News

Here is a selection of outside news that we think may be of interest to our readers. If you have a newsfeed you think would be relevant for this page please let us know. Don't forget we have our own news in the forum which is available as a newsfeed and is open for use by all members of the underwater community.

UnderwaterTimes.com

Greenpeace: Japanese 'Research' Whale Meat 'Stolen', Sold On Black Market; Crew 'Gifts'

Legal Action Threatened As Alcohol Denied To Monster Shark Tourney; 'It's Discrimination'

Researchers Document Rapid, Dramatic 'Reverse Evolution' In The Threespine Stickleback Fish

NOAA: Coastal Waters Decline In Contaminants Over 20-Year Period

Enduring great white shark myths create mistaken identity; 'People make lousy meals'

Captain: Great white shark fed off whale carcass, then grabbed boat for dessert; 'a strange noise'

Like eating frogs? Florida health officials warn against it over mercury fears

Walrus trip ban outrages Canadian outfitter; like 'living in some sort of goddamn dictatorship'

Canadian fishermen giving away lobster to protest low prices

Chinese restaurant criticized for keeping ornamental fish in urinal; 'not much different to a fish tank'

Fijian night diver killed by shark attack

Professor: Atmosphere threatened by pollutants entering ocean; 'implications are complex and interactive'

Aussie shark attack survivor expected to make full recovery; 'It all happened so quickly'

Alarm as shark suspected in Scottish firth fish death; 'most likely a Porbeagle'

DiverWire

SCUBA Show 2008 Announces its Official Destination : Philippines

SCUBA Show 2008 is proud to have Philippines as its official destination.

AT&T Golf Classic Helps Get New Divers into the Sport

Georgia Dive Show teams up with the AT&T Golf Classic to bring more non-divers to the dive show.

MV Odyssea 1 Decommissioned After Weekend Storm Damage

Unfortunate news comes on the heels of recent storms in Indonesia region.

Inaugural Dive & Travel Expo a fantastic success

Plans are already underway for a bigger and better event next year!

X_RAY Magazine 23 Now Available ONLINE

Download the latest edition now FOR FREE!

X-RAY Magazine Release Its Latest Online Edition

Download the latest edition NOW - for FREE!

Reactor Releases Groundbreaking GAMMA Watch

The ultimate water sport watch holds luminescence for 24- hour visibility

Marine Artist David Dunleavy Announces New Mural in Key Largo

Popular highway icon at Captain Slate's in Key Largo to be transformed into latest underwater mural.

Dive with the ORIGINAL Shark Wrangler at 2008 Great Bahamas Shark Shootout

Stuart Cove, International Shark Superstar, to provide hands-on tips to participants at this years event October 4-11 in Nassau

DAN Announces Weblink and DVD of Technical Diving Conference

Recent Technical Diving Conference details now available online and on DVD.

DiveNews.Com

Are Pilot Whales the Speed Athletes of the Deep

Treasure Trove of Gold Coins Found Near New Orleans

NOAA Offers Grants for California Schools to Become Ocean Guardians

Shrimps See Beyond the Rainbow

Monitor Sanctuary in Good Health Overall, but Historic Shipwreck Still Fa

Scientists Aim to Unlock Deep-sea 'Secrets' of Earth's Crust

The Whale with the Legendary Unicorn's Horn Under Threat

Marble Bust of Caesar Found in River at Arles, France

When Following the Leader Can Lead into the Jaws of Death

Florida Underwater Cemetery is a Big Draw for Divers

WWF-Australia Latest News

Missing biodiversity target puts people at risk

Gland, Switzerland: Future generations face hunger, thirst, disease and disaster if we carry on trashing the environment, the conservation organization WWF cautioned today.

The stark warning comes as WWF launches its 2010 and Beyond: Rising to the Biodiversity Challenge report which contains the latest Living Planet index – the internationally agreed way to measure progress towards the global target of reducing biodiversity loss by 2010– and which reveals a continuing decline in biodiversity.

Food, clean water, medicines and protection from natural hazards are important ingredients in maintaining our security and quality of life. If they are to be maintained then the species, natural habitats and ecosystems that support them need to be protected. In 2002 the world's governments set themselves a target to reduce the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010, but WWF's report shows that they are clearly not on track.

"Biodiversity underpins the health of the planet and has a direct impact on all our lives. Put simply, reduced biodiversity means millions of people face a future where food supplies are more vulnerable to pests and disease and where water is in irregular or short supply," said James Leape, WWF International's Director General.

