The Story of Cap & Trade

Plastic everywhere, forever

On education

"Our goal as educators is to present a sense of hopefulness to students, and the competence to act on that hope.

That's different from wishful thinking—ignoring problems or assuming that somehow technology or some mythical 'they' is going to figure it out. We will have to figure it out."

--David W. Orr

Ionian Dolphins 3 (6-12 June)

Having read about the experience of other volounteers in the blog before coming to Galaxidi, I had my doubts about the life-changing experience everyone was talking about. Now, I truly understand why they said that. Taking data on the dolphins, attending lectures about overfishing and other manmade problems, and even talking and listening to what other volunteers have to share are an enriching and, no doubt, life-changing experience. The whole course ended so fast that I regreted not signing up for two weeks instead of one, or maybe even three. I would wholeheartedly recommend anyone who is thinking about signing up to the course to sign up right away. The researchers are devoted to making sure we learned more about the world we are living in and not just about dolphins. The surprises of the entire journey are never ending. The passion from the researchers and other volunteers overwhelm you, the severeness of global problems of overfishing and pollution shock you, the solutions to these problems which are so unmistakenly simple and yet not undertaken sadden you. Amidst all of these, Tethys offers some hope. Thank you Silvia and Giovanni!

Khai Lin, Singapore

---

I couldn’t have hoped for more than I had over this week!! I came here because of a passion for the cetaceans, especially the dolphins but as well because I needed to get myself involved in a real action to help for their conservation, and therefore the ocean’s conservation. Meeting with Giovanni and Silvia, our two reserchers, was as well of great knowledge : you don’t just actually get to speak about dolphins and do research to understand them better and help them in their work, you go to the heart of a real threat: the evolution of our actual society, overconsumption, overfishing, how and what is the impact of the human activity, all of that deeply based on data recorded over years and years of work from Tethys and other Mediterranean Sea associations. You get to the overall view and global understanding of what links what, and what is the impact. In additional you are learning about dolphins, the unforgettable moments spent on the water with them, you get to discover a much larger vision of their world, our world, and how we interact with each other.

Even though you will clearly find out our oceans and therefore ceteceans are clearly endangered, the Tethys team delivers before all a message of hope: we can all change it, we can all reverse the way things are going by just being responsible of ourselves, our actions and understanding our impact on the environment. Therefore what is absolutely fantastic is that you not only get to encounter very closely the dolphins but by understanding Tethys' clear message, you are able at your level to understand what to do to help them, to help the ocean, to help the human race... I recommand this adventure to anyone who wants to get closer to nature, to these beautiful cetaceans, but as well to anyone who is concern by the future of our planete and of course to get the chance to meet with the Tethys Team, entirely passionate and devoted to make sure our future will be better for all of the beings on earth!! Thank you Giovanni and Silvia for your fantastic work and all you are doing to protect our environement, our oceans... and before all, the dolphins!!

Nathalie, France

---

A Day at Sea – A Memory

We set off early each morning, spending up to five hours on the boat, travelling up and down the wild coastline of the Gulf of Corinth. By mid-June the sea is mostly calm. We cross the Gulf in a small powerboat, up and down the inlets, all the time gazing out to sea. The sky is soft and empty, sometimes a solitary bird passess over us, or a jet will trail vapour in its wake, streaking cloud accross the dome of sky, and then it is gone. Our eyes grow tired with the glare of light, as it catches ripples on the water and blinks back, a thousand flashbulbs of light and colour, of deep Meditteranean acqua, of turquoise and purple like a peacock’s gown. Seeing the dolphins is an unimaginable delight and we are lucky to have seen them in abundance. On the first day, after about an hour at sea they approached the boat, their dorsal fins caught in the distant waves. They moved slowly and in great numbers with the same rocking movement of the sea. The light glinted and sparked on their skin. It is impossible to forget the dolphins playing around the boat, turning somersaults under the water and occasionally above, whistling and blowing, their tailfins slapping the surface. Sometimes we catch them looking up with their beautiful eyes, and then with a sudden flick of the tail, they are gone. There is no sense of time, no thoughts of the outside world at sea. Only the present, the present day with sunlight on the Mediterranean, lost in greens and deep blues, a clear and enless sky with this magnificent animal. Giovanni described the dolphin as a quintissential representation of the sea and everything we love about it. And it is.

