Archive for December, 2009
WWF RÄT ZU HERING, MAKRELE ODER MSC-LACHS / FINGER WEG VON AALPRODUKTEN
Schwertfisch
Hamburg – Rund 16 Kilogramm Fisch verzehrt jeder deutsche
Verbraucher im Jahr. Gerade zur Weihnachtszeit zählt in vielen
deutschen Haushalten Fisch zum Festtagsmenü. Doch längst nicht
jeder Fisch auf dem deutschen Markt stammt aus umweltverträglichem
Fang, warnt der WWF. “Verbraucher sollten auf die Herkunft des
Fisches achten, denn viele Fischereien plündern die Meere”, so
WWF-Expertin Heike Vesper. Weltweit gelten 80% Prozent aller
Fischbestände als zu stark oder bis an die Grenzen ausgebeutet.
“Wir raten, nur Fisch zu kaufen, der schonend gefangen wird und
aus gesunden Beständen kommt”, so Vesper. Zur Orientierung
sollten Verbraucher beim Fischkauf auf das blaue Siegel des MSC
(Marine Stewardship Council) achten. Das Zeichen garantiert eine
umweltfreundliche Fischerei.
Bei dem zu Weihnachten so beliebten Lachs empfiehlt der WWF, genau
hinzuschauen. “Tiefkühllachs mit dem MSC-Siegel oder Lachs aus
Bio-Zucht ist in Ordnung. Auf konventionellen Lachs sollte man
hingegen besser verzichten”, rät Vesper. Aufgrund der massiven
ökologischen Schäden der rasant wachsenden Aquakultur-Industrie
ist nach Ansicht des WWF nur Zuchtlachs mit Bio-Zertifikat eine
Alternative zu Wildfängen.
Die Weihnachtsdelikatesse Aal gehört gar nicht mehr auf den Teller.
Die Bestände an jungen Aalen sind seit den Achtziger Jahren auf ein
bis neun Prozent ihrer Grüße geschrumpft, so dass diese Fischart
vom Aussterben bedroht ist. Wissenschaftler empfehlen konsequenten
Schutz. “Wer jetzt noch Aal isst, vergreift sich an den letzten
dieser Art. Hier müssen sich Verbraucher und Handel ihrer
Verantwortung bewusst werden” mahnt WWF-Fischereiexpertin Heike
Vesper. Eine aktuelle Umfrage des WWF zeigt, dass mit EDEKA,
Kaufland, Norma, Aldi Süd und Lidl bisher nur fünf
Handelsunternehmen Aal aus ihrem Sortiment genommen haben.
Verbraucher, die diese Unternehmen in Ihrer Entscheidung bestärken
möchten, können bei der WWF “Aal-Retter”- Aktion im Internet
mitmachen.
Um sich an der Fischtheke schneller zu orientieren, stellt die
Umweltstiftung Verbrauchern einen kostenlosen Fischführer zur
Verfügung. Die handliche Einkaufshilfe für die Brieftasche
bewertet 40 handelsübliche Arten nach ökologischen Kriterien.
WEITERE INFORMATIONEN zu dieser Pressemeldung finden Sie hier >>
What’s New at SCUBA Travel?
===========================
Read about some great dive sites in Brazil and find a dive operator.
http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/americas/brazil.html
:ADVERT__________________________________________________
Scuba Dive Sipadan – Mabul – Kapalai, From Budget to Luxury, our aim is to prepare and deliver you the very best diving holidays. Experience tornado-like formation of Barracudas, big-eye trevallies, thousands of silver jack fishes, bumphead parrot fishes, napoleon fish, reef sharks, numerous turtles and the occasional mantas, hammerhead sharks, whale sharks, etc.http://www.sipadan.com/
___________________________________________________ADVERT:
We’ve a new section on diving in Norway – somewhere to consider for a different diving experience to the usual holiday destinations.
http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/europe/norway.html
Diving Spain and the Canary Islands
Another new page on the site, with information on diving Tenerife and elsewhere in Spain and the Canary Islands.
http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/europe/spain.html
For regular announcements of what’s new at the SCUBA Travel site see the Diving Board at
http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/forum/viewforum.php?f=2
__________________________________________________________
Letters
===========================
Cuba
My son and I are planning to visit Holguin, Cuba, between Dec 27th and Jan 3rd. We have no diving experience other than having done a bit of snorkelling. We are hoping that while we are down there, we could obtain basic diving certification, and maybe even a few dives if possible. We are staying at the PLAYA PESQUERO, in Holguin. Do you know if this is possible, and if so, do you have any suggestions as to who I should be contacting to arrange things.