"No one can escape the impact of biodiversity loss because reduced global diversity translates quite clearly into fewer new medicines, greater vulnerability to natural disasters and greater effects from global warming."

In 2002 the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity set clear targets to achieve a significant reduction of the current rate of biodiversity loss at global, regional and national levels. However, the 2010 and Beyond: Rising to the Biodiversity Challenge report shows governments are not on track to meet the 2010 target and that environment ministries cannot reverse this trend without integrated support at the highest level.

Calling on governments during the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity Ninth Meeting (CBD COP 9) in Bonn, 19-30 May 2008, to make the protection and sustainable use of biodiversity a political priority, WWF is asking governments to:

• develop joint implementation plans between environment, agriculture, food, water, finance, and health in order to take urgent action to reduce the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010.
• live up to their commitment to put in place effective protected area systems, with the full and effective participation of indigenous and local communities and promoting equity and benefit sharing.
• to adopt a target to achieve zero net annual deforestation by 2020 and initiate collaboration between the CBD and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to reduce green house gas emissions from deforestation and degradation.

WWF's International Policy Director, Gordon Shepherd, added: "This is not rocket science. The reason governments are failing to meet their biodiversity targets is because they haven't provided adequate financial and technical resources and have failed to develop economic incentives and other measures to preserve biodiversity. In particular environment ministries must work for the active support and involvement of ministers with a mutual interest in saving biodiversity such as those responsible for development, finance, agriculture, fisheries and climate.

"WWF is calling on all the governments that signed the Convention on Biological Diversity in 2002 to do what they gave their word they would do: implement the Strategic Plan by establishing national targets and allocating sufficient financial, human and technical resources."

For further information:

Allison Witts, Media Relations Consultant, WWF International, +41 79 814 4466

Download the Report

At the start of the millennium the United Nations set a clear, measurable objective for biodiversity conservation. We are now only two years away from reporting on the target agreed by the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 2002: to achieve by 2010 a significant reduction of the current rate of biodiversity loss at global, regional and national levels as a contribution to poverty alleviation and to the benefit of all life on Earth. The EU countries also agreed in 2002 to a more ambitious target - to halt biodiversity loss by 2010.

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Environment spending welcomed but action required

WWF-Australia today welcomed the Rudd Government's first budget, applauding new budget measures for protected areas, Indigenous conservation, water buyback, and the Great Barrier Reef – key elements of a national climate rescue package for Australia's irreplaceable natural heritage.

But the organisation said the timeframe identified in the budget for implementing carbon capture and storage technology was vastly inadequate to get demonstration projects up and running in the next few years.

"This is a very good budget for the environment but we do need to accelerate the development of carbon capture and storage technology so we can know immediately if this will play a role in the fight against climate change," said WWF-Australia CEO Greg Bourne.

However, Mr Bourne said the new Government had delivered on everything it said it would and now needed to take this money and turn it into significant action.

Many of the Federal Government's environmental initiatives announced in the lead-up to the budget addressed recommendations in WWF's 2007 report, Priorities for a Living Australia.

These included making $200 million available to protect the Great Barrier Reef, spending $180 million for new protected areas, $150 million for Indigenous conservation and $3 billion for water buybacks.

Mr Bourne said the announcement of a $500 million fund to develop and deploy of clean coal technologies was welcome but said the eight-year time frame for allocation of the funds did not reflect the urgency needed to develop CCS technology.

"Allocating $500 million for CCS over eight years is simply playing lip service to the scale of the climate change problem. We need $500 million over one year, not eight years," he said.

"The Government must ensure carbon capture and storage demonstration plants and renewable energy plants are built within the next few years."

Mr Bourne added that the Government had missed an opportunity to begin reforming the carbon market in Australia.

"The Clean Coal Fund is extremely important but we would urge the Federal Government to consider implementing tax reform to further support this investment," Mr Bourne said.

In relation to the $20 billion Building Australia Fund, WWF said any money being spent on building Australia's future must also take into consideration the kinds of infrastructure needed to reduce the impacts of climate change.

WWF also expressed disappointment at the lack of re-funding for the Threatened Species Network, a priority for the $2.2b Caring for Our Country program, particularly after the National Audit Office last year found threatened species management was desperately underfunded.

