A Scottish marine reserve set up off the Isle of Arran in 2008 is already flourishing with wildlife and commercially-valuable scallops, according to researchers.

The small area of seabed in Lamlash Bay became the first protected site of its kind in Scotland.

A study by York University and a local seabed trust has found significantly more juvenile scallops inside the reserve than outside.

And there were also high levels of kelp and other marine life.

The 2.7sq km (1sq mile) area, representing about a third of Lamlash Bay, is conserved from any fishing and other potentially damaging activities.

The Community of Arran Seabed Trust (Coast), which was formed to improve protection of marine life around the islands, said they were delighted at the findings.

Coast chairman Howard Wood said studies had shown "a lot more" juvenile scallops in specific areas of the reserve, which boded well for the future.

"What we are delighted in is there have been closed reserves like this throughout the world, including the Isle of Man and the United States, but I don't think there has ever been such evidence of improvement in less than two years," he said.

Mr Wood added: "I am very confident that within two or three years we will see even better results."

The trust said that as scallop stocks built up, they could start to breed at higher levels and provide stock for surrounding fishing grounds.

The community marine reserve was set up in an attempt to strike a balance between fishing and marine conservation.

A complete fishing ban was put in place to help protect local fish and shellfish populations and maerl seaweed beds.

Commercial fishermen in the area later also added their support.

BBC - 22 April 2011

Auckland Zoo is asking all you chocaholics

to consider the effects of consuming Palm Oil - contained in many confectionary items - when you go shopping for Easter goodies.

From the Auckland  Zoo Website :

Indulge this Easter – but keep it Palm Oil Free

Buy Palm Oil Free

For many of us, Easter is a time for some seriously good chocolate consumption! If you are a chocolate lover, purchasing Easter goodies for yourselves, your family, friends and/or workmates, we encourage you to use our Palm Oil Free Easter Goodie Guide

 All the products listed in it are totally palm oil-free - so as you crack into those delicious chocolate eggs, you can rest assured that what you are eating is not contributing to rainforest destruction and the loss of precious rainforest species.

Currently, the clearing of rainforests in South East Asia to make way for oil palm plantations is posing a threat to hundreds of animal species including the orangutan, Sumatran tiger, Asian rhino and Asian elephant. In fact, at the current rate of deforestation, these species could be extinct in the wild by 2022, and many more could follow if this continues. Along with the Palm Oil Free Easter Goodie Guide, you can also use the Palm Oil Free Shopping Guide

which lists other confectionary products (including chocolate) that are palm oil free.

Palm oil is used in at least one out of every 10 supermarket products, but there are still lots of products on offer to you that are palm oil-free. Auckland Zoo believes the only way to slow palm oil expansion is to avoid or reduce palm oil consumption. Find out more about palm oil...

The Bay of Island’s Project Island Song volunteer schedule is now available on their website (click here for more details).

The website will be updated if there are any changes due to weather, over the winter period. If you would like to join them on any of these volunteer dates, please let them know by the RSVP dates (also on the schedule).

The next overnight trip is next Saturday (23rd April), leaving from Paihia on the 9am Explore NZ boat.

For more information, please contact:

Adriana Rogowski
Project Coordinator
Guardians of the Bay of Islands Inc.
Phone: 027 290 2180
Or click here to email Adrian

AP - 1:34 PM Tuesday Apr 19, 2011

A new study suggests that more than 40 fish species in the Mediterranean could vanish in the next few years.

The study released by the International Union for Conservation of Nature says almost half of the species of sharks and rays in the Mediterranean and at least 12 species of bony fish are threatened with extinction due to overfishing, pollution and the loss of habitat.

Commercial catches of bluefin tuna, sea bass, hake and dusky grouper are particularly threatened, said the study by the Swiss-based IUCN, an environmental network of 1,000 groups in 160 nations.

"The Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic population of the Atlantic bluefin tuna is of particular concern," said Kent Carpenter, IUCN's global marine species assessment coordinator.

He cited a steep drop in the giant fish's reproductive capacity due to four decades of intensive overfishing. Japanese diners consume 80 percent of the Atlantic and Pacific bluefins caught and the two tuna species are especially prized by sushi lovers.

In January, a 342-kilogram bluefin tuna fetched a record 32.49 million yen in Tokyo at the world's largest wholesale fish market).

