Latest news with #marineLife
CTV News
a day ago
- Science
- CTV News
Darkening oceans threatening marine life
Watch Research oceanographer Paige Hoel speaks about the important role sunlight plays in marine life and why parts of the ocean are darkening.
News.com.au
a day ago
- General
- News.com.au
Dramatic footage captures moment Sea World team free entangled whale caught in net off Qld coast
The dramatic moment a whale entangled in fishing nets off the coast of Queensland was rescued has been caught on tape. The Sea World Rescue Team was dispatched after receiving reports from a ferry trawling near North Stradbroke Island, off the Queensland coast, that a whale had become entangled in buoys and ropes. Footage shows the 8m humpback whale showing obvious signs of distress as it thrashes and repeatedly breaches the water while rescuers deliberate on how to assist the creature. In the dramatic footage, the rescue team drives right up alongside the whale as they attempt to use hooks and other tools to dislodge the various pieces of equipment attached to it. Sea World Foundation Head of Marine Science Wayne Phillips said it was 'a privilege' to be at the scene when rescuers were able to free the enormous creature from its restraints. 'The cutting team did an amazing job releasing the whale as quickly as they could,' Mr Phillips said. 'Two simple cuts – there was one cut on some rope that was draped across the right side of the tail fluke, and then a final cut right at the tip of the left side of the tail fluke, and then the animal was free,' he said. Marine Mammal Specialist Benjamin Markham said seeing the whale happily swim off was 'incredible'. 'Seeing him swim off with his pecks nice and wide and his tail moving freely was very rewarding,' Mr Markham said. 'We did start to see some sort of infiltration on the right hand side of the tail fluke, where that rope was hanging out … I think we got it just in time. Any longer and we certainly would have seen a bit more damage.' The team has engaged in two 'mobile disentanglements' this migration season, and with more whales expected to head up the coast, Phillips says there is a high likelihood the team will encounter more creatures 'with gear on them'. 'Our rescue team remains on standby to assist.'
Fox News
2 days ago
- General
- Fox News
Beach visitor accidentally picks up shell of venomous snail that can kill a human in moments
A woman visiting a local beach was walking along the tide admiring shells when she picked up one that could have had deadly repercussions. Sharing her story on TikTok, the woman shows herself finding a spotted, cone-shaped shell and picking it up. She was in Okinawa, Japan, when this happened. "She doesn't know it yet, but she's about to pick up the world's deadliest shell that leads to full paralysis in minutes," the text on the video says. The woman picked up a cone snail shell with coils spotted in brown and white. Cone snails are one of the most venomous animals on Earth, with approximately 600-700 species of slugs in existence, according to the Ocean Conservancy (OC). Most venom in the snails will "cause tingling or numbness at the injection site, then spread to the impacted limb and eventually the entire body," according to OC. In a follow-up video that garnered millions of likes, the woman shared that she did research on the shell and its usual inhabitant, finding out even "worse" information about it. "My brain kept convincing me that I had been stung and just didn't realize it. By the fourth day of panic, my husband was sick of reassuring me I was indeed going to live," she said. Cone snails are marine predators. They use venom to immobilize their prey by using their "harpoon-like teeth" to inject victims, according to the National Library of Medicine (NLM). The video garnered nearly one million likes, with TikTokers weighing in on the incident. "This is why life should have an instruction manual," said one woman. A user commented, "Don't touch anything pretty." "I wonder if my mother-in-law would like a cone shell collection," joked one TikToker. Another user said, "I grew up in Hawaii and they taught me this in fourth grade." The person added, "But I don't think it's common knowledge."
RNZ News
4 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
Cook Islands seabed mining consultations raise fishery concerns
By Talaia Mika , Cook Islands News Atiu students onboard the Moana Minerals research vessel Anuanua Moana on Saturday. Photo: Cook Islands News / Talaia Mika Concerns over the potential impact of seabed mining on fish stocks - a vital food source and livelihood for outer islanders - dominated the recent consultations hosted by Moana Minerals in the Ngaputoru islands of Atiu, Mauke and Mitiaro. Despite initial scepticism and caution, the seabed mining company's effort to share their findings and address community concerns saw a generally positive reception across the three sister islands. Moana Minerals, one of the licenced companies in the Cook Islands to explore deep sea mineral resources, conducted engagement tours across the Southern Group islands last week to inform communities and clarify "misconceptions" surrounding seabed mining. In Atiu, questions from senior residents and youth alike focused heavily on the risks to marine life, especially fish - a primary food source and economic activity for the island. "There's an old saying, what goes around comes around. Have you guys measured the currents and how it'll affect the fish?" a senior male resident asked during the meeting. Hans Smit, chief executive of Moana Minerals, responded by acknowledging the complexity of the issue. Smit reiterated that the mining activities would occur five kilometres beneath the ocean surface - far removed from fishing zones - and said data from international studies supported the low risk to fisheries. "It's a very complicated long process but we have a very good team of experts in special fields to ensure the data is correct," Smit said. Members of the Atiu community during a consultation with Moana Minerals about seabed mining. TALAIA MIKA/25062239 Photo: Cook Islands News / Talaia Mika Another senior Atiuan community member pressed further, raising concern about possible ocean damage during mining operations. "What's the recovery damage in the event during the process? How can you recover that damage of the ocean?" he asked, citing the Christian belief that the deep ocean was not meant for human interference. Smit addressed the risks, saying, "If we start seeing something that doesn't sit right then we have to stop. It's like the leak in the car. That part we can control and manage." He added that the company had insurance in