"This is a significant blow to ensuring the recovery of our nation's threatened marine and terrestrial species," Mr Bourne said.

"That said, we do recognise that this budget represents progress in turning the tanker of environmental degradation around through incentives to transform energy and water markets," Mr Bourne said. "WWF looks forward to working with the Government on further environmental programs to secure our future for generations to come."

For more information:

For more information, or interviews with Greg Bourne, WWF CEO, please contact:

Rachael Hoy, WWF-Australia Press Office, 02 8202 1242, 0407 204 594

Charles Stevens, WWF-Australia Press Office, 02 8202 1274, 0424 649 689

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$15m for weeds research a winner

WWF-Australia today welcomed the Australian Government's announcement to spend $15 million on a new National Weeds and Productivity Research Program in its budget next week, and warned of a new wave of invasive weeds threatening to jump the garden fence and take hold in Australian bushland.

WWF-Australia's Biodiversity Policy Manager, Averil Bones praised the Australian Government's commitment to the research centre as far-sighted and essential in ensuring the cost-effective management of existing weeds and the prevention of new weeds.

"Weeds are second only to landclearing as the biggest existing threat to Australia's biodiversity and they cost Australian farmers hundreds of millions of dollars every year," Ms Bones said.

"What's worse is that the threat of weeds is only expected to increase with climate change, as warmer temperatures break down the resilience of existing ecosystems and speed the spread of weeds into new areas," she said.

Most of Australia's agricultural and environmental weeds are garden escapees. Just one escaped invasive garden plant - Lantana - now degrades more than four million hectares of Australia's environment.

WWF hopes the research centre will be independently managed, that priorities will be drawn from the National Weed Spread Prevention Action Plan, and that its focus will be on protecting both the environment and Australia's agriculture from weed invasion.

A report released in November last year by WWF-Australia and the Australian Association of Bush Regenerators NSW documents the emergence of new invasive plants in NSW as well as the spread of established problem species into new areas of the State.

The report identified 171 escaped garden plants that had invaded remnant native bush areas, and confirmed that many of the invasive weeds ravaging NSW are not declared under the State's Noxious Weeds Act.

Ms Bones said the situation was similar in other State's around the country, with many known invasive plants still available for sale in nurseries despite the risk they pose to the environment.

"The fact that many of these species have not been declared as Noxious Weeds means the vast majority of them can still be promoted and sold as garden plants, which raises the threat of a new wave of invasive plants."

Last year the CRC for Australian Weed Management released a report on the impacts of weeds on Australia's biodiversity, which found that invasive plants were the biggest threat to the survival of native species after land clearing.

For more information:

Charlie Stevens, WWF-Australia Press Office, 02 8202 1274, 0424 649 689

Averil Bones, WWF-Australia Biodiversity Policy Manager, 02 8202 1289, 0437 864 153

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World Wildlife Fund and The Nature Conservancy Release First-Ever Comprehensive Global Map of Freshwater Systems

Washington - Over a decade of work and contributions by more than 200 leading conservation scientists have produced a first-ever comprehensive map and database of the diversity of life in the world's freshwater ecosystems. The map and associated fish data – a collaborative project between World Wildlife Fund and The Nature Conservancy -- are featured in the May issue of the journal BioScience.

Freshwater Ecoregions of the World divides the world's freshwater systems into 426 distinct conservation units, many of which are rich in species but under increasing pressure from human population growth, rising water use, and habitat alteration. The comprehensive map and database (www.feow.org) are vital tools for conservationists trying to save the world's freshwater ecosystems.

Among the highlights:

• This is the first study to compile data on freshwater species -- including fish, amphibians, crocodiles and turtles -- for nearly all of the world's inland water habitats.
• Almost 18,000 species have been mapped and placed into freshwater ecoregions.* This species list includes 13,400 fish, 4,000 amphibians, 300 turtles, and 20 crocodile species and their relatives.
• About half of all freshwater fish are endemic, or found in only one ecoregion.
• Portions of major rivers such as the Amazon, Congo, Ganges, Yangtze, and the rivers and streams of the American Southeast were identified as outstanding for rich fish populations and high endemism (species found nowhere else).
• In addition, several smaller systems that had not been identified in previous global assessments, such as Congo's Malebo Pool, the Amazon's western piedmont, and Cuba and Hispaniola, were determined to have high numbers of endemic fish species.
• Excessive water use for agriculture, industry, drinking and livestock are placing freshwater ecosystems in 55 ecoregions under high stress, threatening the species and habitats.
• In another 59 ecoregions more than 50 percent of their area has already been converted from natural habitats to cropland and urban areas.