Fishing in the Mediterranean is regulated by UN treaties, the European Union and separate laws among the 21 nations that border the sea.

Last November, the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas voted to cut the bluefin fishing quota in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean from 13,500 to 12,900 metric tons annually - about a 4 percent reduction. It also agreed to improve enforcement of quotas on bluefin.

Environmental groups, however, wanted bluefin fishing slashed or suspended and were upset with the limited action.

The IUCN study, which began in 2007 and included 25 marine scientists, is the first time the group has tried to assess native marine fish species in an entire sea.

The study blames the use of highly effective trawlers and driftnets for the incidental capture and killing of hundreds of marine animals with no commercial value. But it also concluded there's not enough information to properly assess almost one-third of the Mediterranean's fish.

"Even though marine resources in the Mediterranean Sea have been exploited for thousands of years and are relatively well studied, the data deficient group may in fact include a large proportion of threatened fishes," the study said, calling for more research.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation says fish stocks continue to dwindle globally despite increasing efforts to regulate catches and stop overfishing.

- AP

Posted 19 April, 2011

In this months Newsletter, Northland Weedbusters take a look at NZ Historic Places, Restoring the forest at Mangonui’s Rangikapiti Pa, a Mickey mouse plant on the loose and so much more.

For full insight on what the team has been up to, click on the following link:

Northland Enviroschools possum control credits for secondary students

In-school Possum Control Programme for secondary students who have a practical bent and are seeking additional NCEA Credits at Levels 2 and 3

Skills learnt:

• Possum trapping
• Fur recovery
• Skin processing
• Safe operating techniques

Click on PDF link below to download the registration form:

Please register your school’s interest by Friday 6 May to:

Susan Karels
Northland Regional Council
Private Bag 9021, Whangarei Mail Centre, Whangarei 0148
Fax: (09) 4380012
Or click here to email Susan

About the Awards

Volunteers are the backbone behind every New Zealand community, dedicating more than 270 million unpaid hours every year for non-profit organisations up and down the country. TrustPower understands that, which is why we celebrate and reward volunteers through our TrustPower Community Awards programme.

How to Nominate a Voluntary Group

It is easy to nominate a voluntary group or organisation for the TrustPower Community Awards - voluntary groups and organisations can even nominate themselves! Here you can find out how to nominate your favourite voluntary group for the recognition they deserve.

Nomination Forms and Information Forms (Click here for more information)

The TrustPower Community Awards are run in 24 regions around New Zealand. Here you can see where the Awards are held and the dates when nominations are open in each region. You can also download nomination or information forms or complete the forms online.

To apply please visit the Alter-Natives website at:
www.alter-natives.co.nz

Northlanders have until 11 May to apply for a share of 8000 free native plants worth more than $20,000.

The Northland Regional Council is contributing about $6000 towards the annual scheme, set up by Waipu-based Alter-Natives Wholesale Nursery in 2007.

The plant fund’s main aim is to support/sustain the environment by providing native plants for projects which will increase and improve the habitat for native wildlife and improve water quality in streams and wetlands.

Residents and community groups from the Whangarei, Far North or Kaipara Districts can apply for a share of 8000 plants – which are given away in 100-tree lots designed to suit four different environments:

• Coastal
• Saltmarsh and tidal river banks (salt water)
• Wetland areas and lowland flats (fresh water)
• Other - such as inland hillsides

Regional council Land Programme Manager Dean Evans says almost anybody can apply for trees but the primary purpose of the planting must be for the improvement of the environment.

“You can be a private land owner, school or other education provider, a club or youth group, community trust or a Landcare group responsible for the care of community, QEII or Department of Conservation land.”

However, Mr Evans says property developers or speculators aren’t eligible and plants can’t be requested to help people meet resource local authority resource consent or effluent field requirements.

People can visit the Alter-Natives website www.alter-natives.co.nz to apply.

Northland Regional Council and Department of Conservation representatives will check correctly completed entries on Thursday 12 May and decide the 80 Northland winners.

Meanwhile, another 10 lots of 100 plants will be given away separately to entrants from the northern ward of the former Rodney District.

To apply please visit the Alter-Natives website at:
www.alter-natives.co.nz