Seaw rds The Marine Option Program Newsletter
January 2016
22
“Representatives from 195 nations were aiming to come up with a response ... on Dec 12 they reached a landmark accord ... which will commit almost every country in the world to lowering global-warming greenhouse gas emissions in order to fight climate change.”
22 SHIPWRECKS 5 REASONS WHY EVERY MARINE SCIENCE STUDENT SHOULD DO QUEST AT A GLANCE: UHH MOP
January 2016
Volume XXX, Number 1
Articles Page 3: Letter from the Editor Page 4: 22 Shipwrecks Page 6: Ocean Updates Page 9: Five Resons Why EVERY Marine Science Student Should Attend QUEST Page 12: At a Glance: UHH MOP Page 14: Ocean Art Page 16: Generation Blue Page 18: Marine Mammal of the Month Page 20: Critter of the Month and Flashback Page 22: COP 21 in Paris fights climate change Page 24: MOP calendar of events
About the Photography -Cover: Bryan Dieter, NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center -Table of Contents: Koa Matsuoka, UHM MOP Alumnus -January calendar of events: Daniel Jenning, UHH MOP Alumnus -Back cover: Bryan Dieter, NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center -All uncredited photos by: MOP -Disclaimer: any photo taken from flickr.com is used under the Creative Commons License and is credited appropriately with links to the user’s flickr account.
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Letter from the Editor
A
loha readers of Seawords!
Seawords would like to say mahalo to Kathryn Lam, advisor and mentor of Seawords, for her tremendous amount of help during the past few issues, as well as her own astonishing work during her two years as Editor. Have a wonderful spring semester in France, “au revoir!” In this issue of Seawords you will find a features written by Keelee Martin, UHH MOP Student, about special updates from UHH MOP, as well as learn more about their new program SeaSTARS: The Sea Surveying Training and Response Squad. There will also be an article about the 22 Shipwrecks found in the Greek archipelago of Fourni, written by Jessica Lotts, UHM MOP. This new shipwreck site could be the new shipwreck capital of the world. Seawords is publishing an opinions piece, “5 Reasons why every Marine Science student should do QUEST,” by Tyler Phelps, UHH MOP Student and our new volunteer writer. If you’re thinking about doing QUEST this upcoming May or sometime in the future, this is definitely a must read. I also wrote an article regarding the confrence in France about COP 21. Don’t forget to send us your pictures and tell us your story if you went somewhere exciting this winter break, you could be published in Seawords! As always, we love to hear feedback so send us an email at seawords.org and we’ll publish and respond to your note in our next issue. Mahalo to all the contributing authors and support that made this issue possible. Thank you for reading,
Camra Hopper Seawords Editor JANUARY 2016 |3
22 Shipwrecks By Jessica Lotts, UHM MOP Student
Hailed as one of the top archaeological finds of 2015, the discovery added 12 percent to the total of known ancient shipwrecks in Greek territorial waters in just 10 diving days. 17thCentury Caribbean Shipwreck Explored. Photo by: V. Mentogianis
Twenty-two sunken ships were discovered around the Greek archipelago of Fourni, causing the site to potentially be the new shipwreck capital of the world. Discovery News hailed it as one of the top archaeological finds of 2015. What started as a mission to promote marine environmental protection has turned into one of the greatest archeological finds in history. Along with the discovery of 22 ancient sunken ships, the expedition led by a team of marine geophysicists at the University of Patras, under aegis of the Greek Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities, also discovered Methoni’s ancient submerged pier and harbor as well as ruins from the prehistoric town that had been submerged. The team had heard rumors of ships in the area, but nothing could have prepared them for such an incredible find. According to the project co-director of the US-based RPM Nautical Foundation, Peter Campbell, their team
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of underwater archaeologists discovered all the wrecks within a 13 day span; they even found six in one day. The remnants of the ships were so extensive, the team at one point actually had to stop searching in order to record the locations accurately. This major archeological find has added 12 percent to the documented shipwrecks in Greece according to Discovery News. The team suspects more shipwrecks to be uncovered given they’ve only explored five percent of the area thus far. They plan to return to the islands next year to continue their search. They used photogrammetry to create a 3D mapping of the area, along with a Kongsberg GeoSwath Plus Compact bathymetric sonar to scan the sea floor. The islands of Fourni rest in a major sea navigation path used to travel between Greece and Asia. Campbell mentioned in an interview with The Washington Post that this discovery is one of the top tools that will teach us
about ancient maritime trade; scientists will get a look into the lives of ancient sailors like never before. The artifacts recovered have been dated from the Archaic Period (700-480 B.C.) up to the Medieval Period (16th century A.D.). National Geographic reports the sunken vessels mainly contained amphoras (ancient clay pots) which will aid researchers in where the ships were from and how they sank. At this point they theorize many of the wrecks were caused by storms. Most of the artifacts found will remain in the ocean, however some are undergoing conservation treatment to prepare them for further examination according to The Washington Post. Most contained commonly traded goods such as olive oil, fish sauce, and wine, which indicated the ships were mostly merchant sailing ships, not warships. The amphoras might be displayed in museums after the team’s research is completed according to Discovery News.n JANUARY 2016 |5
cean updates
By Sarah Franklin, UHM American Cetacean Society Student
Great Pacific Garbage Patch with fish searching for food. Photo Crecit: Lindsey Hoshaw, Flikr.