"Freshwater ecosystems are the least studied parts of our natural world – they are like vast unexplored libraries, brimming with information," said World Wildlife Fund's Robin Abell, who headed the study. "Freshwater Ecoregions of the World allows scientists and non-scientists alike to gain a better understanding of this world and help guide efforts to save these systems and species before they are lost."

Freshwater habitats support more than 100,000 species and provide humans with critical services such as drinking water and fisheries. Yet freshwater habitats and species are among the most imperiled in the world and have often been left out of large-scale conservation planning.

Until now there were no data on global freshwater biodiversity synthesized in a way that was useful to conservation. Collected research tended to focus only on major rivers or select hotspots, leaving out many other freshwater systems. Plus, information was not easy to access and search. As a result, it has been difficult to gain a truly comprehensive understanding of patterns of freshwater biodiversity across the globe.

The Freshwater Ecoregions of the World (FEOW) project was created to address this need. This extensive and easily searchable resource now provides access to information that can help ensure freshwater systems are well understood, promoted and protected.

The Nature Conservancy's Carmen Revenga said Freshwater Ecoregions of the World could not have come at a more important time as competition for freshwater resources increases around the world. "Our lack of knowledge of freshwater species has hindered our efforts to conserve rivers, lakes and wetlands around the world. Simply having a map that shows areas rich in freshwater species will help us set conservation priorities and begin to put a face to these unique and essential species, which work to keep our freshwater ecosystems alive and running."

For more information:

Lee Poston, WWF, 202-299-6442, lee.poston@wwfus.org

Cristina Mestre, TNC, 703-841-8779, cmestre@tnc.org

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* A freshwater ecoregion is a large area encompassing one or more freshwater systems that contains a distinct assemblage of natural freshwater communities and species. The freshwater species, dynamics, and environmental conditions within a given ecoregion are more similar to each other than to those of surrounding ecoregions and together form a conservation unit.

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Climate change hitting Arctic faster, harder

Gland, Switzerland: Climate change is having a greater and faster impact on the Arctic than previously thought, according to a new study by the global conservation organization WWF.

The new report, called Arctic Climate Impact Science – An Update Since ACIA, represents the most wide-ranging reviews of arctic climate impact science since the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA) was published in 2005.

The new study found that change was occurring in all arctic systems, impacting on the atmosphere and oceans, sea ice and ice sheets, snow and permafrost, as well as species and populations, food webs, ecosystems and human societies.

Melting of arctic sea ice and the Greenland Ice Sheet was found to be severely accelerated, now even prompting the expert scientists to discuss whether both may be close to their “tipping point" (the point where, because of climate change, natural systems may experience sudden, rapid and possibly irreversible change).

“The magnitude of the physical and ecological changes in the Arctic creates an unprecedented challenge for governments, the corporate sector, community leaders and conservationists to create the conditions under which arctic natural systems have the best chance to adapt," said Dr Martin Sommerkorn, one of the report's authors and Senior Climate Change Adviser at WWF International's Arctic Programme.

“The debate can no longer focus only on creating protected areas and allowing arctic ecosystems to find their balance."

“At the same time, we need to simultaneously reduce the vulnerability of social and environmental systems of the Arctic by reducing threats from human activity and building ecosystem resilience — the ability of ecosystems to remain stable when under a lot of pressure."

WWF will launch this report at a meeting of the Arctic Council, the intergovernmental forum of arctic nations on Thursday. “It is now in the hand of the arctic nations to act upon this evidence for climate impacts," said Sommerkorn. “They can make a difference if they act strongly, and fast. It is not too late to throw the wheel around. It is just way too late for business as usual."

According to last year's reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, if the entire Greenland Ice Sheet were to melt, sea levels would rise 7.3 metres, making its status a global concern. While it is currently impossible to accurately predict how much of the ice sheet will be melting, and over which time, the new report shows there has been a far greater loss of ice mass in the past few years, much more than had been predicted by scientific models.

Likewise, the loss of summer arctic sea ice has increased dramatically, with record lows reached in 2005 and — way more dramatic — in 2007. In September 2007, the sea ice shrank to 39 per cent below its 1979-2000 mean, the lowest since satellite monitoring began in 1979 and also the lowest for the entire 20th century based on monitoring from ships and aircraft.