I wish that this was the end of the story and that I could leave here with only memories of this great beast of nature. But the story of the dolphin is inextricably linked to the outside and everything we and our lives represent. Last week only two were spotted around Kalamos from a population of 140 in 1995. I leave with mixed feelings, a wonderful time, with the dolphins and with the company of everyone here. My wish is that all this is here, here not only for us but also the next generation, and the one after that. Thank you Giovannni and Silvia for the experience and everything we have learnt.

Amanda, UK

---

Last day in Galaxidi. No doubt, I was really looking for this kind of experience. What a magic and wonderful week spent in an amazing place! I really experienced how the life of a field researcher is. Wake up early in the morning; go out to sea, aware that you’re not sure to find dolphins and you can have problems to do what you want to do and go where you want to go because of many reasons, like the weather; take as many data as you can, because every single moment is precious; analyse pictures at home on the computers; live together and share feelings and opinions (it was just a little bit a problem for me because of my bad English... sorry girls!). I liked it very much and I learned so many things! Undescribable feelings at the first sighting! ..the same at the second.. and at the third one.. I really love these beautiful animals since I was a child, and having the chance of seeing them in the wild has been great and magic. They embody the spirit of the sea and all its power, but at the same time they are so tender animals. It’s so sad to think that they are disappearing from some places around the world.

Giovanni’s lectures in the afternoons had the power to change my view of life and helped me to become conscious of some of today’s society’s biggest problems. I’ll remember his words. Thank you Silvia and Giovanni for your patience and all we have experienced these days! Thank you for the work you do day by day to protect dolphins and their enviroment, involving people from all around the world. I recommend this kind of experience to all the people who like nature and in particular these amazing animals, and want to support an useful and important organization like Tethys. I’ll keep in my heart for the future all the emotions that I felt these days, expecially during the surveys in the beautiful Gulf of Corinth, exactly in the moment when Silvia said: ‘Look girls, we found them!’ I’ll come back for sure. That’s a promise.

Già è difficile trasmettere in italiano ciò che è possibile vivere qui a Galaxidi in una sola settimana, figuriamoci in un'altra lingua. Ci sarebbe tantissimo da dire, ma quello che posso fare è semplicemente suggerire a tutti di dare un’occhiata di persona! =)

Vale, Italy

BP disaster Aegean

If the oil spill was in Greece.

(click on the image to zoom in)

http://www.ifitwasmyhome.com/

BP disaster Pelagos

If the oil spill was in the Pelagos Sanctuary.

(click on the image to zoom in)

http://www.ifitwasmyhome.com/

Robert Redford on oil disasters

Orca: maybe more than one species

In recent years differences in foraging techniques, prey preferences, behaviour and minor physical features within different killer whale populations drove researchers to question the existence of only a single species. A new study provided genetic evidence supporting the idea that there may be several kinds of Orca.

Researchers mapped the genome of 139 tissue samples from different areas and they found clear differences. Three types of killer whales may be different species. Several other types may also represent separate species or subspecies, but additional analyses are required.

Should species diversity be confirmed by future studies, we hope the animals will be given common names less stupid than 'killer whale'.

Silvia Bonizzoni

---
Photo: a killer whale spy hopping, by www.russianorca.com

For more information:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100422121704.htm

Morin P.A., Archer F.I., Foote A.D., Vilstrup J., Allen E.E., Wade P., Durban J., Parsons K., Pitman R., Li L., Bouffard P., Abel Nielsen S.C., Rasmussen M., Willerslev E., Gilbert M.T.P., Harkins T. 2010. Complete mitochondrial genome phylogeographic analysis of killer whales (Orcinus orca) indicates multiple species. Genome Res DOI: 10.1101/gr.102954.109

Abstract -- Killer whales (Orcinus orca) currently comprise a single, cosmopolitan species with a diverse diet. However, studies over the last 30 years have revealed populations of sympatric "ecotypes" with discrete prey preferences, morphology and behaviors. Although these ecotypes avoid social interactions and are not known to interbreed, genetic studies to date have found extremely low levels of diversity in the mitochondrial control region, and few clear phylogeographic patterns worldwide. This low level of diversity is likely due to low mitochondrial mutation rates that are common to cetaceans. Using killer whales as a case study, we have developed a method to readily sequence, assemble, and analyze complete mitochondrial genomes from large numbers of samples to more accurately assess phylogeography and estimate divergence times. This represents an important tool for wildlife management, not only for killer whales but for many marine taxa. We used high-throughput sequencing to survey whole mitochondrial genome variation of 139 samples from the North Pacific, North Atlantic and southern oceans. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that each of the known ecotypes represents a strongly supported clade with divergence times ranging from approximately 150,000 to 700,000 years ago. We recommend that three named ecotypes be elevated to full species, and that the remaining types be recognized as subspecies pending additional data. Establishing appropriate taxonomic designations will greatly aid in understanding the ecological impacts and conservation needs of these important marine predators. We predict that phylogeographic mitogenomics will become an important tool for improved statistical phylogeography and more precise estimates of divergence times.

