tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-332433262012-01-09T12:23:09.222-08:00Part travelogue, equal parts science, opinion, and political observations, but mostly dedicated to capturing the often irksome and sometimes wonderful moments that are all part of field-based ocean conservationRick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.comBlogger8141100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-73313883636063034292010-09-07T02:28:00.000-07:002010-09-07T02:34:33.413-07:00

There’s no getting around it, science is a social enterprise. Go ahead, try and do some by your lonesome. Oh, you may putter and dial-twirl and churn out some damn fine solo research. But you’ll undoubtedly rely upon the prior research of others to get anywhere (that whole “standing on the shoulders of giants” business). And if you have any hope of your research rippling further than your lab

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-52935126561349457122010-09-04T15:28:00.001-07:002010-09-04T16:49:09.951-07:00

Conservation International, one of the largest (by budget and size) biodiversity conservation NGOs on the planet, has given itself a facelift. Gone is the familiar green rainforest silhouette (left) that has represented the organization for the past 23 years. In its place is a modern, minimalist expression of CI's new mission. A simple blue circle atop a green base represents, according to

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-31913575230731390462010-09-03T21:22:00.000-07:002010-09-03T22:48:30.109-07:00

Okay, that's quite the mouthful. What I meant to say was OoPS, as in Ocean of Pseudoscience Week.The hillbillies over at Southern Fried Science have cooked up more than just beer in a coffee pot this time. To quote Andrew: Over the next week we'll be tackling our favorite ocean myths, challenging conventional (yet strangely unsupported) wisdom about effective marine management and policy,

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-60724283202279766172010-09-02T19:09:00.000-07:002010-09-03T13:48:24.738-07:00

What looks like my blog posts here at MBSL&S, walks like my blog posts here at MBSL&S, and quacks like my blog posts here at MBSL&S, yet ISN'T MBSL&S?

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-47243112775225032032010-08-27T22:17:00.000-07:002010-08-27T23:17:08.312-07:00

Amongst my many reasons for resuscitating MBSL&S, most proximate is that I'm spending the weekend in Monterey, CA, where I'm attending BLUE: the global oceans film and conservation festival.On one level, I'm representing my organization (and incidentally, our new PSAs won honorable mention here at the festival!). But mostly I'm here to rub elbows with friends, colleagues, and other ocean geeks.

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-91417838880544259352010-08-26T10:12:00.000-07:002010-08-26T10:28:27.381-07:00

It was either that header or, "I'm baaaack!"A confluence of really juicy events (some past, some present, and some on the horizon) have brought me out of my bloggy torpor. As I wipe the moss and mildew from my screen, chisel the keyboard and mouse from their surrounding matrix of sedimentary rock, and brush my tooth, know that Malaria, Bedbugs, Sea Lice & Sunsets is lumbering towards you once

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-44498744968887913162010-06-17T11:29:00.000-07:002010-06-18T01:14:31.102-07:00

What's 635 pages long, fully illustrated, weighs 5.4 pounds, cost millions of taxpayer dollars to produce, was written and signed by a blue-ribbon, cross-sectoral panel of ocean scientists, military, DC legislators, and business leaders, and endorsed by an august and prestigious science advisory panel? It's An Ocean Blueprint for the 21st Century, the final report by the US Commission on Ocean

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-45764883170478323432010-06-08T12:54:00.000-07:002010-06-08T13:35:21.915-07:00

So sue me. I'm not above a little gratuitous self-promostion. In celebration of World Ocean(s) Day, the Coral Reef Alliance is debuting these new videos that help describe our work. Best of all, they feature the fabulous Dr Sylvia Earle as one of our supporters. Talk about street cred!Hope you enjoy, feel inspired, and help support our mission!

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-54925415165931505772010-05-31T23:15:00.000-07:002010-06-01T00:16:36.837-07:00

It all started out nice enough. A Memorial Day outing to Half Moon Bay for some lunch, plenty of farm stands with early summer produce, and maybe some tidepooling at Princeton Beach. But that was all before my mood soured considerably on stumbling across this charming marine mortuary tucked away off Main street in downtown Half Moon Bay. Seascapes: Gifts of the Sea, calls itself A very special

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-22416867018650248392010-05-11T22:13:00.000-07:002010-05-11T22:16:15.484-07:00

Absolutely pathetic.

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-63842210913768078062010-04-30T12:21:00.000-07:002010-04-30T12:48:09.132-07:00

I bet you thought Reed Richards was the only Super Scientist. Well think again! A new research fellowship opportunity at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies is changing that (although it remains unclear whether you get a cape, a costume, or get to mix it up with Dr Doom).The ARC Centre (an internationally renowned research center of 200 researchers and graduate students) has

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-21121717211365121962010-04-22T12:47:00.001-07:002010-04-22T13:39:32.634-07:00

It's Earth Day, so at some point today I hope you reflect on the fact that most of planet Earth is covered by this:An ocean that moderates our climate like this:An ocean which is full of a lot of these:That support a whole bunch of these:That feed these:And these:And these:And that healthy oceans also support these:And that healthy reefs and mangroves in turn protect coastal communities from the

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-9744043182699177592010-04-17T20:51:00.000-07:002010-04-23T11:44:06.318-07:00