Giant Pacific Garbage Patch Also known as the Pacific trash vortex, the Giant Pacific Garbage Patch is a Texas-size collection of trash in the North Pacific Ocean. It spans from the shores of Japan to the west coast of North America. It is actually split up into two patches, one that resides between Hawaii and California and one near Japan. These two patches are linked through the North Pacific Subtropical Convergence Zone. At this convergence zone, warm water from the south collides with cold water from the Arctic, creating a highway that carries debris from one patch to the other. The Pacific Garbage Patch is held together by the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, which is a circular ocean current formed from wind patterns, and the force from the rotation of the Earth. The center of the gyre, where trash collects, is very calm; it draws trash to its center, where it can sit for decades. When trash is thrown into the ocean from California, it is taken south by the California Current, and then it is whisked into the ocean by the North Equatorial Current, eventually arriving at the Garbage Patch. Scientists cannot gain a complete understanding of the size of the Garbage Patch because the majority of the trash is submerged centimeters or even meters below the surface, and a boat could be driven through the patch, without the driver even knowing it was there. 6| Seawords
There are larger, more permanent pieces of plastic floating in the ocean, but for the most part, the trash floating out there has been broken down into microplastics that are causing a lot of harm to the environment. Sea birds mistake the plastics for food and feed them to their young, which in turn starve. Much of the debris is discarded fishing nets and lines, which turtles, seals, and whale get entangled in and drown. This is so common that it has been called “ghost-fishing”. Many organizations have taken it upon themselves to try to reduce the amount of trash that gets thrown into the ocean, but no country is claiming responsibility for cleaning up the patch itself. Scientists believe that it would take 67 boats 1 year to clean up 1% of the patch. When looking at the Garbage Patch from aerial views, it is a sobering way of realizing that there is actually no “away” when it comes to trash, especially plastics that lack decomposability. Great Barrier Reef Research conducted at the University of Sydney in Australia, by Jody Webster, shows that the Great Barrier Reef is an effective barrier against landslide-induced tsunamis. A research team discovered a 7 km wide landslide that occurred off the continental shelf and impacted the northern paleo-coastline in the state of Queensland. Af-
ter investigation, computer simulations of the tsunami were created showing its impact on the land. The waves would have reached about 2-3 meters high when they hit the shore.
fected by repetitive bleaching events. Corals like finger corals (Porites divaricata) and the mountainous star coral (Orbicella faveolata) were able to recover fairly quickly.