Dolphins of Greece 4 (30 May - 6 June)

What an amazing experience. Every day was an adventure, whether going out into the Amvrakikos Gulf, out to Kalamos or just trying to cook dinner! On our first morning we set off in search of turtles by the mussel farm and after circling around for about 45 minutes and only seeing a couple of heads, I began to wonder how lucky we were going to be with the dolphins. Then, just a few minutes later we were surrounded by dolphins, pandemonium broke out on the boat with everyone shouting their sightings, the first volunteer got a taste of the dreaded netpad, and…….I was hooked! Seeing these beautiful creatures in their natural habitat was awesome, particularly the breaching, with every day better than the last. The afternoons spent cropping and matching photos of fins were far more fun than they should have been, thanks to my fellow volunteers (Jan, Melinda, Chris and Bob) and Iva`s enthusiasm and wicked giggles. The fun she and I had with “Banana Fin” will live long in the memory! Along with the fun, I also had my eyes opened to the problems of pollution, water diversion and over-fishing, not just for the dolphins but for the ocean at large. As well as the experience itself, it is these messages that I will take with me and try to disseminate back in the office and in my presentations to local school and business group back home.

Finally, I would like to say thank you to Joan and Iva for a fantastic week. Joan is so dedicated to his work and shows a real passion for the dolphins and a willingness to share this with us; never losing patience with the questions, nor the random direction and distances that were being yelled out so enthusiastically, but so often incorrectly! Then there was his wicked sense of humour, which so matched mine..……let`s never grow up Joan! Iva was such a fun girl too, always laughing (especially when I nearly fell out of the boat with the netpad in the storm at Kalamos!) and always making me smile, with her 3 fleeces and never a hair out of place! Thanks guys.

Paul (UK)

---

Yet again, another wonderful Earthwatch experience (my second, certainly not my last!). I learn so much on these trips. Things that I could never learn anywhere else and that are made even more compelling because of the PIs and assistants relating their own personal experiences and knowledge. Joan and Iva were no exception, sharing their passion and dedication to the sea and its inhabitants daily. (...) Throughout the week was lots of laughter, interesting conversations about all kinds of things, people from different places in the world sharing their stories and of course, the dolphins! Amazing to watch and wonder about these beautiful fi…… oh, mammals!! Every day but one we saw incredible feats of acrobatics and grace in the air and water (sometimes even some human acrobatics as we hung on for dear life with sudden boat acceleration! Or twisted around into unlikely positions as we tried to keep dolphins in sight.) The bow riding, breaching, surfing and simply seemingly playing of the dolphins was more than I could have asked for. Even the day we didn’t see any dolphins (our first day in Kalamos) was a stark reminder of what happens when an area is so overfished it can no longer sustain life – there were no birds beyond those just flying by, no signs of life at all in comparison to Amvrakikos – just people on sailboats on pretty, blue but empty water. It was truly a feeling of success when the second day in Kalamos (our last day of the trip) as we were heading in at the end of another no sighting day when we spotted 3 dolphins and kept them in sight despite rough water, thunder, lightning and spraying water. An exciting and dramatic way to end our trip. A great trip and another earthwatch experience that has left me inspired and exhilarated! Thank you Joan and Iva!

Janis (USA)

---

What a great experience. I was most impressed with our leaders, Joan and Iva, for their effort, dedication and generosity towards preserving the dolphins in a manner acceptable to the local community. This is a tremendous challenge, since the dolphin’s decline is tied closely to growth in the region and to fishing as an important income source. This trip gave me a good feel for the amount of effort involved and the level of need and urgency that society must understand and pay heed to, in order that we take the appropriate actions to save not only the dolphins, but other species also. I thank Joan and Iva for an outstanding effort to include us in their work and to educate us as to what mankind is doing to the seas and its creatures. I appreciate that the message is balanced – that there are alternative strategies that can meet the needs of the people, if not of corporations. They demonstrated that dedication is required and that broad support is essential to their mission.

There were two moments I will not forget. The first was a short period on our second day in which we were tracking a number of dolphins and they were appearing all around us, some at very short distance. There was a lot of shouting and excitment as Joan simultaneously maneuvered the boat, snapped photos, and gave instructions. Ten several dolphins jumped into the air directly in front of the boat. Wow. The second memorable event was a video conference Joan had with a class of students in the US who decided they wanted to do something to save the dolphins. Very impressive!