Tip of the hat to a stranded Karen James for pointing me towards this infographic, courtesy of Information is Beautiful.UPDATE: 4/23/10The producers of this infographic issued a retraction of their original diagram. Seems as though they grossly underestimated the CO2 output of Eyjafjallajökull. The volcano seems to be spewing nearly half as much carbon as Europe's airlines. A revised chart is

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-71490417306274739902010-04-15T15:21:00.001-07:002010-04-15T18:49:30.432-07:00

There are rumors coursing through the intertubes that those rascals at SyFy Channel, the same folks who brought you Megashark vs Giant Octopus, Mega Piranha, and Mansquito, are in development of a movie that will be the heavyweight champ of all made-for-TV schlock: Sharktopus!Somebody pinch me!Allegedly to be directed by Roger "King of the B-movies" Corman, Sharktopus will no doubt be a gripping,

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-22633354034332304822010-04-13T17:04:00.000-07:002010-04-13T17:38:36.393-07:00

We here at MBSL&S are incredibly proud of our fantabulous ocean blogging scientist pal Miriam Goldstein on successfully passing her quals at UC San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography! Make way... make way for the Ph.D. CANDIDATE!serious-fucking-w00t!In honor of this event, I have given the MBSL&S troops the rest of the day off and $25 out of the register for beer. Congrats, Miriam, and

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-75847051537513104162010-04-12T22:03:00.000-07:002010-05-03T12:51:57.443-07:00

UPDATE: 5/3/2010: It seems that the folks over at Sea Dine are ashamed of the light being cast upon their Snorkel Snax product in action. And justifiably so. I posted images from their own site showing unsustainable wildlife interactions while using Snorkel Snax®. That's a bit too much sunshine for a self proclaimed "Eco-Smart" company. Sea Dine representative Sonia Hillios demanded the images be

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-23983922631126228282010-04-03T19:46:00.000-07:002010-04-03T19:59:12.164-07:00

Bottle of 2008 The Squid's Fist Sangiovese Shiraz by Australian vintners Some Young Punks: $18.00Look of envy on the DSN Team's face: PricelessThe Squid's Fist: 70% Sangiovese from Kalimna (Barossa); 30% Shiraz from the McLaren Vale; 1500 cases made.

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-611211786049600692010-04-02T12:50:00.000-07:002010-04-02T13:25:47.003-07:00

How many times has this happened to you? You're diving along a beautiful coral reef or chilling-out at 40 feet in a spectacular kelp forest. Suddenly you notice the delicate, translucent beauty of a jelly drift past your dive mask. Perhaps you know the species, perhaps not. Either way you want to share the sighting with others. But how?Look no further. Jellywatch has arrived.Ken over at Sea

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-75979486341521776492010-04-02T01:03:00.000-07:002010-04-02T01:48:04.097-07:00

During a US House Armed Services Committee hearing last Thursday, March 25, 2010, Representative Hank Johnson (D-GA) was questioning Admiral Robert Willard, head of the U.S. Pacific fleet, about the stationing of 8,000 additional U.S. Marines and their families on the Micronesian island of Guam, a 212-square-mile American territory that is 30 miles long and from 4 to 12 miles wide.After

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-89998271928586110752010-04-01T00:01:00.000-07:002010-04-01T12:41:03.546-07:00

Hot on the heels of his recent celebrity earlier this week in helping MSNBC demystify pictures of a giant ocean isopod making the rounds on the internet, Dr. Craig McClain, noted marine biologist, Assistant Director of Science for the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center, and creator of the popular ocean science blog Deep Sea News, made more headlines this morning during a startling press

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-44907927462986137552010-03-31T11:03:00.000-07:002010-03-31T12:25:55.389-07:00

Daddy likes! Thanks to a post by my friends over at Climate Shifts, I learned of a new ID guide to Indo-Pacific corals. The Coral Finder by BYO Guides is a practical, photo-driven (and best of all waterproof!) tool that makes quick work of keying-out the confusing Indo-Pacific coral diversity.Corals in general can be maddening to field identify, even if you spend a lot of time diving on reefs.

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-21882886941013739932010-03-27T14:57:00.000-07:002010-03-27T15:31:37.655-07:00

Another year, another transit around the sun, and yes faithful readers, another chance at glory with The 3rd, Maybe-Annual, MBSL&S Spring Ocean Egg Hunt. I've been delighted to offer this little puzzler each year and even more delighted that readers go all out with a little healthy competition.The rules are simple: Accurately identify the 12 ocean animal eggs pictured above (click on image to

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-65230210129673047572010-03-26T14:37:00.000-07:002010-03-26T14:38:33.974-07:00

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-83139332393555435742010-03-24T22:03:00.000-07:002010-03-25T13:07:00.163-07:00

Forget Fuck You, Penguin. When the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) wraps up its 15th triennial Conference of the Parties (COP 15) in Doha, Qatar, tomorrow, it will go down as one big middle finger to ocean health.Andrew over on Southern Fried Science has a running tally of COP 15 marine conservation outcomes. Other than the addition of

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-90257035949235839982010-03-24T11:41:00.000-07:002010-03-24T13:07:25.699-07:00

As much as I hate tooting my own horn, I've been remiss to pass along a few interesting tidbits I've been involved in over the past few months. I'm much more comfortable in advancing an issue rather than drawing attention to myself, but it's nice to also get a little nod now and then for hard work and results.First up, my undergrad alumni magazine, The Bridge published by Roger Williams

