DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ A Rare Whale Is Found Dead Off Georgia
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Johnny Diaz | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A rare North Atlantic right whale was found dead this week off the coast of Georgia, the second fatality in recent weeks involving the critically endangered species, the federal agency that monitors the oceans said. The whale that died was the female calf of the North Atlantic right whale No. 4340, also known as Pilgrim, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said in a statement on Thursday. The agency was notified on Tuesday that there was a dead whale floating offshore near Savannah, Ga. The whale, born in 2022, was identified after an aerial survey team from the Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute searched and found the carcass on Wednesday about 20 miles off Tybee Island, which is about 18 miles east of Savannah.

Persons: Pilgrim Organizations: National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute Locations: Atlantic, Georgia, East Coast, United States, Atlantic Canada, Savannah , Ga, Savannah

☆ ‘Save the Whales’ was a shining success. Now can humpbacks save us from ourselves?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( Bill Weir | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

Antarctic Peninsula CNN —About 15 billion miles from where you sit, two 12-inch golden records are hurtling through outer space with multilingual greetings to the universe from 55 humans and one humpback whale. WWF's Johnson said the whales are not harmed by this -- to the whales, the dart feels like "a mosquito bite." It feels like “a mosquito bite” to the whales, Johnson said, but what they can test for is priceless: from stress hormones to toxins to — most importantly — pregnancy rates. Ten million copies were inserted into National Geographic magazine in 1979 — the largest single pressing in history — and a global movement to Save The Whales grew big enough to … save the whales. Seth Wenig/AP“I don’t think a wind turbine can kill a whale,” Friedlaender told CNN.

Persons: Anderson Cooper, Carl Sagan, ” Sagan, could’ve, “, Ari Friedlaender, Friedlaender, ”, Chris Johnson, ” Eva Prendergast, WWF's Johnson, Evelio Contreras, Bill Weir, Johnson, ” Friedlaender, Shepherd, WWF’s Johnson, Roger, Katy Payne, David Keyton, Frank Watlington, cetologist Scott McVay, Donald Trump, ” Trump, Seth Wenig, that’s, Biden, ” Johnson, Twain, CNN “, ” Brenda McCowan, Fred Sharpe, ” McCowan, ’ ” Sharpe, Natalia Botero, Acosta, ’, Maria Camila Medina Martínez, Julian Quinones, ” Carl Sagan Organizations: Antarctic Peninsula CNN, “, ” CNN CNN, University of California, International Monetary Fund, World Wildlife Fund, Ocean Endeavor, CNN, UC Santa Cruz, Shepherd Global, Norwegian Aker, United Nations, Geographic, Whales, International Whaling Commission, Atlantic, Republican, Templeton Foundation, Whale SETI, UC Davis Locations: Santa Cruz, Colombia, British, Antarctica, Norwegian, Southern, Orkney, Bermuda, Japan, Norway, Iceland, Atlantic, South Carolina, Lido Beach , New York, Davis, Alaska, Columbia, Colombian, Tribuga, United Nations, Palau, Chile, Maldives

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) — A power company's plans for an enormous offshore wind farm off Virginia's coast gained key federal approval Tuesday after the Biden Administration evaluated the project's potential impact on the environment. The utility will still need federal approval of its construction and operation plans before more pilings rise above the Atlantic Ocean. Dominion said its project will be the largest offshore wind farm under development in the United States. The administration said it wants to build 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030 — enough to power more than 10 million homes. The Southern Environmental Law Center cited the importance of offshore wind for cutting carbon pollution, which fuels climate change.