Associate Professor Webster believes that similar land- Dr. Andrea Grottoli from Ohio State University’s School slides under the sea could occur without us even know- of Earth Sciences said, “Our research will help with preing. dicting the persistence of coral reefs because knowledge of their capacity to recover from annual bleaching is “There is a relatively low chance that a similar submacritical information for these models.” rine landslide with the potential to cause a tsunami of up to three meters or more would happen today,” As- One of the largest coral bleaching events is currently sociate Professor Webster said. “However, if one did oc- underway, and many of the coral reefs that took centucur, our findings suggest that the Great Barrier Reef is ries to grow are quickly disappearing. doing us a great service because of its ability to absorb Africa- Sao Tome and Principe some of that potential wave energy.” The Bob Barker and its crew are members of Sea ShepIt is unknown how much energy would be absorbed herd, which is a non-profit, marine conservation group. and what the extent of damage could be done by rising Some of the operations of Sea Shepherd include scutsea levels; this is the subject of future research. tling and disabling whaling vessels at harbor, intervenFat Coral More Likely to Survive Bleaching ing in seal hunts, shining laser light into the eyes of whalers, throwing bottles of foul-smelling butyric aid When water temperature rises in the ocean, it has an into vessels at sea, and boarding whaling vessels. effect on sensitive corals. Coral bleaching occurs, which is when the corals expel algae (zooxanthellae) that live Last year while sailing in Antarctic water, the ship, Bob in their tissues, causing the corals to go white. When a Barker, stumbled across a notorious illegal fishing boat, coral bleaches it is not necessarily dead, but is more sus- the Thunder. The Thunder is on Interpol’s most wanted ceptible to diseases which may result in its death. list for illegally fishing toothfish, and when Sea Shepherd spotted them, they abandoned their nets and began A study has found that corals with high levels of fat can to flee. The Bob Barker pursued them for the next 110 withstand the impact of annual coral bleaching events days across the ocean, until the Thunder sank in April better than corals with less fat reserves. Scientists at the off the coast of Sao Tome and Principe. It was believed University of Western Australia’s Oceans Institute and that the captain of the Thunder sunk the ship on purOhio State University’s School of Earth Sciences worked pose, to destroy any evidence of illegal fishing. A couple collaboratively on this study. of the members of the Bob Barker made it on board and According to Dr. Verena Schoepf, “Three global bleach- collected cell phones and computers as evidence against ing events have already occurred since the 1980s and the Thunder’s crew. The Bob Barker offered refuge to the will likely occur annually later this century. Therefore, it crew of the Thunder after their ship sank; from there, has become more urgent than ever to know how tropi- they were handed over to Sao Tome and Principe aucal coral can survive annual bleaching- one of the major thorities to be arrested and await trail. threats to coral reefs today… Already bleaching events On October 12, 2015 the verdict of the trial was anhave resulted in significant amounts of coral dying causnounced, and the captain and two crew members were ing impact to ocean ecosystems, but up until now it was found guilty of illegal fishing. The captain was sentenced largely unknown whether coral could recover between to 3 years in prison and the two crew members were annual bleaching events.” sentenced to 2 years 8 months and 2 years 9 months. In the lab, researchers simulated bleaching condi- Collectively the three men were fined $17 million. tions and noticed that some species of coral were able “This isn’t just a victory for our country,” said Fredeto recover much faster than others, depending on the rique Samba Veigas D’Abreu, the attorney general of Sao amount of stored energy the coral had. Corals such as Tome and Principe. “It’s a victory for the oceans and mustard hill coral (Porites astreoides) were severely afagainst these international crime syndicates that have JANUARY 2016 |7
Sea Shepherd crew member Laurens De Groot hurls a bottle of butyric acid (rotten butter) at Japanese harpoon whaling ship, the Yushin Maru No. 1, as the Sea Shepherd helicopter flies overhead. Photo by John Guano, Flickr.
operated for too long above the law.”
coasts, such as the English Channel and the Azores.
Unfortunately there are still many illegal ships sailing the seas everyday, depleting the stock of fish in our oceans.
Typically, plastics that are collected in the ocean are 300 nanometers in length, and are only on the surface, but this latest expedition was able to collect plastics the size of 10-100 nanometers (one and half times the thickness Micro-plastics in the Ocean of a human hair) at a depth of 5 meters below the ship Plastics in the ocean have been a hot topic for some while sailing. Some of the pieces of plastic are so small time now, but scientists are truly starting to uncover the that the scientists cannot distinguish whether they are horror that lies beneath the ocean. a grain of sand, organic material, or a piece of plastic. In an expedition from northern Demark across the Atlantic to the Sargasso Sea and back, a group of researchers mounted a filtration system on the stern tube water intake of the marine research vessel Dana. The tube collects samples of water throughout the journey. Their results were astonishing--they found plastics along the entire 10,000 km route, and this is the first time that nearly invisible microplastics have been quantified so comprehensively. The expedition went through coastal regions, the open ocean, and into the famous vortices in the Sargasso Sea. Plastics were found everywhere, but the highest concentrations of them were found near the 8| Seawords
There is still so much that we do not know about plastics in the ocean, and as Professor Torkel Gissel Nielsen said, “The problem is that we know that there will be more, but we do not know what happens with it. We humans impact the sea. We find plastics everywhere—in everything from copepods to fish—but we do not know what they do and how they affect marine life and ecosystems. And once they have entered the sea as microplastics, there is nothing we can do to remove them. So, if in twenty years turns out to be a problem, we are stuck with them until nature removes them.” n
OPINION
Five Reasons Why Every Marine Science Student Should Attend
QUEST By Tyler Phelps, UHH MOP Student
“QUEST is hands down the best class I have ever taken. It’s a stepping stone into the world of marine research that all of us need.” - Megan Russell, UHM MOP Student and QUEST 364 alumna
Photos by: Jeff Kuwabara, UHM MOP Coordinator
Q
uantitative Underwater Ecological Surveying Techniques (QUEST) is a two week field school that takes place at Ke`ei on Hawai‘i Island. For these two weeks, students will camp on the beach learning scientific methods while SCUBA diving. Since the early 1990s, QUEST (aka – MARE 264) has been preparing marine scientists with life long career skills. Here are five reasons why every marine biology/science student in the UH system needs to be part of this prestigious program.