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-55863949357412576302010-03-19T12:27:00.000-07:002010-03-20T00:27:45.493-07:00

This has been a particularly shitty week for ocean conservation and human rights. In Doha, Qatar, the 175-nation Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, or CITES, was discussing new proposals on regulating the trade in threatened shark species (almost exclusively targeted only for their fins for use in soup), an all-out ban on the export of seriously endangered Atlantic bluefin

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-36595891420150454422010-01-05T13:34:00.000-08:002010-01-05T17:50:08.207-08:00

Jennifer Jacquet over on her blog Guilty Planet has thrown-down a challenge to those of us still scrambling for the perfect New Year's resolution, It's that time of year where we welcome changes and commitment to ideals. New gym memberships. Re-committing to flossing every day. Giving up seafood...My New Year's resolution was to finally write this blogpost compile a list of people that will

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-2901048037003213802010-01-02T12:53:00.000-08:002010-01-02T14:07:55.010-08:00

Last summer I commented on the (not altogether surprising) findings by researchers that feeding stingrays in Grand Cayman's famous Stingray City makes for fat, lazy stingrays. It turns out that that human feeding and habituation is responsible for the disruption of natural stingray behaviors and an increase in the size of the female population in stingrays. Well, Stingray City is in the news

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-37781976441585575222009-12-16T15:07:00.000-08:002009-12-16T15:11:30.811-08:00

I know... I know... I've been somewhat an absentee landlord here at the blog the past few weeks. Two weeks in the field took it's toll and I returned from Fiji travel with a stupendous cold/flu thingie. Then right into pre holiday grant crunch.I've been somewhat better over on Facebook (but just barely).Here's a warm holiday greeting to all my loyal (and new) readers. I promise more coral reef

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-91699295960507900052009-11-13T19:44:00.000-08:002009-11-13T20:19:20.468-08:00

With the arrival today in Miami of Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's Oasis of the Sea--the world's biggest cruise ship ever constructed--I thought it would be worthwhile to dust off this piece I wrote back in 2007 when RCCL launched plans for what it was then calling it's Genesis Project.Originally Published 5/6/07Start with your typical American outdoor mall experience, like the self-proclaimed

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-48780890601959006882009-11-01T18:07:00.000-08:002009-11-01T19:24:56.762-08:00

Oh the places I go. I've been in beautiful Puerto Rico since last Wednesday for the 22nd US Coral Reef Task Force Meeting. The official "Business Meeting" starts tomorrow, but I flew in last week to co-facilitate a special training on Friday in Sustainable Marine Recreation for Puerto Rico reef tourism providers, resource managers, and local conservation NGOs. Participants worked to identify

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-22670383457034633982009-10-30T18:02:00.000-07:002009-10-30T18:13:36.363-07:00

This little gem appeared in my inbox today. I'll just hold onto this one in the event that all my other conservation efforts fall through. I know a way to make millions restoring coral reefs anywhere in the world. Just need the support of a partner willing to run with a great idea for nowand [sic] in the future. I am 53 and ready for a change in my life. This will be acompletely [sic] legal

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-83266677295034983692009-10-28T10:26:00.000-07:002009-10-28T10:48:02.029-07:00

I'm currently stuck in an airport, but I want to post this email that I just received from Heal the Bay concerning the California MPA process, reported on here at MBSL&S a few weeks ago. Now is the time to make your voices heard for ocean protection. As you have likely already heard, instead of adopting one of the three map alternatives on October 22nd, the Blue Ribbon Task Force is forging their

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-22166441577822020812009-10-20T19:43:00.000-07:002009-10-20T19:46:37.161-07:00

As if you needed yet another reason.

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-25783940383223357252009-10-20T12:32:00.000-07:002009-10-20T15:38:38.686-07:00

As you may have heard, an alliance of ocean science bloggers has recently formed in an effort to bring ocean science education to some needy K-12 classrooms around the country. Some of you have already contributed generously to this worthy cause. Some of you... haven't.In an effort to demonstrate the critical value and importance that quality science education can have on future generations, I

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-9972177569080346722009-10-14T21:43:00.000-07:002009-10-15T00:43:29.368-07:00

I get asked to do a lot of interviews. Considering the current global coral reef problems we're facing, I welcome any opportunity I can get to try to inspire conservation action. The more outreach and awareness I can do the better. But tonight here in Mexico, I experienced what was simultaneously my most surreal and fun interview.The story starts when I was asked by friends of the producers of

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-3886733938061102412009-10-09T14:24:00.000-07:002009-10-09T16:28:12.302-07:00

In truth, I'm not annoyed at President Obama's Nobel Peace Prize. But I am a wee bit annoyed at those folks who certainly seem annoyed that some of us are more interested in a prize honoring achievement rather than potential. Getting elected President is certainly no slouch act. And getting elected as a Black, Democratic, progressive-sounding President is certainly cause for celebration. But

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-35687965475969106692009-10-08T00:19:00.000-07:002009-10-08T09:18:37.972-07:00

There's a new ocean blogger on the scene, so I hope you will join me in welcoming Heather Stoker and Aristotle's Lantern to the blogosphere. Heather finds her inspiration from the amazing blizzard of invertebrate diversity in the ocean. And Aristotle's Lantern (also the name for a sea urchin's mouthparts) expresses its own diversity through natural history musings, almost weekly features such