"When you look in detail at the science behind the recent arctic changes it becomes painfully clear how our understanding of climate impacts lags behind the changes that we are already seeing in the Arctic," said Sommerkorn. "This is extremely dangerous, as some of these arctic changes have the potential to substantially warm the Earth beyond what models currently forecast. That is because climate models don't currently adequately incorporate important underlying drivers of the arctic changes we are already observing, such as the interaction between sea ice thickness and water temperature."

The Arctic is not only one of the places on Earth most vulnerable to climate change, but also a place where vulnerability is of urgent global relevance. WWF calls for a two-pronged strategy to minimize the impacts of climate change.

"We need to reduce global emissions of greenhouse gases to levels that will avoid the continued warming of the Arctic and the anticipated resulting disruption of the global climate system," said Sommerkorn.

For further information

Dr Martin Sommerkorn, Senior Climate Change Adviser, WWF International's Arctic Programme. Telephone +47 222 05 309; email msommerkorn@wwf.no

Moira O'Brien-Malone, Head of Media Relations, WWF International. Telephone +41 79 377 7958, email mobrien@wwfint.org

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Avoid southern mistakes developing 'true north': WWF

The threat of climate change must not lead to an unsustainable rush to develop northern Australia's mineral, water, land and energy resources, a leading conservation organisation says.

On the opening day of the True North conference in Darwin, WWF has called for a 10-year, Sustainable Northern Australia program to manage threats and build resilience to global warming.

It has urged the Federal Government to work with state leaderships in the Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia to conserve and develop the region sustainably.

All major ecosystems in northern Australia - tropical rivers, coral reefs, coastal wetlands, rainforests, savanna woodlands and low islands - are ranked as being at medium or high risk from global warming.

"Northern Australia is a globally significant conservation icon with a harsh climate, poor soils and unreliable water supplies," Nick Heath, WWF's Freshwater Program Leader, said.

"We must work towards a prosperous future for the region and in order to achieve this, it is critical we avoid mistakes made in southern Australia and other tropical locations.

"For sensitive ecosystems to survive we must keep them healthy to have their best chance of adapting to hotter temperatures and bushfires, more frequent cyclones and rising sea levels."

WWF is a strong supporter of development and wealth creation in northern Australia, but only if it favours high-value sectors with low environmental and cultural impacts.

WWF's Northern Landscapes Manager, Dr Stuart Blanch, believes initiatives involving indigenous communities have a key role to play in safeguarding northern Australia.

"There needs to be major investment in indigenous ranger networks to help Traditional Owners get access to and look after their country," he said.

"Building resilience means conserving native vegetation rather than clearing it for agriculture, keeping free-flowing rivers free of dams, and supporting indigenous communities and pastoralists to manage weeds, reduce over-grazing by cattle and burn off to prevent major wildfires."

For more information:

Nick Heath, Freshwater Program Leader, WWF-Australia: 041 888 5324

Dr Stuart Blanch, Northern Landscapes Manager, WWF-Australia: 0427 957 868

Julian Murphy, WWF Press Officer: 0418 970 778

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83% of Kiwis Support Trawl and Set Net Ban to Protect New Zealand Dolphins

A WWF/Colmar Brunton survey released today shows 83% of New Zealanders support banning set nets and trawl nets to protect Hector's and Maui's dolphins.

Both dolphin species are found only in New Zealand coastal waters. Maui's dolphins, with a population of just 111, are classified as 'critically endangered', which means they face an extremely high likelihood of extinction. Hector's dolphins are 'endangered', which means they face a very high risk of extinction.

WWF-New Zealand Executive Director, Chris Howe, says the findings – that more than four out of five people support banning set nets and trawl nets in areas the dolphins live - is a strong message for the government.

"In the next few weeks, the Ministers of Fisheries and Conservation are expected to release their decision on how threats to Hector's and Maui's dolphins will be managed.

"The government's own research has shown that fishing with set nets and trawl nets pose the greatest threat to the dolphins. The most recently released findings from the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) in March confirmed what WWF has been saying for years - over 100 Hector's and Maui's dolphins are killed in set nets each year, and continuing to fish this way will lead to their further decline¹."