# 1 – The Skills
QUEST prepares you with techniques popularly used by ecologists and research organizations. You will learn how to distinguish coral diseases, investigate invertebrates, and observe algae, size fish and more. You will hear an explanation of each technique from a faculty member, receive a detailed briefing from a team leader and do a dry run before every dive. Having this knowledge base really prepares you for future projects that ultimately use the same, or very similar, methods.
#2 – The Friends
QUEST is an eclectic program that draws 24 of the best applicants from all over Hawai‘i. When you arrive, you will be assigned to a team of four under the guidance of a team
leader (MARE 364 student). In the group setting, you build an incredible comradery with one another that will make for life-long friendships. The people that you meet at QUEST may ultimately be your colleagues, if you choose to stay in Hawai‘i, or even other parts of the world! I will be forever grateful for meeting some of my best friends, which were from other campuses, through QUEST.
themselves! The incredible faculty is one of the things that makes QUEST unlike any other class you have taken. They are so passionate about these methods and this field, and they only want the best for you. The mentors will happily put in the extra time to sit down with you individually to make sure you understand something. With all the years that this program has been around, QUEST has devel#3 – The Connections As mentioned, you will meet other oped into a huge “`ohana.” Experts students from across the UH sys- and leaders from different organizatem at QUEST and you will become tions across Hawai`i make the trip friends with most of them. Your to meet you! Individuals from the faculty at QUEST is equally diverse National Oceanic and Atmospheric with experts eagerly flying in from Administration (NOAA), Division across the country to mentor you. of Aquatic Resources (DAR), NaNot only do your mentors believe in tional Park Service (NPS) and more the program, but are often alumni come to present their current projJANUARY 2016 |9
“home,” you may find that Ke`ei holds a higher degree of diversity with gorgeous diving and beaches. QUEST is a big commitment and a very intensive course which does not appeal to some people. Here are some solutions to potential obstacles that over students have overcome.
The “Spider Squad!” (left to right): Tyler Phelps (UH Hilo), Sean Dimoff (UH Mānoa), Tate Wester (UH Mānoa) and Shelby Lynn (UH Mānoa).
ects and how they apply the tech- because they recognize the methods niques learned at QUEST. you learn are what they use themselves. # 4 – The Opportunities QUEST does an amazing job of pre- #5 – The Memories paring you for the future. After you You will be camping on the beach have gone through this program, with a bunch of your friends for two you can get involved with graduate weeks and it’s so much fun! The prestudents who are using these tech- sentations are interesting, the food niques for their research. Sometimes is awesome, and the diving is great! the ability to say “I am a QUEST Furthermore, you are also camping alum” is all you need to say. They out with your professors and menknow you are well prepared and tors. As a student, it’s fun to get to will welcome you aboard with open know them on a personal level and arms! will strengthen your relationships. In addition to building your résumé In addition to scientific diving, with graduate student projects, you QUEST introduces you to some Hacan get involved with other organi- waiian traditions since the Ke`ei site zations. Alumni have gone on to do is a very special place. After learninternships all over the world with ing the E Ho Mai chant and using state/government organizations that it every morning, it leaves you with use these same techniques. After such a warm feeling of significance. completing MARE 264, a whole new When I went through QUEST as a world of possibilities awaits you. MARE 264 student, I developed a There are countless places you will deeper appreciation for Hawaiian be able to go, such as Kirimati Island culture. which Sean Dimoff mentioned in Ke`ei is also a beautiful area! Evthe November 2015 Seawords. eryone that I have talked to who Furthermore, some agencies hire came from different islands are directly out of QUEST! They are blown away by the caliber of diving. looking for that QUEST experience Depending on what reef you call 10| Seawords