place: "It costs us about $150,000 USD annually ... if anything happens, we have to clean up our mess. This is what any ship operating in the world should have." Youth from the island also raised generational concerns. "Unless it won't affect the future for tomorrow and unless you give me proof," one said. Smit acknowledged the importance of transparency and pledged to share data: "We already showed that ... when we study the soil of the Cook Islands, we cannot find poison in there. So even if we disturb it, it's not the poison that's going to kill the fish. What we need to do is come back to you with all that data so you can have your experts to confirm what we are saying." In Mauke, the tone of the consultation was noticeably more supportive, though the importance of equitable benefits was a recurring theme. Mayor Joane Rongoape told Cook Islands News, "I think it's a good idea. It's a gold mine ... Why not? The bigger countries are harvesting it, and it's in the Cook Islands zone." Rongoape estimated that about 95 per cent of the island's residents supported the seabed mining initiative. "Just a few who don't agree, which is okay ... everybody's got a choice." She expressed confidence in the company's preparedness and planning, noting, "They do all their studies to make sure that it's the right thing to do … There's a lot of work put in this project and a lot of headaches too." Members of the Atiu community during a consultation with Moana Minerals about seabed mining. Photo: Cook Islands News / Talaia Mika Mauke elder Teararoa Mani offered conditional support: "This was 50 years ago and now we are still talking about this. I don't have any problems with you going to get it so long as we benefit from it. God gave these resources for us but don't be greedy. Share it for us." During the Mauke consultation, Smit reaffirmed the company's commitment to environmental protection and accountability. "We do not want to be the people that go down in history as the ones that destroyed the ocean ... I do not want my children to have to live with the legacy that their father destroyed the ocean." He also criticised "misinformation" that paints the company as careless. "It's not helpful or healthy. We are always looking to make sure that whatever we are doing, we are doing it with care and proportion." On the island of Mitiaro, the reception was overwhelmingly supportive, with a focus on economic opportunities and future benefit for the island. Mayor Tati Tutaka told Cook Islands News, "The presentation was very successful to us and to me, and we all support seabed mining so long as we achieve something not just for us but for our future generations here in Mitiaro." He admitted there were initial doubts but said the consultation helped ease those concerns. "Everyone has a fair idea now and these are the kinds of information that we needed ... the more we understand, the better we make decisions based on these facts." The consultation followed a similar session in Mangaia, where residents also raised concerns about the environment and fisheries. One of the main takeaways from that earlier consultation was that while some remained cautious, many welcomed the open dialogue and efforts to clarify the process. Throughout all the consultations, the impact on fish stocks remained the most pressing concern. Across Ngaputoru, fishing is not just a tradition but an economic pillar and a source of sustenance for families. The engagement tour concluded on Saturday with a tour onboard the Moana Minerals boat for the residents especially the children to see the boat that is exploring their seabed. -This article was first published by Cook Islands News .
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Fisherman's 'crazy' footage of unusual moment in Aussie bay: 'Loch Ness monster'
Footage of a speedy creature cruising around an Aussie bay last week was impressive enough to stun even a seasoned fisherman, with the animal dubbed the 'Loch Ness Monster' for not quite breaking the water surface and revealing itself to those on land. Jayden Gane works on fish farms based in Tasmania's south and told Yahoo News he witnesses marine life almost every day in the bay near his family's holiday home. However, he admits the animal's sheer speed was "pretty crazy" to see up close. "I was just coming out of the shack and getting into the car and [I saw] a bit of commotion going on. Down here at Southport, there's always something different in the bay," he said, explaining he regularly catches sight of whales and dolphins. "You quite often see stingrays in the shallows speeding as well, scooting about and making a bit of a splash. So it was just sort of, look out, what do we got today?" Gane told Yahoo he was surprised to glance up and see the animal — later revealed to be a seal — moving so fast so close to the shore. He said it appeared to be frantically hunting its next meal. "In that final little last turn [in the video] that he does, you can actually see a few fish sort of break the surface trying to get into the shallower water again... so I knew he was feeding," he said, describing the moment as "unusual". Jayden explained seals often cause trouble for commercial and recreational fisherman alike as they hang on their coattails to snatch away catches for themselves. "They're really, really quite cheeky, almost like a dog. They're pretty much a water dog," he said, noting they frequently visit his workplace. "Fishing-wise, seals are a bit of the worst enemy because they take your fish... they move quite quickly." It's believed the seal in the video is an Australian fur seal — with the animals capable of cruising along at a speed of 9 km/h, and even faster during short bursts. This is twice as fast as an Olympic swimmer, according to Philip Island Nature parks. 😲 Excited tourists watch 'nature documentary' unfold as predator hunts off coast 🧐 Photographer captures remarkable underwater sight 👀 Whale accused of 'mugging' tourists off Aussie coast Not only can the seal species outcompete our fastest swimmers, but they can also scoot quickly on land and outrun a human. Wildlife scientist Vanessa Pirotta confirmed to Yahoo the seal in the video is definitely "foraging" and said it's a great demonstration of the animal's speed. "The footage shows just how fast these marine mammals are in the water... fur seals are super fast in the water and can also easily outrun a human on land," she said. "It's always so wonderful to see marine life showing their natural behaviours, and in this case, it was all caught on camera. The footage demonstrates how fast these animals can move when chasing food." Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