In summary, this was a great experience in the sense that it made me realize the urgency and magnitude of the challenges facing dedicated researchers such as Joan and Iva, along with their coworkers. And this is only one species from the sea that we need to take action on. The experience will allow me to build a much more effective class lesson for my students, as well as drive me to do much more to preserve what mankind is likely to lose if we don’t take preventive measures. I also enjoyed the other four volunteers on this project: Paul, Chris, Janis, and Melinda. I hope we’ll stay in touch.

Bob (USA)

---

Another amazing Earthwatch adventure! And another part of the world and earth that I need to worry about. ... I appreciate and so enjoy the perfect combination of education, contribution to serious fieldwork, a fabulous sense of humor, and the sense of comradary and teamwork that is built so quickly. Joan was always willing to share his knowledge and make sure we were getting the most from our experience. His concern and compassion for the dolphins is evident; he made sure we left the expedition with a broader understanding not only of the dolphins but of the fragility of the ecosystems of the oceans worldwide as well. His charm and sense of humor made it all fun! I especially apreciated him fixing and bringing me tea when I wasn’t feeling well...way above the call of duty. Iva’s enthusiasm for learning and her patience with all of us (including Joan) is comendable. Her guidance and smile were essential! It’s not always easy to work with volunteers, but Joan and Iva have mastered it! The experience couldn’t have been better.....a fabulous breaching dolphin and photos during “high seas”, thunder and lightening...who could ask for more?

Chris (USA)

---

“Enjoy the beauty of the dolphins,” Joan said as we raced back and forth across the water. Traveling unprepared in a world of ecological challenges can be quite a shock to one’s sense of self in the context of what I may leave for future generations. It can often be a confrontation with what I believe to be true about myself that rubs me raw. That is how I view my experience in Vonitsa with the dolphins in Amvarakikos Gulf and at Kalamos. Previous to this Earthwatch trip I had spent time reading about oceans, learning to dive, eating responsibly, and donating money to some organization whose literature stated they were saving the oceans. I was sure that if the oceans died humans were doomed. And, I was doing my part. As this Earthwatch experience comes to a close, I have come to recognize how truly uninformed I am about my relationship with our oceans. Joan’s intense commitment and passion for marine life, the oceans, and people makes the urgency of the conditions on this planet very personal. As the days passed, Joan’s demand for us to yell 9 o’clock, 60 meters, 3 dolphins became more important to the team. Of course, his requests were always followed by “please” and “thank you” or “hold on”. When I sorted out the difference between sea state four waves and the dorsal fins of the two departing dolphins at 6 o’clock, 200 meters, in the rain on the last day, I felt I was a part of something important. Locating the dolphins became a small piece of the larger puzzle. And at the end of the day the team knew it was important. Iva, our research assistant, was a blessing. Her intelligent patience with our clumsiness made this trip all the more enjoyable. She steered us in the right direction and made sure we were prepared to participate. Our lack of skill with the “netpad”, our hand-held computer, did not deter her. The “net pad”, an invention of torture, deliberately designed to sort out the higher order mammals among the team. Needless to say I have a limited future in “netpadding”. She was a perfect complement to our team.

For me personally, I cannot recall laughing more. Joan, Iva and my team brought their best game to each adventure. I counted on Bob for insight, on Paul for focus and purpose, on Chris for serious laughter, and on Jan for the very best questions. The company of good people with a purpose can hardly be matched by anything else one can do for a week, if not for a lifetime. As time passes it is the sound of Joan’s voice, filled with excitement at seeing each dolphin, and the generosity of Iva’s refreshing candor that I will miss most. Hopefully, I will carry the learning with me as I go. I cried when I watched °End of the Line.° I rarely cry. Maybe anarchy is not the answer, or maybe it is? How does one get the attention of those who are making decisions with our lives without going over the edge or reason? Something has to change the greed of my generation or my children and their children will have little left. I struggle with this and what I can do. I imagine the struggle is what I am taking away from this experience and the measure of me might well be determined by what comes of it. There is still time today.

Melinda (USA)

Brian Skerry on marine conservation photography

Transforming European fisheries

Transforming European Fisheries from OCEAN2012 on Vimeo.

---

Put environmental sustainability at the heart of European fisheries:

Sign the petition

to Maria Damanaki, Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.