"We've been pushing the government for adequate protection for these dolphins for the past four years, and the Colmar Brunton opinion research shows that the vast majority of New Zealanders agree that action is needed before it's too late." People understand that some fishers' livelihoods may be affected, but they still want nets banned, Howe says.

The research shows 7% think fishing with set nets and trawl nets should continue and 10% have no opinion.

The survey also reflects the strength of people's feelings about protecting the dolphins, he says. Of the 7% who support continued use of nets in places the dolphins live, just 29% rate this as 'very' or 'quite' important to them. In stark contrast, 86% of those who want nets banned to protect the dolphins say it's 'very' or 'quite' important.

"It's clear people feel strongly about New Zealand's responsibility to protect marine mammals that are found only in our waters," Howe says. "Hector's and Maui's dolphins are our marine taonga, and protecting them for future generations is important to our national identity."

WWF-New Zealand is calling for a total ban on set nets, and for trawling to be banned in the shallow waters where the dolphins live. Other methods of fishing that don't kill dolphins or harm other marine life are available to fishers, Howe says. "The positive and effective work being done by New Zealand fishers to reduce seabird by-catch shows what the industry can achieve when it is motivated."

The government's latest deadline for releasing their decision on managing the threats to Hector's and Maui's dolphins is early May.

The survey results are part of a Colmar Brunton omnibus questionnaire in March 2008, and are based on telephone interviews with 500 randomly sampled New Zealanders aged 15 and older. The data was post-weighted to accurately reflect New Zealand's population in terms of household size, area, age and gender. The research is available online at www.wwf.org.nz

For further information:

Chris Howe, WWF-New Zealand Executive Director
04 471 4282 or 027 4477 132
e-mail: chris.howe@wwf.org.nz

Peter Trott, WWF-Australia Fisheries Project Manager
+61 437 960 812
e-mail: ptrott@wwf.org.au

¹ The NIWA report found that under current management, an estimated 110-150 Hector's and Maui's dolphins are killed in commercial gillnets each year (p. 30 and Fig. 38). Davies NM, Bian R, Starr P, Lallemand P, Gilbert D, McKenzie J (2008) Risk analysis for Hector's dolphin and Maui's dolphin subpopulations to commercial set net fishing using a temporal-spatial age-structured model. Ministry of Fisheries, Wellington, New Zealand, www.fish.govt.nz/en-nz/Consultations/Hector+new/default.htm

Dolphin Notes:

1. Hector's and Maui's dolphins are New Zealand's sole endemic dolphin species - that means they are not found anywhere else on planet Earth. New Zealand has only one other endemic marine mammal - the New Zealand sea lion (formerly known as Hooker's).
2. Maui's are the most rare marine dolphin in the world with an estimated population of just 111 individuals. Maui's are a subspecies of the Hector's dolphin, and live only along the west coast of the North Island.
3. The reason the dolphins are at risk is because they live close to shore, which places them at great risk from fishing – specifically, drowning after becoming entangled in commercial and amateur set nets and inshore trawl nets. Boat strikes, coastal development and pollution are also factors.
4. Because both species only live about 20 years and are low, slow breeders, any human-induced deaths have a huge impact. Even one more death of a Maui's dolphin, caused by humans, could push them over the brink to extinction as the population will simply not be able to sustain itself.
5. Some fishing restrictions have been put in place, such as banning set nets from certain areas. However, dolphins are still dying, which shows these steps are not enough.
6. The dolphins' fragile status was first recognised nearly 10 years ago, in 1999. It has taken this long for the Government to finally issue a draft Hector's and Maui's Dolphin Threat Management Plan (August 2007). This draft has still not been finalised.
7. Set nets and trawl nets are unequivocally acknowledged by New Zealand's Ministry of Fisheries and Department of Conservation as the most significant threat to both Hector's and Maui's dolphins.
8. The deaths of 22 common dolphins in two vessels' trawl nets last December shows that the fishing industry's voluntary Marine Mammal Operating Procedure cannot provide adequate protection for Maui's. The Minister of Conservation confirmed it not uncommon for dolphins to be captured in nets in this way.
9. The Government has the power and mandate to stop the extinction from happening. The Fisheries Act 1996 (s9 and s10) allows the Government to act with caution to ensure sustainability.