Persons: what's, “, Deb Haaland, Joe Biden's, Glenn Youngkin, Will Cleveland, Michael Town, ” Organizations: Biden Administration, Dominion Energy, of Ocean Energy Management, Dominion, Interior Department, Republican Gov, Southern Environmental, Virginia League of Conservation Voters Locations: VIRGINIA BEACH, Va, Virginia's, Atlantic, Virginia Beach, United States, Virginia

The whales were buoyed by a strong birthing year in 2021, when 18 calves were born into the population, the consortium said. However, consortium members cautioned that the high mortality faced by the whales from collisions and entanglement remains an unsustainable burden. Scientists say one reason the whales are now in decline has to do with warming oceans and climate change. Numerous lobster fishermen have opposed proposed fishing restrictions they fear would put them out of business rather than help whales. The right whale consortium said sublethal injuries to whales from collisions and fishing gear are also a major concern for the remaining population.

Persons: ”, Philip Hamilton, they're, Dave Cousens, Katie Moore, Janet Coit, Coit Organizations: U.S ., Atlantic, Whale Consortium, Anderson Cabot Center, Ocean, New, Maine Lobstermen’s Association, International Fund for Animal Welfare, National Marine Fisheries Service Locations: PORTLAND, Maine, North Atlantic, U.S . East Coast, Florida, Georgia, New England, Canada

☆ Ships speeding through US 'go slow' zones meant to protect endangered whale -report
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Endangered North Atlantic Right Whales skim feed and sub-surface feed in the waters off of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, U.S., March 27, 2023. REUTERS/Lauren Owens Lambert/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBOSTON, Oct 19 (Reuters) - More than 80% of ships are speeding through "go slow" zones set by environmental regulators along the U.S. East Coast to protect endangered North Atlantic Right Whales, according to a report released on Thursday by environmental group Oceana. North Atlantic Right Whales are on the brink of extinction, numbering just 340, with ship strikes among the top causes of death. Oceana said it analyzed boat speeds from November 2020 through July 2022 in slow zones established by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) along the East Coast and found that 84% of boats sped through mandatory slow zones, and 82% sped through voluntary slow zones. "NOAA Fisheries’ approach evaluates overall compliance based on the percent of the total distance traveled by AIS-equipped vessels in the speed zones at compliant speeds," it said.

Persons: Lauren Owens Lambert, Oceana, — it's, Gib Brogan, Richard Valdmanis, Sandra Maler Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S ., Atlantic, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, Reuters, NOAA Fisheries, AIS, Fishing Watch, Oceana, Google, Thomson Locations: Cape Cod , Massachusetts, U.S, U.S . East Coast, Oceana, East Coast

☆ Ships Speeding Through US 'Go Slow' Zones Meant to Protect Endangered Whale -Report
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

BOSTON (Reuters) - More than 80% of ships are speeding through "go slow" zones set by environmental regulators along the U.S. East Coast to protect endangered North Atlantic Right Whales, according to a report released on Thursday by environmental group Oceana. Oceana said it analyzed boat speeds from November 2020 through July 2022 in slow zones established by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) along the East Coast and found that 84% of boats sped through mandatory slow zones, and 82% sped through voluntary slow zones. "NOAA Fisheries’ approach evaluates overall compliance based on the percent of the total distance traveled by AIS-equipped vessels in the speed zones at compliant speeds," it said. It pointed out that ships sometimes enter the zones above 10 knots before slowing down. Oceana said it used data from Global Fishing Watch, an international nonprofit organization founded by Oceana in partnership with satellite imagery providers SkyTruth and Google, to track ship speeds and locations.

Persons: Oceana, — it's, Gib Brogan, Richard Valdmanis, Sandra Maler Organizations: BOSTON, U.S ., Atlantic, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, Reuters, NOAA Fisheries, AIS, Fishing Watch, Oceana, Google Locations: U.S, U.S . East Coast, Oceana, East Coast

The scientists found large whales such as humpbacks and North Atlantic right whales were among the most vulnerable to climate change, and that other toothed whales and dolphins were also at high risk. The scientists looked at the animals' degree of exposure to climate change and sensitivity and capacity to adapt to it. “The U.S. is one of the most data-rich countries when it comes to marine mammals, and those data should be driving what are arguably some of the world’s strongest laws to protect marine mammals," she said. But the way climate change affects the giant animals is global in nature, so the broader approach is helpful, she said. Climate change also could affect the distribution and behavior of marine mammals, the study states.

