Group items tagged

Cruise Industry to Boost South Africa Economy.

Human activities in the oceans increase the extinction risk of marine megafauna. Interventions require an understanding of movement patterns and the spatiotemporal overlap with threats. We analysed the movement patterns of 33 white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) satellite-tagged in South Africa between 2012 and 2014 to investigate the influence of size, sex and season on movement patterns and the spatial and temporal overlap with longline and gillnet fisheries and marine protected areas (MPAs). We used a hidden Markov model to identify 'resident' and 'transient' movement states and investigate the effect of covariates on the transition probabilities between states. A model with sex, total length and season had the most support. Tagged sharks were more likely to be in a resident state near the coast and a transient state away from the coast, while the probability of finding a shark in the transient state increased with size. White sharks moved across vast areas of the southwest Indian Ocean, emphasising the need for a regional management plan. White sharks overlapped with longline and gillnet fisheries within 25% of South Africa's Exclusive Economic Zone and spent 15% of their time exposed to these fisheries during the study period. The demersal shark longline fishery had the highest relative spatial and temporal overlap, followed by the pelagic longline fishery and the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) shark nets and drumlines. However, the KZN shark nets and drumlines reported the highest white shark catches, emphasising the need to combine shark movement and fishing effort with reliable catch records to assess risks to shark populations accurately. White shark exposure to shark nets and drumlines, by movement state, sex and maturity status, corresponded with the catch composition of the fishery, providing support for a meaningful exposure risk estimate. White sharks spent significantly more time in MPAs than expected by chance, likely due to increased prey abundance

Although submarine canyons are internationally recognized as sensitive ecosystems and reported to be biological hotspots, regional studies are required to validate this consensus. To this end, hydrographic and benthic biodiversity data were collected during three cruises (2016-2017) to provide insights on the benthic patterns within South African canyon and non-canyon offshore areas. A total of 25 stations, sampled at 200-1000 m depth range, form the basis of the multivariate analysis. Diversity gradients were calculated and then differences were compared across substrate types and depth zones represented within 12 canyon and 13 non-canyon stations. Significant differences in both substrate and depth were evident, despite measures being highly variable. This observation of varying diversity in different substrates is in line with previous studies. No clear pattern was observed for species diversity (delta+). However, non-canyon stations overall showed a higher diversity in comparison to canyon stations. A notable peak in diversity is observed in canyon areas in the 401-500 m depth zone. Species richness followed an opposing pattern, as it decreased with depth and was consistently higher in canyon areas. These results align with the well-defined influence of depth-related variables on the distribution of taxonomic groups and the substrate available, at various scales. The eutrophic characteristic of the Benguela region may have attributed to the insignificant diversity differences between canyon and non-canyon stations. To assess the benthic species structure in canyon and non-canyon areas, we converted the 108 benthic species into a gamma+ matrix. We then modelled the biological response to predictor variables (substrate and depth). Although the canyon and non-canyon areas have an overlapping species composition, the main effects (canyon vs. non-canyon, depth, and substrate) showed significant differences. Thirteen species were characteristic of canyon areas, whilst

The number of Vendee Globe skippers now in the Indian Ocean grew to nine overnight as French sailors Thomas RUYANT and Jean LE CAM passed the Cape of Good Hope. Race first-timer RUYANT, skipper of Le Souffle du Nord pour le Projet Imagine, and veteran LE CAM on Finistère Mer Vent, were just under four hours apart from one another passing the magical longitude of 018°29.85'E.

Why the Indian Ocean is spawning strong and deadly tropical cyclones.

Uncharted waters: Scientists to explore Indian Ocean depths.

China Seeks Control of Strategic Port in Myanmar.

Australian government says analysis on two pieces of debris indicates they are 'highly likely' to have come from missing craft, fuelling confidence further remains will be found soon.

Australian government says analysis on two pieces of debris indicates they are 'highly likely' to have come from missing craft, fuelling confidence further remains will be found soon.

Lava-covered piece of continent is an ancient remnant, left over from the break-up of the supercontinent, Gondwana, which started about 200 million years ago.

Groupama et ses cinq concurrents se bagarrent avec un Indien compliqué : un creux barométrique leur barre le chemin. « Les routages s'affolent, » écrit ce matin Yann RIOU, l'équipier média.

Team Telefónica snatched victory from CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand to win a thrilling first stage of Leg 2 by one minute and 57 seconds and strengthen their position at the top of the overall leaderboard.

Telefónica remporte ce soir le premier acte de l'étape entre Le Cap et Abu Dhabi. Après plus de 15 jours de course, une minute et 57 secondes le sépare seulement de CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand, deuxième !

Franck CAMMAS has vowed his Groupama sailing team will come back stronger in the next phase of the Volvo Ocean Race after missing out on a top-three position in the first stage of Leg 2.

Franck CAMMAS' Groupama sailing team are the first of the Volvo Ocean Race crews to have their position cloaked after entering the 'stealth zone'.

As part of the anti-piracy measures introduced for Leg 2 from Cape Town to Abu Dhabi and Leg 3 to Sanya, China the boats will enter a 'Stealth Zone' on their way to the secret safe haven port.

There was no prospect of a festive truce for the Volvo Ocean Race teams on Sunday as CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand battled to hold on to their lead in the face of a Christmas Day fightback from Team Telefónica.

Pas de jour férié pour les cinq Volvo Open 70 qui progressent vers l'arrivée de la première partie de l'étape entre Le Cap et Abu Dhabi. La flotte est menée par CAMPER, mais le bateau rouge gardera-t-il la tête jusqu'au bout ?

Somali pirates seize Algerian-owned ship off Oman.