Colmar Brunton Survey Notes:

1. WWF commissioned Colmar Brunton to survey New Zealanders' views on the protection of Hector's and Maui's dolphins.
2. The survey was conducted from 12-18 March, using Colmar Brunton's telephone omnibus. It was conducted before the Minister of Conservation released photographs of the 22 common dolphins killed by trawl nets along the west coast of the North Island.
3. 505 people aged 15 and over were questioned as part of the survey.
4. Telephone numbers were generated randomly to ensure a representative sample of New Zealanders.
5. Quotas were set by area, age, and gender and the data post-weighted to reflect population statistics in terms of household size, area, age and gender.
6. Among genders:
   a.Of women surveyed, 87% want set nets and trawl nets banned from places dolphins live
   b.Of men surveyed, 79% want set nets and trawl nets banned from places dolphins live
7. Among age groups:
   a.86% of people aged 15-39 years want set nets and trawl nets banned from places dolphins live
   b.79% of people aged 40 -59 years want set nets and trawl nets banned from places dolphins live
   c.83% of people aged 60+ years want set nets and trawl nets banned from places dolphins live
8. Among regions:
   a.84% of metropolitan city dwellers want set nets and trawl nets banned from places dolphins live
   b.84% of provincial city dwellers want set nets and trawl nets banned from places dolphins live
   c.80% of small town/rural dwellers want set nets and trawl nets banned from places dolphins live

The Colmar Brunton survey questions:

The Government is about to make a decision about the protection of Maui's and Hector's dolphins. There are just over a hundred Maui's dolphins and just over seven thousand Hector's dolphins left in the world. New Zealand's coastal waters are the only place in the world these dolphins are found.

The main threat to the dolphins is fishing with set nets and trawl nets. One point of view is that fishing with set nets and trawl nets should be banned in the areas the dolphins live to ensure the survival of the dolphins as species. Another point of view is that set net and trawl net fishing shouldn't be banned because it will affect the livelihood of fishermen in the areas the dolphins live.

Q1. Do you think the Government should ban fishing with set nets and trawl nets in the Hector's and Maui's dolphin areas or do you think they should continue to allow these types of fishing so it doesn't affect the livelihoods of the fishermen?

Q2. How important is it to you, personally, that the Government [do whatever response they chose]? Is it very important, quite important, not that important, or not at all important?

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WWF joins world's leading environment proponents in CCS call

WWF has joined some of the world's leading environment proponents in calling for the rapid deployment of carbon capture and storage (CCS) demonstration plants.

The conservation organisation says it must be determined as a matter of urgency whether the technology works or not, and whether it will play a role in the world's response to climate change.

"If we reach a three-degree rise in temperature, 35 per cent of species will become extinct. WWF has a responsibility to try to prevent this from happening, which means supporting a range of climate change solutions," said WWF-Australia CEO Greg Bourne.

"Rapid deployment of demonstration plants is necessary to determine whether CCS is practical for broad application, and if it doesn't work we need to know even sooner."

WWF's position is supported by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, NASA scientist Dr James Hansen, environment groups such as the Climate Institute and PEW centre, pre-eminent research centres, and the vast majority of Governments.

"There is no single solution to climate change, the world must simultaneously become more energy efficiency, halt and reverse loss of forests, and replace traditional fossil fuels with zero and low emission technologies, including CCS," Mr Bourne said.

WWF's Climate Solutions report finds that if one or two of the zero or low emission technologies fail or are delayed, including CCS, the chance of beating the climate and energy challenge drops dramatically.

"If CCS works it can be applied not just to new and retrofitted coal power generation, but also gas power generation; to other large CO2 sources such as the chemical, steel or cement industries; and to natural gas production.

"The problem for CCS is that at the current rate of technology development it could take 15 to 20 years to contribute to the climate change solution, which would be too late for the planet," said Mr Bourne.

"This is precisely why WWF is calling for a national co-ordinated approach to accelerate CCS technology development, so it contributes to greenhouse gas reduction sooner."

WWF is also calling for a moratorium on new coal-fired power stations without CCS on commission, and for CCS demonstration funding to be levied from the industries known to contribute to greenhouse gas pollution.

"In addition to pursuing acceleration of CCS technology, WWF will continue to push for greater investment and regulation for energy efficiency, renewable energy and adaptation*," concluded Mr Bourne.

*WWF's Federal Budget submission is available upon request.