Persons: Matthew Lettrich, ” Lettrich, Regina Asmutis, Silvia, “, Laura Ganley, Ganley, ”, Gib Brogan, ” Brogan, Patrick Whittle Organizations: —, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, U.S, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, Conservation, Anderson Cabot Center, Ocean, New, Aquarium, AP Locations: PORTLAND, Maine, U.S, North Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, Massachusetts, Boston, New England, United States, of Maine, Georgia, Florida, Canada, Oceana

☆ Opinion: North Atlantic right whales are running out of time
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Gib Brogan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Video Ad Feedback Protecting whales from one of their biggest threats 03:59 - Source: CNNNorth Atlantic right whales and speeding boats just don’t mix. When a boat strikes a North Atlantic right whale, it can cause traumatic injuries and even death. Scientists estimate the species can only recover if less than one North Atlantic right whale dies per year from these human causes. Over time, it’s become clear that even smaller boats can kill North Atlantic right whales. The North Atlantic right whales are running out of time.

Persons: Gib Brogan, it’s, NOAA’s Organizations: CNN, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, NOAA Fisheries, Twitter, Facebook, Georges Bank, Day, Labor Locations: Oceana, Atlantic, East Coast, United States, Canada, New England, Florida, Nantucket

☆ Orcas may just be the beginning. Whales and humans are likely to have more strange encounters in the future.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Orcas are targeting boats near Spain while gray whales in Baja let humans pet them. "It isn't people running up to whales, it's whales coming to people." The gray whales befriending boats is especially interesting because just decades ago they were hunted to the brink of extinction in those same lagoons. But after conservation measures made whaling illegal, the North Pacific gray whales have dramatically recovered, allowing for these more friendly, social interactions between whales and humans. And it's not just the gray whales.

Persons: Leigh Torres, —, Andrew Trites, Torres Organizations: Service, Oregon State, Mammal Institute, Marine Mammal Research, University of British Locations: Spain, Baja, Wall, Silicon, Mexico's Baja California, University of British Columbia, Pacific, Atlantic, Portugal

☆ North American lobster industry confronts 'ropeless' traps after whale entanglements
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Lauren Owens Lambert | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

That is a large number, given there are fewer than 350 North Atlantic Right Whales remaining, including just 70 breeding females, say regulators, researchers and conservationists. North Atlantic Right Whales who live off the eastern North American coast stretching from Florida to the Canadian Maritimes provinces are now on the verge of extinction. Traditional lobster fishing uses traps that sink to the ocean floor and are connected by a rope to a buoy floating at the surface. Ropeless gear, by contrast, only deploys a rope and buoy to the surface when its owner activates a release trigger by remote control. When the 2,100 square-kilometer zones are shut, only harvesters with ropeless gear are allowed to fish there, Gilchrist said.

Persons: Matt Weber, lobsterman, Lauren Owens Lambert, ”, Charles Mayo, Rob Morris, “ We’re, Edgetech, lobsterman Kyle Murdock, Weber, Brett Gilchrist, Gilchrist, “, Michael Moore, Lawrence, Richard Valdmanis, Deepa Babington Organizations: REUTERS, Seafood Watch, Atlantic, U.S ., Atlantic Right Whales, National Oceanographic, Atmospheric Administration, Whales, Canadian, Center for Coastal Studies, NOAA, Canada’s Fisheries, Reuters, Fisheries, Oceans, Oceanographic, Thomson Locations: Monhegan, Maine, U.S, MONHEGAN, Monterey, U.S . East Coast, North Carolina, Florida, Cape Cod , Massachusetts, ” Washington, Ottawa, England, Massachusetts, Canada’s Gulf, St, Lawrence, Fundy, Oceans Canada, Gulf

☆ New propellers with looped blades could help make the oceans quiet again, sparing both marine life and the climate
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Sharrow Marine sells them for small boats but would need to scale up to reach the shipping industry. A traditional ship propeller that has blades in a screw-like form. That's what Sebastian realized when he put loop propellers on a drone. Sharrow began selling propellers to recreational boaters in 2020 through a company he founded called Sharrow Marine. Testing led by the company BoatTEST found that the Sharrow Propeller was up to 30% more efficient than a standard blade propeller.