Nintendo versus Nature

A recent survey, released by the UN Convention on Biodiversity, has been conducted on more than 10,000 children aged 5-18 from ten different countries (Australia, China, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Singapore, Spain, UK and USA). Goal of the study was to investigate children’s perceptions of nature.

When asked to rank what was most important to them, ten times more children ranked watching TV or playing computer games first compared to those who chose saving the environment (40% and 4%, respectively). And while species extinction rates are estimated to be up to 1,000 times the natural rate, only 9% ranked looking after animals as most important and 15% did not even know what ‘endangered species’ implied.

When asked which type of animal or plant they would most like to save, less than 1% opted for insects, 6% chose plants, 9% cited birds, 23% reptiles and 50% mammals.

"The survey confirms the alarming disconnect of our children with nature and calls for urgent action to close this growing gap between tomorrows citizens and their natural heritage" commented Ahmed Djoghlaf, the executive secretary of the Convention.

SB

---
Image source

For more information:
http://www.cbd.int/doc/press/2010/pr-2010-05-18-airbus-en.pdf
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/for-kids-video-games-top-saving-nature-survey-1980982.html

Squalo elefante nel porto di Sanremo

All'inizio sembrava una semplice storiella da bar. Eravamo infatti nel bar del porto di Sanremo e girava la voce di uno squalo catturato accidentalmente non lontano dalla costa. Abbiamo pensato a una bufala ma una telefonata alla Capitaneria di Porto ha in realtà confermato che uno squalo era in bella mostra nel Porto Vecchio di Sanremo.

Dopo qualche domanda abbiamo saputo che nelle acque basse antistanti il ponente ligure (Baia di Ospedaletti, Imperia) uno squalo elefante (Cetorhinus maximus) era rimasto intrappolato accidentalmente in un tramaglio. Non si tratta di un evento isolato in questo tratto di mare, visto che già nel 2006 a Bordighera e nel 2009 a Santa Margherita Ligure altri due esemplari della stessa specie erano rimasti intrappolati nelle reti da pesca.

Questa volta a rimetterci è stata una femmina non sessualmente matura di circa 8-10 anni, lunga 4.23 m e del peso stimato di oltre 400 Kg. All'animale sono stati prelevati alcuni campioni di tessuto da Fulvio Garibaldi dell'Università di Genova, da rappresentanti dell'Istituto Zooprofilattico di Imperia e da noi, per successive indagini e analisi che si spera possano arricchire le attuali conoscenze su questa specie.

Lo squalo elefante, comunemente chiamato cetorino, è uno squalo di grandi dimensioni che si nutre per filtrazione, risultando quindi totalmente innocuo nei confronti dell'uomo. Si tratta di una specie sia costiera che pelagica in grado di compiere lunghe migrazioni stagionali. La sua presenza nel Mediterraneo è segnalata un pò ovunque, ad eccezione delle coste sud-orientali del bacino. Per quanto riguarda i mari italiani, la maggior parte degli avvistamenti vengono riportati nell'alto Tirreno e nel medio-basso Adriatico.

Nonostante un numero crescente di avvistamenti negli ultimi decenni, dovuti a un crescente interesse sia pubblico che scientifico, sono ancora poche le conoscenze sullo stato di conservazione di questa specie. In passato lo squalo elefante è stato un regolare bersaglio della caccia: il suo enorme fegato ricco di olio veniva spesso utilizzato per l'illuminazione mentre la sua pelle veniva impiegata in conceria e le carni per il consumo umano o animale. Oggi sono le enormi pinne a venire utilizzate sul mercato orientale per la tristemente famosa zuppa di pinne di squalo.

Al livello internazionale, lo squalo elefante è classificato come "Vulnerabile" nella Lista Rossa IUCN. Inoltre, la popolazione Mediterranea è inclusa nell'Appendice II del CITES per la regolamentazione del commercio internazionale delle specie in via di estinzione, e nella Convenzione di Berna.

L'aver visto cosi da vicino (nonostante la spiacevole circostanza) un animale cosi affascinante ha sicuramente suscitato in noi una grandissima emozione e un profondo senso di rispetto e di ammirazione per animali che spesso e volentieri, ma a torto, vengono ancora visti come creature mostruose e pericolose.

Cristina, Monica, Sabina e Nino

Globicefali in Adriatico

L’amico e collega Marco Affronte della Fondazione Cetacea segnala un inusuale avvistamento: tre globicefali (Globicephala melas) in Adriatico, quattro miglia al largo di Cattolica.

Sarebbe il secondo avvistamento mai registrato in Adriatico.

Leggi la storia

What BP doesn't want you to see