“But it’s too expensive…” Between food, campground, diving, equipment, and dozens of faculty there for you… MARE 264 may cost more than your average three credit class. Not to mention you have to provide your own SCUBA diving equipment for QUEST. This is all true, but the benefits arguably outweigh the costs. Students that do not have their personal SCUBA diving kits yet are encouraged to talk to their campus’ Unit Diving Coordinator (UDC). After you inquire about the Diver in Training (DIT) process, they will explain different options to get you the highest quality gear that fits your budget. Some organizations believe in QUEST so much, that they donate thousands of dollars in scholarships each year! If QUEST is cost prohibitive for you, talk to your campus’ MOP coordinator about scholarship opportunities and other ways to overcome that obstacle. “But I’m not interested in research…” The average college student changes their major three times throughout the course of their academic career. How often have your interests changed over the past several years? Sure you may not be interested in research now but that may change in a couple years. Or you may even get to QUEST and realize that scientific diving is something you are
really passionate about (this is what happened to me). Wouldn’t you rather learn the techniques to have that knowledge base that you can draw from later, then not at all if you decide that’s what you want to pursue? If you go on in education, conservation or another branch in marine science, chances are scientific diving will come up eventually. As an applicant with those skills, even in an unrelated niche, makes you even more desirable! Sure it may not be part of your everyday job, but having those first hand experiences will be valuable in any career you end up pursuing. “But I don’t have enough experience…” Sometimes students come into QUEST with relatively few dives and struggle for the first couple of days getting comfortable with doing science underwater. After you go through the DIT process and get your own gear, go diving! The more dives, the better! The divers that get the most out of QUEST are those who are already comfortable on SCUBA before adding in the additional task loading. n
5 EASY Tips to prepare you for QUEST 1.
Contact your MOP Coordinator They will have all the information you need regarding the application process. Let them know you are interested and they will work with you to meet your needs.
2.
Contact your Unit Diving Coordinator (UDC) – Your campus’s UDC oversees the DIT process that you need to fulfill to go to QUEST. Talk to them early about the medical, swim test, dive check out, and etc. that you need to complete.
3.
If I can do it, anyone can! Yes there are a lot of species you need to learn (200+!) but start early and do a little bit every day. It really is the best way to learn all of them. Make your best attempt to attend the QUEST ID classes or species review workshops that your campus offers.
4.
After you get your own gear, go out and dive as much as possible! Getting comfortable with buoyancy control and fundamental skills will prepare you well for QUEST. Become comfortable with fundamental skills such as mask clearing, buoyancy control and building situational awareness. Also be on the lookout for my “10 tips to be a better diver” article coming soon in the February 2016 Seawords issue!
5.
Just keep swimming! – After talking to your campus’s UDC you will learn more about the swim test required to become a DIT. You don’t need to be a competitive swimmer to pass but some of the requirements may require some practice. Go out to the pool and try all of the distances with a friend. Practice together and get into a routine training regimen so you can ace that swim test on your first try!
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At a Glance: UHH MOP The SeaSTARS first dive in Hilo Bay (from left to right) Rosie Lee, Keelee Martin, Jenna Budke, and Julia Stewart. Picture by: Matt Connelly, UHH Staff Coordinator.