For more information:

Charlie Stevens, WWF-Australia Press Office, 02 8202 1274

Paul Toni, Program Leader - Development & Sustainability, 0410 086 986

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Strong progress on Kimberley offshore gas plan but major challenges remain

To coincide with the annual APPEA (oil and gas) conference held in Perth this week, WWF is reviewing progress against the challenges it set at APPEA 2007 for assessing any development of gas fields offshore from the ecologically and culturally-rich Kimberley region.

WWF is also calling for governments to fund a rigorous assessment of values over coming months before any decisions are made about gas development between Karratha and Darwin.

At the 2007 APPEA conference in Adelaide, WWF-Australia CEO, Greg Bourne challenged governments and industry to support a strategic, science-based assessment of development of the Browse Basin gas fields (offshore Kimberley), which would avoid areas of high conservation value, including but not limited to coral reefs like Scott Reef. This approach would necessarily also be cognizant of the social and economic fabric of Kimberley communities, in particular.

At that conference, Mr Bourne called for a new approach to development. "Business as usual, where projects are promoted one-by-one without an overarching plan is an antiquated approach, as I know many in industry and government agree," he said.

Mr Bourne also called for LNG processing to be limited to a single hub and for all players to invest in the collection of scientific information which would underpin decisions.

On the first anniversary of the challenge, Mr Bourne today said:

"While this issue presents complex challenges, much progress has been made. The Western Australian and Australian governments have taken important steps towards delivering an unprecedented joint strategic assessment of conservation and cultural values, and to assess hub options for Browse Basin gas."

"This complements the work of the Northern Development Taskforce to coordinate development, as well as efforts by some proponents to consult intensively with stakeholders. Governments deserve much credit for taking these steps as do those in industry who have shown leadership by supporting this approach," he said.

"The challenge now is for all parties, including Traditional Owners, governments, tourism interests, industry and conservationists to collaborate to describe the areas of high conservation and cultural value of the north-west coastal and marine region. This will provide the 'big picture' perspective for informed debate around future protection for large areas, and about potential locations for a hub, if appropriate."

"A modest investment now in the 'front-end' assessment will pay dividends for all. The alternative is to risk getting the big decisions wrong and everyone can agree that we simply cannot afford to get this one wrong."

For more information:

Paul Gamblin, WWF-Australia Senior Advisor, 0410 221 508

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WWF welcomes $180m investment in new protected areas

WWF-Australia has welcomed an announcement from the Australian Government that it would increase the budget for the National Reserve System to $36 million a year over the next five years.

WWF has been calling for a $250 million commitment - or $50 million a year over five years - from the Australian Government towards increasing Australia's protected areas system, especially in areas that are poorly represented such as arid parts of Central Australia and the Top End.

WWF's Protected Areas Policy Manager, Dr Martin Taylor, said the $180 million funding boost was a promising step toward saving Australia's wildlife from a "decade of neglect".

"National parks and nature reserves are the proven best and most secure method of arresting declines of threatened wildlife toward extinction and buffering nature against climate change," Dr Taylor said.

"This significant boost in investment is critical for the sake of Australia's unique species and, given the increasing threats to wildlife, even more investment will be worthwhile."

About $8 million on average was spent annually by the Commonwealth over the last decade in acquiring new protected areas for wildlife, but experts believe at least $50 million a year over five years is needed.

Telstra is a proud partner of WWF's Building Nature's Safety Net campaign.

Telstra Executive Director Mr Martin Mercer, said Telstra’s partnership with WWF demonstrates that Telstra takes its environmental responsibilities very seriously.

“We are proud to partner with WWF to play a part in developing solutions and encouraging the expansion of protected areas for Australia’s native wildlife, with a focus on safeguarding poorly protected and endangered ecosystems for Australia’s unique native species.� Mr Mercer said.

According to WWF analysis, 72 per cent of Australia's threatened species are declining but declines are less common in regions with more land area protected.

"The government urgently needs to re-estimate just how much it should be investing in protected areas for wildlife habitats in light of climate change. The states and territories also need to boost their parks acquisition and management budgets to take advantage of the increased funding now available to them." Dr Taylor said.

The National Reserve System program offers grants to states, territories and private land trusts for purchase of new protected areas in locations identified as important for saving Australia's unique heritage of native wildlife and plants.

For more information:

Charlie Stevens, WWF-Australia Press Office, 02 8202 1274, 0424 649 689

Dr Martin Taylor, WWF-Australia's Protected Areas Policy Manager, 07 3211 2749, 0406 384 289

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