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-84814149834808514322009-10-07T16:58:00.000-07:002009-10-07T17:17:46.519-07:00

The boys over at Deep Sea News have wrangled a cadre of ocean bloggers including Southern Fried Science, Blogfish, Oyster’s Garter, Echinoblog, Cephalopodcast, Drop In, The New Blue, The Right Blue, Natural Patriot, and yours truly here at Malaria, Bedbugs, Sealice, and Sunsets to sponsor ocean science education in K-12 classrooms. We are doing this through Donor's Choose, a charity that allows

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-21584450599754076702009-10-07T16:38:00.001-07:002009-10-07T16:45:04.403-07:00

...Or soon will be! My stat counter alerted me that I logged my very first visitor from the Cook Islands today. To the reader who likely stumbled upon my blog while searching for malaria medicine or bedbug repellent, I bid you a warm Kia Orana and welcome!For those of you needing a bit more info on the Cook Islands, head here.

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-65572348299810588652009-10-02T15:05:00.000-07:002009-10-02T18:03:35.669-07:00

If you've been paying attention here at MBSL&S or at any of my Facebook or Twitter microblogging, you know I'm a big fan of ocean scientists who value public outreach (often called broader impact) as an important component of the scientific enterprise. Too often, broader impact is seen as an afterthought and I've had way too many run-ins with scientists who think a lecture or droning PowerPoint

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-14306373379682909962009-10-01T11:14:00.000-07:002009-10-01T11:31:22.958-07:00

I'm absolutely flattered that the folks at Mauka to Makai: A Science Blog for the Masses have bestowed the honor of a Kreativ Blogger award to Malaria, Bedbugs, Sea Lice & Sunsets: "For covering all the important issues with plenty of humor and just being an all-around great blogger, we're giving you a Kreativ Blogger award."I got so excited over the announcement that I told everyone here at the

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-47305635816093339282009-09-30T14:26:00.000-07:002009-09-30T17:05:22.275-07:00

Have you been watching the new Ken Burns PBS series on the US National Park system? I'm not the weepy and emotional type, but I have to say that the combination of archival images, dramatic reading of letters, and plain old American pride for people with the vision to set aside natural areas had me all teary-eyed at times. Having spent a good portion of my adult life visiting and working in

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-32131897483403568002009-09-18T18:05:00.000-07:002009-09-18T18:43:07.489-07:00

Two of my favorite science blogs, Oh For The Love Of Science and Observations Of A Nerd, tuned one-year-old this week. Allie and Christie both maintain consistently high-quality content on their blogs as well as in their microblogging on Facebook and Twitter. If you are not reading them, then you should start immediately.I have a couple favorites I'd like to feature from their past year's

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-81532067237118164862009-09-13T18:08:00.001-07:002009-09-13T18:23:43.521-07:00

Wow, do we need one of these in San Francisco!Heads up, all you ocean science types in the Maryland area. Science Café is coming to town with a fantastic session dedicated to coral reefs and conservation (my favorite combination). The Science Café series, presented by The Society for Ocean Sciences, is a casual gathering of people interested in science meeting in an informal location. You can

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-24965995984890827782009-09-08T20:50:00.000-07:002009-09-08T21:12:08.129-07:00

But you probably knew this. He's also blue this month, as in host of Carnival of the Blue XXVIII. So stop what you're doing and head right over to The Saipan Blog for a roundup of the best in ocean blog writing.

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-5244410231640731672009-09-06T22:29:00.000-07:002009-09-06T23:10:55.905-07:00

Now while this post title might sound a bit like a threat, in this particular case I can assure you it's far from it! In fact, you would be doing GrrlScientist (the sobriquet of prolific science writer and force behind the amazing blog Living the Scientific Life) a HUGE favor. GrrlScientist is currently in third place in a competition to send a blogger to the great white south for a month of

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-74966231176975723522009-08-26T18:12:00.000-07:002009-08-27T11:20:40.378-07:00

A few more snaps from my visit to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary outside of Brisbane, Australia. Despite the all-koala-all-the-time name, Lone Pine is also home to a menagerie of usual Australian suspects. Here's a quick collection of my faves.Theropod Dinosaur EmuMegapodAnother Sleepy MegapodMegapoopKangaroo (L) and Wallaby (R)The sign said "Dingo" but I'm not buying it!The sign I was looking

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-24973094798807487272009-08-24T00:04:00.000-07:002009-08-24T00:59:47.761-07:00

While in Madang, Papua New Guinea, last week, I was awestruck each morning watching the daily commute of local Madang Lagoon islanders in small canoes transiting back and forth from island to mainland. Most of the traffic, in simple dugouts or traditional outriggers, would happen just after sunrise and before sunset. Amazing though the daily display of canoe prowess over sometimes surging,

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-75406165842035530522009-08-21T15:01:00.000-07:002009-08-21T15:22:36.413-07:00

Here's a brief snippet of some of the amazing coral reef life in Madang Lagoon, Papua New Guinea. The live coral cover is spectacular (there are coral colonies growing everywhere). And the coral species diversity is just off the charts. I saw so many plump Lionfish! Apologies for the incessant musical accompaniment in the video. I wish I could have captured some footage of the reefs from a