Mike
http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1687
Red Sea
My wife and i are both very new to diving and are looking for a shore-based Red Sea trip. Want warm water and good conditions i.e. not windy and choppy. Anyone any suggestions, please?
Greydiver
http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1682
Post your answer on the Diving Board or e-mail news@scubatravel.co.uk. Thanks.
:ADVERT__________________________________________________
Dive Tenerife with Aqua-Marina Oxygene – PADI 5* and BSAC Dive Training resort offering guided dives to the best dive spots in Tenerife. Crystal clear Atlantic waters with plenty of exciting life including Angel sharks, Rays, Turtles. Accommodation available too. http://www.aquamarinadivingtenerife.com
___________________________________________________ADVERT:
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Creature of the Month: Burrowing Anemone, Cerianthus lloydii
==========================================================
This common European species is not a true anemone. Instead of attaching itself to a rock it lives in a soft tube protruding above sand or mud.
The animals’s tentacles are usually all that is visible. The inner set circle the mouth and are short and stiff. The long, flexible, attractive outer ones, over 100 of them, sweep prey inwards. When disturbed the whole anemone shoots back into its tube, like a tubeworm. The tentacle crown measures up to 10 cm across.
The burrowing anemone lives from the shallows down to 100 m. The tentacles may be white, brown, green or banded.
You find this anemone from Norway down to the Bay of Biscay.
Further Reading:
Great British Marine Animals, by Paul Naylor, Deltor (2003)
More pictures of Burrowing Anemones are at http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/photouk.html
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Diving News From Around the World
=================================
If you would like display this news on your web site then go tohttp://www.scubatravel.co.uk/newsfeed.html. It’s free and automatically updates your web page with the latest diving news.
Shark fin traders admit selling endangered species
Hong Kong shark fin merchants have reacted angrily to a US study that said meat from endangered species was being sold in the city’s markets. US scientists found 21 per cent of the fins came from endangered scalloped hammerhead shark stocks in the western Atlantic. But the Hong Kong Shark Fin Trade Merchant’s Association said its members had not done anything illegal. A spokesman said “We are not doing anything against the law. The sale of endangered scalloped hammerhead shark fins has not been made illegal here.”
IUCN warns of acid oceans and mass extinctions
Increased release of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is making sea water more acidic and is threatening ecosystems and species. It is also reducing the ocean’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide and regulate climate. According to IUCN), deep and immediate cuts in emissions are needed to stall the acidification of oceans and prevent mass extinction of marine species.
‘Shocking’ 95% Decline of Fish Populations
Populations of numerous migratory fish species – those that move between freshwater and saltwater during the course of their lives – have declined by a shocking 95 percent.
NOOA remove restrictions on swordfish fishing
Environmentalists believe the new regulations will harm turtles, sharks, albatross, dolphins and other species accidentally caught in the fishery.
Atlantic Hurricane Season Closes: Less Storms This Year
The 2009 Atlantic hurricane season officially ended 30 November marking the close of a season with the fewest named storms and hurricanes since 1997 thanks, in part, to El Nino.
Ancient Mediterranean flood mystery solved
Research has revealed details of the catastrophic Zanclean flood that refilled the Mediterranean Sea more than five million years ago. The flood occurred when Atlantic waters found their way into the cut-off and desiccated Mediterranean basin. The researchers say that a 200km channel across the Gibraltar strait was carved out by the floodwaters. Their findings, published in Nature, show that the resulting flood could have filled the basin within two years.
Melting sea ice dilutes water, endangers sea life
Melting of the Arctic sea ice due to global warming is diluting surface waters and this is endangering some species of shellfish which need minerals in the water to form their shells and skeletons, scientists have found.
Oceans Absorb Less Carbon Dioxide as Marine Systems Change
The oceans are by far the largest carbon sink in the world. Some 93 percent of carbon dioxide is stored in algae, vegetation, and coral under the sea. But oceans are not able to absorb all of the carbon dioxide released from the burning of fossil fuels. In fact, a recent study suggests that the oceans have absorbed nearly 10 percent less fossil-fuel emissions since 2000. The study, published in the current issue of Nature, is the first to quantify the perceived trend that oceans are becoming less efficient carbon sinks.
Sea cucumbers face depletion once more
A new extension to the sea cucumber harvesting season, and an increase in licences, is going to drive stock back a decade to near depletion, Tongan officials fear.
* Copyright SCUBA Travel - http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/
* Reprinting permitted with this footer included.
We are happy for you to copy and distribute this newsletter, and use parts of it on your own web site, providing the above copyright notice is included and a link back to our web site is in place.
Previous editions of SCUBA News are archived athttp://www.scubatravel.co.uk/news.html
