Ocean
Many institutes and organizations are fighting to protect ocean habitats and marine wildlife. Find a national organization and consider giving financial support or volunteering for hands-on work or advocacy. If you live near the coast, join up with a local branch or group and get involved in projects close to home.

8. Influence Change in Your Community
Research the ocean policies of public officials before you vote or contact your local representatives to let them know you support marine conservation projects. Consider patronizing restaurants and grocery stores that offer only sustainable seafood, and speak up about your concerns if you spot a threatened species on the menu or at the seafood counter.

9. Travel the Ocean Responsibly
Practice responsible boating, kayaking, and other recreational activities on the water. Never throw anything overboard, and be aware of marine life in the waters around you. If you’re set on taking a cruise for your next vacation, do some research to find the most eco-friendly option.

10. Educate Yourself About Oceans and Marine Life
All life on Earth is connected to the ocean and its inhabitants. The more you learn about the issues facing this vital system, the more you’ll want to help ensure its health—then share that knowledge to educate and inspire others.

http://ocean.nationalgeographic.com/ocean/take-action/10-things-you-can-do-to-save-the-ocean/