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-66757938402088827512009-08-15T03:30:00.000-07:002009-08-15T04:00:43.105-07:00

In my 24-hour layover in Brisbane on my way to Papua New Guinea, I decided to explore around the Brisbane suburbs for some nature. Thanks to a friendly referral from a local, I struck gold in finding a very interesting place called the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary that boasted over 130 rehabilitated and captive-bred koala's. Holy marsupial overdose, Batman!I found myself completely unprepared for

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-36385374429406141442009-08-11T02:26:00.000-07:002009-08-11T03:23:43.915-07:00

You just can't make this shit up. While perusing the agenda for the Australian Coral Reef Society’s 84th Annual Conference in Darwin, Australia, next month, I came across this juicy item on the week's itinerary: Saturday evening delegates can purchase tickets to Social Hour at Crocosaurus Cove. A great opportunity to network with colleagues in this exciting environment. Crocosaurus Cove? What

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-74088380884059323432009-08-08T11:36:00.000-07:002009-08-08T11:50:30.856-07:00

Now this is even better than Google Ocean. On Sunday, August 9, at 9PM (PST), National Geographic Channel is rolling-out an exciting new special, Drain the Ocean. The program intends to reveal a world we have never seen before - a world normally hidden under miles of water.Using CGI animation, Nat Geo will remove the water revealing a landscape, "more dramatic than anything on dry land." You

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-2321560976281966622009-08-06T19:01:00.000-07:002009-08-06T19:18:04.934-07:00

Being a good, team-playing conservationist, I like to help out my colleagues whenever I can. Perhaps you've heard of a small biodiversity conservation NGO called The Nature Conservancy? They are a creative and plucky team of professionals and they've asked me to help spread the word on a photo contest to help inspire the next generation of conservationists. TNC is looking for photos that

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-27408589945600534652009-08-06T18:47:00.000-07:002009-08-06T18:59:10.652-07:00

That's Oh, For The Love Of Science!, the sensational science blog brought to you by writer, conservationist (and honorary marine biologist) Allie Wilkinson. Allie's gathered last month's best ocean writing in one convenient spot for your shopping convenience. There are vacation postcards from Vancouver Island, ruminations on Wal-mart's environmental leadership from Mark Powell, floating

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-25816518946652566582009-08-06T12:39:00.000-07:002009-08-08T00:32:36.793-07:00

For as long as I can remember, we ocean science types have had space envy. As in outer space. We lament that the general public seems more engaged by the possibility of life on objects light years away from our blue planet than they are with marine life within arms reach in our own oceans. Our science fiction is filled with creative imaginings of life found in distant sectors of the galaxy. But

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-63667418594947061182009-07-24T11:10:00.000-07:002009-07-24T11:50:43.629-07:00

Apologies for the long bouts of quiet here at MBSL&S, but summer has been brutally busy. And in truth, I've been spending more time than usual microblogging over on my Facebook and Twitter pages. An interesting discussion for another day is how does one adequately (and efficiently) use all this new media for life-streaming without running into burnout or message dilution. But yeah, thoughts

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-73852169102234279442009-07-21T18:40:00.001-07:002009-07-21T18:49:00.563-07:00

Christie at Observations of a Nerd reminded me that National Geographic has a new TV series called Hooked: Monsters of the Deep, that features stories about amazing animals brought up on fishing poles. Which transported me back to a childhood in Pennsylvania, and a massively failed fishing adventure with two brothers. I've never fished since.Until this afternoon, after I discovered Reel 'em In,

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-21253716317612324592009-07-17T12:49:00.000-07:002009-07-17T13:18:02.247-07:00

A few months ago, my blogging pal Doug Taron of Gossamer Tapestry sent me this fascinating TED lecture by physicist and surfer Garrett Lisi. Garrett presents a controversial new model of the universe that -- just maybe -- answers all the big questions. I must admit, he loses me once he stops talking about coral. If nothing else, it's the most beautiful 8-dimensional model of elementary

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-73017971940630187602009-07-16T10:14:00.000-07:002009-07-16T10:38:59.671-07:00

Fellow marine biologist Sheril Kirshenbaum of The Intersection asked me to post a terrific letter on ocean acidification from Randy Repass and Sally-Christine Rogers of West Marine. It's an excellent letter urging readers to take action and do more about this important issue. Have a read and then do the right thing!We are both lifelong boaters. What we have learned from sailing across the

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-82031152851517061022009-07-05T15:14:00.000-07:002009-07-05T17:27:03.173-07:00

Woods Hole's Alvin sub sampling from a ventFresh back from attending a conference on chemosynthesis in Japan, Andrew posted a fascinating piece over on his blog Southern Fried Science. Entitled Responsible Research at Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Vents and Beyond, Andrew outlines a set of guidelines for responsible research practices at deep-sea hydrothermal vents that has been developed over years by

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-29755810470291614722009-07-04T19:53:00.000-07:002009-07-04T20:36:38.414-07:00

The BF has this charming habit of insinuating himself into otherwise perfect nature pictures that I'm attempting to capture. Case in point: while strolling along the shore in Pacific Grove last week, we spotted this stack of granite cobblestones someone had balanced on driftwood. While not strictly "natural," it made for a nice picture. In composing the shot (above), I failed to notice a