☆ Whales are turning up dead on beaches — and our online shopping addiction is partly to blame
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Avery Hartmans | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Nearly two dozen whales have washed up dead along the East Coast in recent months. Scientists blame it on climate change sending whales into the path of cargo ships. The surge in online shopping means ships are bigger and more plentiful than ever before. Two whales that washed up dead along the Atlantic Coast this month were determined to have been struck by vessels, USA Today reported. A year ago, scientists began calling for cargo ships to start rerouting in order to protect endangered blue whales that live off the coast of Sri Lanka.

☆ Congress Backs Lobstermen in Battle Over Whales
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-21 | by ( Kristina Peterson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Maine’s lobster industry has disputed that its ropes pose a threat to North Atlantic right whales. WASHINGTON—Maine’s lobster industry will get a break under the sweeping spending bill unveiled by congressional leaders this week, which would delay tougher rules intended to protect endangered whales. As part of the bill funding the government until October, lawmakers proposed in legislation unveiled Tuesday to delay until 2029 the implementation of new, stricter regulations aimed at bolstering the shrinking population of roughly 340 North Atlantic right whales.

☆ Maine Lobster Controversy Pinches Biden’s State Dinner With Macron
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Kristina Peterson | Jon Kamp | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON—It wasn’t the cheese selection that became the most contentious item on the menu at President Biden’s first state dinner Thursday night with French President Emmanuel Macron . Instead, the butter-poached Maine lobster landed the White House in hot water. The state’s lobster fishery has been at the center of legal and regulatory fights over whether its equipment harms endangered North Atlantic right whales—a political battle that began boiling over after two conservation groups warned consumers against buying Maine lobsters. Last month, Whole Foods Market paused its sales of the state’s iconic crustacean, saying it doesn’t meet the grocer’s sustainability standards.

☆ Maine Governor Janet Mills criticized Whole Foods after the grocery chain decided to stop selling the state's lobsters at its stores
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-27 | by ( Hannah Getahun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Whole Foods will no longer sell Maine lobster in its stores. The Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative, which represents the Gulf of Maine fishery, also called the decision "disappointing" in a statement to Maine Public. Right whales can reach up to 52 feet in length and live up to 70 years. The main causes of unusual death for right whales include entanglements with fishing gear and collisions with ships. Representatives for Whole Foods, the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative, and the Marine Stewardship Council did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

☆ Dispute Over Protecting Whales, and Lobster Fishing, Heats Up in Maine
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( Jon Kamp | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Tension is building in Maine over efforts to save a shrinking whale species that scientists say is threatened by the ropes lobstermen use to haul traps from the ocean floor. The complex battle involves a federal agency that has a mandate to protect endangered North Atlantic right whales, a lobster industry that disagrees its fishing gear poses a risk, and environmental groups that say the federal government’s whale-protection efforts have fallen short.

☆ Retailers pull lobster from menus after 'red list' warning
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-08 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

Seafood Watch, which rates the sustainability of different seafoods, said this week it has added the American and Canadian lobster fisheries to its “red list” of species to avoid. Seafood Watch assigns ratings of “best choice,” “good alternative” and “avoid” to more than 2,000 seafood items based on how sustainably they are managed. Seafood Watch assigns ratings of “best choice,” “good alternative” and “avoid” to more than 2,000 seafood items based on how sustainably they are managed. The lobster fishing industry has come under scrutiny from Seafood Watch because of the threat of entanglement in fishing gear. Members of the lobster fishing industry, which is also coping with increased federal fishing restrictions to protect the whales, pushed back against the Seafood Watch rating.

Search resuls for: "Atlantic Right Whales"

17 mentions found