By Keelee Martin, UHH MOP Student
I
t’s been an exciting semester for us here at UH Hilo, with numerous trips, expanding programs, and new MOP Students. We kicked off the fall semester with a floating meet ‘n’ greet event where incoming and prospective MOP students went on UH Hilo’s Student Life Center boat for a sunset cruise down the Hamakua Coast to talk to current MOP students about the program. Rosie Lee, one of our student coordinators, said this was her favorite event of the semester, adding that “it was exciting to see so many students interested in MOP.” In her first semester as Student Coordinator she has found that the most rewarding part of her job is being able to share the opportunities MOP gives with all students, not just those studying Marine Science. Lisa Parr, our Site Coordinator, echoed this. What makes MOP unique is its ability to give all students, regardless of major, the connection to incorporate a marine element into their education. MOP is about getting a experiential education, which is why every UH Hilo MOP event has some deeper purpose, whether it be developing new skills, networking with different agencies, or being exposed to research opportunities. Matt Connelly, our Staff Coordinator, not only wanted MOP events to be exciting and attract new students but to be something that “you wouldn’t normally get to do
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on your own.” One of these events was a small boats training with our new captain, Stephen Kennedy. Students got the opportunity to practice some simple boat maneuvers on the R/V Makani `Aha and Makana (15 ft. inflatable). “This is the first of many boat operating events that will strengthen our boat program and give students better access to the sea” UHH MOP student and boat crew, James Gomez DeMolina, said. Captain Kennedy hopes to expand our boat program and gives students the means and skills to utilize UH Hilo’s boats better. In December, we introduced MOP’s newest diving opportunity, the SeaSTARS: The Sea Surveying Training and Response Squad. Connelly expressed that one of his biggest goals for the fall semester was to increase the diving abilities of students through a submission of a dive plan to the UH Diving Safety Program. The SeaSTARS are composed of QUEST graduates and scientific divers looking to get more diving experience. The dive plan has three goals: 1) to implement time series surveys to monitor a few consistent sites, 2) practice proficiency, underwater skills, and give opportunities to increase depth authorizations, and 3) to take current marine issues and assess scientific methods to respond to them. The SeaSTARS’ first dive began with coral
bleaching surveys in Hilo Bay’s Blonde Reef. The survey team dove off of the R/V Makani `Aha with Captain Kennedy to enhance their boat skills. Merging the developing dive and boat programs gives students a way to gain professional skills that come with diving off of a boat. This spring semester also brings more new opportunities as internships develop through MOP to act as ongoing skill projects. All students, regardless of major, will be able to tailor their internship to give it a marine focus and gain authentic experience as well as class credit for their project. Developing internships, so far, include projects in aquaculture, education, writing, photography, watersheds, and laboratory work. In addition to these ongoing projects, Dr. Steven Colbert, our Faculty Coordinator, is working with students in the classroom with their skills projects. He is teaching both the MOP proposal and presentation classes. New MOP students will transition into the proposal class and begin to draft ideas for their skills project. Meanwhile advanced MOP students make their final transition to the presentation class, concluding their projects as they prepare for the MOP symposium in April. In addition to the MOP symposium, UHH MOP will be hosting our first regional symposium for all of our graduating MOP students to present their projects on campus. The MOP office also continues its progression. Jason Hasler, our other Student Coordinator, explained that
Floating Meet ‘n’ Greet event. Picture by Julia Stewart, UHH MOP student.
the MOP office is a comfortable place with multiple resources available to all the MOP students. The MOP Office is equipped with a conference room, computers, printing capabilities, as well as many textbooks and studying tools all available for use. (And we can’t forget the beloved microwave, refrigerator, and coffee maker!) The MOP office is a great place to meet other MOP students which Hasler says is the best part of being a student coordinator. A recent MOP graduate, Zach Higgins passed the torch of his MOP project, MOP Talk with University Radio Hilo to Glenn Ferrier (a.k.a. DJ Riptide). MOP talk will continue to bring more conversation to UH Hilo for ways students can be involved. One such opportunity is the field diving school, QUEST. As May approaches, UH Hilo MOP is anticipating species ID workshops and making the necessary preparations to host QUEST students on the Big Island. In the nearer future, more MOP events are being worked on. Connelly is drafting up plans for a camping trip, a whale watching tour, more small boats training, and a tour of the Pacific Aquaculture and Coastal Resource Center (PACRC). Stay tuned for more survey dives with the SeaSTARS, new MOP internships, MOP talk shows and MOP events. You can keep connected with us on our updated website with our new photo gallery, or with us on social media (@ uhhmop) for all the latest events and announcements. n
UHH MOP students aboard the R/V Makani Aha for small boats training. Picture by: Matt Connelly, UHH MOP Staff Coordinator. JANUARY 2016 |13
ocean art by Justin Norris
Justin’s poem was chosen from a collection of poems submitted to us by Eric Paul Shaffer, an HCC English professor and written by his English 241 class.
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Tempest of Memories
Photo credit: John Coney, Physics and Astronomy techniciam
Clouds filled with bottled rage hang low, dumping rain in sheets thicker than the mist shrouding the highlands. The caged sea churns in rage as waves relentlessly beat the shore. Driving wind howls through the veil adding a chilling bite to the rain, uncommon to these islands. Only the boldest and most desperate brave the shore and the waves in this ill-favored tempest. An ocean of frenzied memories crashes against this soul; the destructive power and forgotten mystery of the sea draw this man to the heather mountains of home. Through the veil of cold, piercing rain, over the angrily beating waves, in the haunting, mournful wind, on the wings of an albatross this heart does fly to the jagged cliffs and emerald hills of Scotland. Here this soul roams the mountains and glens of home, grateful for the most strikingly spiritual of gifts, the raging sea.