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-17826518440705740322009-07-04T19:02:00.000-07:002009-07-04T19:40:51.119-07:00

I'd be remiss and a real lout if I didn't publicly acknowledge and thank Cephalopodcast's Jason Robertshaw for all his planning, ideas, and friendship last week during the National Marine Educators Association conference. We teamed-up on a successful and well attended workshop, Carnival of the Blue: An Ocean of Blogging and New Media for Marine Science.Jason's been a real catalyst and

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-70120214348433996852009-07-01T09:52:00.000-07:002009-07-01T10:16:16.646-07:00

Cephalopodcast's Jason Robertshaw and I are presenting a workshop, Carnival of the Blue: An Ocean of Blogging and New Media for Marine Science (informally called Using Social Media Before It Uses You) at the National Marine Educators Association conference here in Pacific Grove. This is a continuously evolving discussion Jason and I have been having over the past few years, and the workshop is

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-85344640959310566232009-07-01T00:39:00.000-07:002009-07-01T01:30:53.176-07:00

When I think of federal government buildings, style, color, and creativity aren't the first things that pop into my head. While the NOAA Fisheries Pacific Grove facility (I'm staying just down the road from this office while attending the National Marine Educators Association Conference) won't win any architectural awards (it reminds me of a fallout shelter), it's exterior decoration is a feast

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-16650352331052138972009-06-29T22:43:00.000-07:002009-06-30T00:37:24.354-07:00

I'm in beautiful Pacific Grove, California, for the next few days as I attend the National Marine Educators Association Conference. Ah, Pacific Grove, or just PG to the locals. Hallowed stomping grounds of my hero, the legendary American marine biologist Ed Ricketts. When I moved to California in 1997, I didn't bring much with me. A futon bed, some clothes suitable for San Francisco's

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-24998872328792423102009-06-26T16:56:00.000-07:002009-06-26T16:58:05.167-07:00

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-6750428234109713932009-06-26T10:54:00.000-07:002009-06-26T14:27:57.602-07:00

That's right, Irradiatus of the always stellar Biochemical Soul blog is back in the world of the virtual after a many month soul (and job) searching hiatus. I was beginning to wonder if the Darwin Beard Challenge boys had extremely eliminated him from the running.Phew!And in an attempt to curry favor with the cool ocean science blogosphere hordes, he goes and lands a sweet new gig researching

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-29396967745982276732009-06-24T10:08:00.001-07:002009-06-24T10:17:40.526-07:00

Well, this email got my day started with a belly laugh. I'm thinking the Orkin exterminator folks didn't actually read my blog very closely. File this under, Say What? Dear RickMy name is Tiffany and I am contacting you regarding your site located at http://coralnotesfromthefield.blogspot.comI'm working with Orkin.com, a leading pest control provider. We feel that the information on your site

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-90845707314943651712009-06-23T18:25:00.000-07:002009-06-23T18:31:26.829-07:00

As you may have seen over on Deep Sea News, the Living Oceans Society's Finding Coral Expedition has successfully found coral in British Columbia.How are deep water coral different from more familiar tropical, shallow water coral species? Check out the expedition video above for some answers.

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-72811504888109556882009-06-22T12:05:00.000-07:002009-06-22T12:48:19.409-07:00

My inverte-phile buddy Eric Heupel over at The Other 95% sent me a heads-up on a perfect Moray Monday event over in his back yard in The Constitution State. Dr Tim Watson, a volunteer diver and underwater photographer at Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration, has written a children's book that has my name written all over it. His illustrated book, Howard's Search for a Home: An Underwater

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-45211060734007988682009-06-19T17:15:00.001-07:002009-06-19T17:32:51.903-07:00

I'm proud to say that the Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) joined thirty-one other conservation organizations (see below) in urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to adopt stringent water quality criteria that adequately protect marine life from ocean acidification. The EPA invited people to submit information on ocean acidification for their consideration during its review of water

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-6705745518590530172009-06-18T11:54:00.000-07:002009-06-18T17:42:01.044-07:00

Less than 1% of the world's ocean (0.7% to be exact) is protected within marine protected areas (MPAs). That's an alarming statistic, especially considering that all the data points to well-managed MPAs and MPA networks as our best defense in conserving species and ecosystems.In an effort to get more people to understand what MPAs are, where they are located, and how they work, the World

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-9230462715619280112009-06-17T15:47:00.000-07:002009-06-17T16:15:41.147-07:00

Dr Evil David Shiffman, one-half of Southern Fried Science blog and he of boundless shark conservation enthusiasm, has been working with other shark aficionados to protest The Discovery Channel's portrayal of sharks in their now famous “Shark Week” series.According to David and other shark bloggers, rather than dispel stereotypes, The Discovery Channel continues to falsely portray sharks as

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-55045025326232695512009-06-17T12:25:00.001-07:002009-06-17T12:43:41.674-07:00

Well, are you?If you think you are, then mosey-on over to The Sponge Guide, a brand new web-based, fully searchable pictorial guide to Caribbean sponges. This guide is the brain-child of taxonomist Sven Zea, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, by database and web-designer Tim Henkel, formerly a PhD student at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, and now a postdoc at Murray State University

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-36496601527456997862009-06-16T15:46:00.000-07:002009-06-16T15:50:22.126-07:00

It's Pride month (SF Pride is next week) so I thought I'd get y'all in the Pride spirit with a beautiful speech by Patricia Clarkson.

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-20330555426389083572009-06-16T00:58:00.000-07:002009-06-16T01:11:41.767-07:00

This is a post to keep Liz Foote happy. Never let it be said that I won't pander for cheap photoshopping laughs. But honestly, when Liz sent me this little slice of celeb-reality, I knew I had to post it.Here's the full story, courtesy of Expose.com: Johnny Depp feeds hot dogs to sharks to escape his crazy life. The "Pirates of the Caribbean" actor has his own private island in the Bahamas and

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-85301361736297573402009-06-15T16:39:00.000-07:002009-06-15T16:51:35.395-07:00

James Gates with Living Oceans Society was kind enough to send me links to the YouTube videos from their Finding Coral Expedition that's exploring the depths off the coast of British Columbia looking for deep water corals and recording the damage from bottom trawling.Peter over on Deep Sea News has been posting about the expedition as well.Check out the videos and learn about some of the amazing

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-64444681356453678462009-06-15T10:34:00.000-07:002009-06-15T13:08:12.544-07:00

Thanks to my pal Karen James (she of the august Natural History Museum in London and The Beagle Project), I was alerted to news that a moray eel was captured last week by fishers off the coast of Cornwall, England.John Payne, a fishmonger in Penzance, spotted the eel at a fish market and paid £3o ($48) for the specimen, which he apparently plans to have mounted as a most unusual trophy. "I

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-22595285114515758732009-06-14T21:19:00.000-07:002009-06-14T21:35:06.383-07:00

This is some much-belated recognition of a relatively new yet terrific blog with a particular affection for things oceanic. Labrish: Musings on Earth and Life From a Jamaican Abroad first caught my attention when Kathy Stanley, the blog's author, wrote me with a fascinating rumination on the Paradox of Whale Watching.I didn't just learn coral reef ecology during my field work in Jamaica. If

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-8933373377661645982009-06-13T14:13:00.000-07:002009-06-13T20:32:11.654-07:00

Is anyone surprised by these findings? Dr. Bradley Wetherbee, a University of Rhode Island professor, has studied tourist activities in Stingray City Sandbar in Grand Cayman since 2002 and has concluded that human feeding and habituation is responsible for the disruption of natural stingray behaviors and an increase in the size of the female population in stingrays.In other words, lazy, fat

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-7785482413669635712009-06-12T14:40:00.000-07:002009-06-12T15:26:41.674-07:00

As reported in the June 10th online news outlet Environmental Leader, top United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) executive officer Achim Steiner has called for a global ban or rapid phase-out of plastic bags. A recent report by UNEP indicates, that plastic bags are the most pervasive form of ocean litter and that despite several international, regional and national efforts to reverse marine

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-12713731271210656512009-06-11T23:31:00.000-07:002009-06-12T00:01:42.149-07:00

All these years I've been arguing for ocean conservation on apparently trite notions that without healthy ocean habitats, we lose valuable ecosystem services like food, medicine, coastal storm protection, and tourism. I say trite since these benefits derived from healthy oceans appear insufficient to move the needle appreciably in public concern and action.But I think we now have a surefire

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-42426362136259274182009-06-11T12:21:00.000-07:002009-06-11T12:57:38.169-07:00

Well, actually it got 15 hours. On display, that is, in the Monterey Bay Aquarium before being released back into the Bay. A relatively unknown Prickly shark (Echinorhinus cookei) was collected at the head of the Monterey submarine canyon off Moss Landing. Prickly sharks get their name from the "prickly" or "thorny" texture of their dermal denticles, the scale-like outgrowths which cover the

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-36512524160713062132009-06-10T12:25:00.000-07:002009-06-10T12:54:10.391-07:00

Man, does it feel great to finally see recognition for these true Ocean Heroes. Marine biologist John Halas has finally received much deserved recognition from Oceana for designing permanent mooring buoy systems in the early 80's that have measurably reduced or eliminated anchor damage to coral reefs all over the world. My own work has leveraged John's design and resulted in the installation

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-28388016025166391302009-06-10T11:49:00.000-07:002009-06-10T12:06:40.365-07:00

According to my colleague Nic Bach, Director of Marine Infrastructure at the Roatan Marine Park, invasive Lionfish (Pterois volitans/miles) have now reached the Bay Islands of Honduras, A report by Nic indicates that on May 22nd, a dive shop on Roatan reported the capture of an 8-inch (front of mouth to base of tail) specimen near Punta Gorda in the NE part of Roatan. The specimen was captured

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-76952271714499451482009-06-08T11:30:00.000-07:002009-06-08T12:15:51.622-07:00

I know, I know... posts have been few and far between here at MBSL&S. Work and life (are those separate things?) have been on overdrive for well over a month now. I think I can see a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel, but the ocean conservation biz has been on full-on frenetic pace of late. But as I'm reminded, busy is good.However I'd be remiss if I didn't poke my head out of my

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-60091545235326105382009-05-29T11:06:00.000-07:002009-05-29T11:41:47.568-07:00

Heads-up on several amazing opportunities in applied, field-based coral reef management. NOAA's Coral Reef Management Fellowship Program is seeking candidates for the 2010-2012 Fellowships. The Coral Reef Management Fellowship Program was established to respond to the need for additional coral reef management capacity in the U.S. Flag Pacific and Caribbean islands. The Program provides U.S.