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Actions for the Ocean
BLUE
By Jessica Lotts, UHM MOP Student
Plastic bags not only pollute our oceans, but also kill marine life, such as turtles and fish when they mistake it for food. Here are some simple things you can do to stop the spreading pollution of plastic bags:
THE OCEAN SPANS OVER 70 PERCENT OF OUR WORLD. It is responsible for regulating temperature, food production, sustaining numerous marine species, and is a source for inspiration among multiple other things. The ocean gives us so much and it is time for us to return the favor and take actions to make the ocean ecosystem healthy again. Almost every action that we take affects the ocean in some way. Our everyday choices can be tailored to support a healthy ocean. Here are some examples of green acts that will keep the ocean blue.
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lastic bags still end up in our storm drains, streams, and oceans. Plastic bags are continually one of the top 10 most common pollutants found in our seas, according to Ocean Conservancy. The Wall Street Journal reports that the U.S. alone uses up to 100 billion plastic bags each year, and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has estimated every square mile of ocean contains nearly 46,000 pieces of floating plastic.
1. Reuse
Buy reusable cloth shopping bags and metal or glass water bottles to avoid adding more plastic to our waters Also use a reusable lunch box instead of plastic sandwich bags.
3. Reduce
2. Refuse
Avoid buying things with excessive packaging. Try to purchase items with simple packing, without any unnecessary plastics.
Volunteer at a beach clean-up. Make it into a fun competition where the person who gathers the most trash wins a prize. This could also be a fun way to get involved in your community. If you must use plastic, recycle. Choose plastics such as #1 (PETE) or #2 (HDPE) which are easily recycled.
Marine debris found in Hilo during a MOP camping trip. Photo by MOP. JANUARY 2016  |17
Marine Animal of the Month:
The Bowhead Whale
By Jeremy Gasta, UHM American Cetacean Society Student
In May 2007, a group of Alaskan Inuits was participating in a traditional subsistence whaling expedition when they came across a mind-boggling discovery. The whalers had netted four bowhead whales – large, slow, placid filterfeeders – when an archaic object was found buried in one of the animals. It was a harpoon point, made in a factory in New England in the late 1800s, a souvenir from a whaling attempt over a century earlier – making the whale over 130 years old. This came as surprising news to many marine biologists, as most great whales were believed to live between 50-70 years, with highest estimates rarely reaching above 100 years. However, the truth was even more surprising. As nineteenth-century whalers never killed calves, the whale would have lived many years, potentially even decades, before being attacked by the whaler whose harpoon became long embedded in the creature’s hide. Samples of the amino acid aspartic acid taken from the whale’s eyes, which can be used to estimate age, revealed that the individual would
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have been close to 200 years old at the time of its death – and those are only the moderate estimates. The whale may have been as ancient as 211 years old, ABC News declared, and would have lived many more years if the hunt hadn’t prematurely ended its life. This makes the bowhead whale the longest living mammal on the planet, beating the two runner-ups (a 122-year-old French woman and a 114-yearold fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus) by close to a century. Even without taking its extraordinary longevity into account, the bowhead whale is still a fascinating, and slightly bizarre, animal. When fully grown, adults can reach lengths of 50-60 feet. They have dark, grey-blue hides, with distinct white splotches on the tip of their lower jaw and tail. Bowheads only have one species, Balaena mysticetus, in their taxonomical genus, their closest extant relative being the right whale. Unfortunately, much like the right whale, bowheads were popular targets for traditional whalers thanks to their slow movements and tendency to float after being killed. Luckily, following the ban on commercial whaling
Mother and calf bowhead whale. Photo by: IIP Photo Archive, Flickr
Bowhead whale
Scientific Name: Balaena mysticetus Range: Arctic and Sub-Arctic waters Diet: Zooplankton Size: 50-60 feet
in 1986, bowhead population numbers skyrocketed and they are now listed as least concern on the IUCN Red List, which tracks endangered species. Like other baleen whales, bowheads feed on tiny crustaceans known as zooplankton, filtering them out of water with mouth plates called baleen. Bowheads have the longest baleen of any whale, with individual strands getting up to nearly ten feet long, on top of having the biggest mouth of any animal.