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-6370337606919201212009-05-20T23:07:00.000-07:002009-05-20T23:25:28.777-07:00

James Gates from Living Oceans Society in Canada contacted me recently to help spread the word on an exciting expedition that's set to launch on World Oceans Day, June 8th. The Finding Coral Expedition is planning to do just that: They are in search of cold water, deep sea corals off the coast of British Columbia. The expedition hopes to locate B.C.’s deep sea coral communities and characterize

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-34175918177107442602009-05-20T22:54:00.000-07:002009-05-20T23:04:58.719-07:00

Those rascals over at Deep Sea News are celebrating Sex Week over on their blog. Which means drop what you're doing and get your sexy back over at DSN.If I wasn't so busy I'd write a special post to help celebrate with my ocean homies. But the next best thing is to dip into my archives for a well seasoned MBSL&S sex post blast-from-the-past. To wit, enjoy this little piece from October 4,

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-57924455803118783422009-05-20T21:23:00.000-07:002009-05-20T22:35:17.333-07:00

I just spent the entire day at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History for the opening day of the International Marine Conservation Congress. My brain hurts from all the great presentations today, and my liver hurts from the open bar reception following Daniel Pauley's opening address. It was a grand time, and best of all it was hosted in the brand new Sant Ocean Hall.This was my

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-48140912594551134762009-05-19T20:28:00.000-07:002009-05-19T22:08:52.946-07:00

Apologies that my posts have been few and far between lately, but the pace of work hasn't let-up for over a month. I'm writing from Fairfax, Virginia, just outside of Washington DC where I'm attending the International Marine Conservation Congress and the 2nd International Marine Protected Area Conference hosted at George Mason University. I'm excited to be presenting a paper next Sunday on

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-49486042818289154622009-05-14T02:07:00.000-07:002009-05-14T02:33:33.896-07:00

I'm scooping the Deep Sea News boys on this one! On Wednesday at the California Academy of Sciences, a newly designed, battery-powered submarine was unveiled. Looking more like a plane than a sub, the Deep Flight Super Falcon is only 20 feet long and is built to carry two people to depths of 1,500 feet at a leisurely cruising speed of 7 mph.Already tested successfully inside San Francisco Bay

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-24124199864410421862009-05-11T22:38:00.000-07:002009-05-14T18:30:54.582-07:00

In the wake of recent news from Southern California's Channel Islands that marine protected areas there have resulted in bigger and more abundant fish, I've just received similar (and not altogether surprising) news from Hawaii of MPA successes there.You may recall that I've written extensively here and there on the complex free-for-all situation that exists in Hawaii with regard to commercial

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-21768474028493689992009-05-10T16:12:00.000-07:002009-05-10T16:20:20.957-07:00

NOAA Administrator Dr. Jane Lubchenco wants to start a National Climate Service to help farmers, fishermen and city planners better deal with the coming challenges from a changing global climate. Listen in on a Living on Earth interview as Dr Lubchenco shares her thoughts and vision on how science should guide our decisions on climate change.

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-63172742292202807352009-05-10T14:38:00.000-07:002009-05-10T15:05:44.756-07:00

Last week, a 54-year-old Sonoma County, California, woman pleaded guilty to charges of illegally importing guitar picks made from endangered sea turtle shells. The U.S. Attorney's Office says Qing Song pleaded guilty to one felony count on Wednesday. She was sentenced to 10 months of home confinement and a $2,000 fine.What remains unclear is the extent of the US-based distribution. Song was

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-22163785017508120382009-04-25T17:48:00.000-07:002009-04-25T18:26:14.369-07:00

Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch program has made it to the finals of TreeHugger.com's first-ever "Best of Green Awards". Seafood Watch was the overwhelming People’s Choice as "Best of Green in Food and Health.”Now the folks at Seafood Watch are in the running for Best in Show. I've got to admit I'm predisposed to choosing blue when voting green. And Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-2302483621945661732009-04-25T01:04:00.000-07:002009-04-25T01:12:21.735-07:00

Last Wednesday on Earth Day, the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources marked-up the reauthorization of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000. This bill (H.R. 860) increases the status of protection for all U.S. corals, supports community-based approaches to coral reef stewardship, strengthens U.S. international coral reef conservation efforts, and authorizes increased funding to protect

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-89951399702980606532009-04-24T15:48:00.001-07:002009-04-24T15:54:29.482-07:00

Attention all tropical marine invert folks. A high school marine science educator from Missouri posted the above photo on one of the education list serves I receive with the following call for assistance:The two species I can identify on this image are clearly the purple sea fan (Gorgonia ventalina) and the two flamingo tongues (Cyphoma gibbosum) that are eating away at it.What I am interested

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33243326.post-73200612622132630912009-04-24T00:09:00.000-07:002009-04-24T00:46:58.639-07:00

Word from Ove over on Climate Shifts is that one of his grad students has launched a new science blog focused on the science and conservation of coral reefs. The brainchild of PhD candidate Siham Afatta, the blog is called Laut & Kita (Bahasa Indonesian for Sea & Us) and will be a community blogging effort. Best of all, the blog will be written in Bahasa and addresses a need for making coral

Rick MacPhersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14212405859751282835noreply@blogger.com2