Even with all of these distinctions, bowhead whales are still finding ways to surprise scientists. Despite having several thousand times more cells than many other animals, which should theoretically increase the rate of afflictions like cancer and harmful cell mutations, bowhead whale appear to have a very high resistance to cancer, as well as aging in general. The potential medical benefits of being able to apply this to humans led researchers to map the entire genome of the bowhead whale earlier this year, the Bowhead whales are unique in that they are the only great first cetacean this has ever been done for. Up to eighty poswhales to remain in Arctic waters all year round, and thus sible genes that could combat both cancer and aging were are specially adapted for surviving the tough conditions. found, and research is underway to learn how to translate The whale’s massive triangular head makes up one third of this for use in humans. its entire body, and is used as a battering ram to bludgeon through ice up to two feet thick to help the animal gain ac- While relatively unknown to the public, the bowhead cess to air (the whale’s head is shaped vertically to help with whale is among the most unique marine mammals in our this, earning it the name “bowhead”). In addition, they oceans. Being the only baleen whale to stay in the Arctic have the thickest blubber of any animal, averaging about year round, sporting built-in health benefits, and holding 18.5 inches thick. They are also known to be the most vocal the title as the longest-living mammal on Earth, this amazof the great whales. ing creature definitely deserves recognition. n
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Photo credit: John Coney, Physics and Astronomy techniciam
critter of the month
Bullethead parrotfish
Scientific Name: Chlorurus spilurus by Camra Hopper, Editor They are often found in small schools up to 50 individuals in shallow lagoons on sea grass beds within three to 30 meters deep within the Indo-Pacific. Their maximum age recorded was 15 years in the Abrolhos Island, Western Australia, but for most Pacific sites, the maximum age recorded was 8-10 years. Parrotfish are sequential hermaphrodites and live with dominating males. Because they are not territorial, they can be found feeding with other species. They have powerful beaks and teeth that are used for grabbing filamentous algae from dead coral. These fish tend to be brightly colored and will change colors and they mature from juvenile to adult stages. Because they are so noticeable, at night parrotfish make beds in slimy bubbles, sort of like a sleeping bag, in order to protect themselves from predators and parasites. As of 2012, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species categorized them as “Least Concern,” but this species is heavily fished at some sites, such as in the main Hawaiian Islands, as well as in the Coral Triangle region. Even with these exploited sites, they seem to be more resilient and aren’t as impacted by overfishing. Since they are listed under “Least Concern” they do not have a species-specific conservation area in place, but their habitats do overlap with several marine protected areas.
FLASHBACK: 2003
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FREE PUBLIC TALKS
January 2016
Coastal Hazards and Threats in Hawai‘i
10 January • The influence of El Niño on surf and wind in Hawai‘i • •
Speaker: Pat Caldwell Affiliation: University of Hawai‘i, National Oceanographic & Atmospheric Administration
24 January • Adapting to sea level rise in Hawai‘i • •
17 January • Are you ready? How to prepare for Natural Hazards in Hawai‘i • •
Speaker: Dennis Hwang Affiliation: University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program
SUNDAYS HANAUMA BAY
Speaker: Andrew Bohlander Affiliation: University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program
31 January • Coastal flooding: What's up with that? • •
Speaker: John Marra Affiliation: University of Hawai‘i, National Oceanographic & Atmospheric Administration
General Information about Sundays at the Bay: • Sunday afternoons, 3pm to 4pm at Hanauma Bay • Admission is free • Parking $1.00 per vehicle • Questions? Call #397-5840 or e-mail hbaynews@hawaii.edu
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COP 21 in Paris fights climate change By Camra Hopper, Editor
Representatives from different nations come to an agreement on the COP 21. Photo by: Benjamin Géminel, flickr.
From Nov. 30 to Dec. 12, 2015 representatives from 195 nations were aiming to come up with a response to global warming. Finally, on Dec 12 they reached a landmark accord in Le Bourget, France, which will commit almost every country in the world to lowering globalwarming greenhouse gas emissions in order to fight climate change. Efforts to stave off the drastic effects of climate change have been talked about for decades, making this a historic breakthrough. In the past, the United Nations has exempted developing countries, like China and India, from having to take actions against lowering greenhouse gas emissions, until now. “The accord, which United Nations diplomats have been working towards for nine years, changed that dynamic by requiring action in some form from every country, rich or poor,” Coral Davenport, The New York Times author of the online article “Nations Approve Landmark Climate Accord in Paris,” said.
that nations should be aiming for a 1.5°C increase instead. In total, 186 countries set out plans they intended to make in order to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, then the UNFCCC published an evaluation of these contributions. From these evaluations, scientists found that the rate of global warming would still be between 2.7°C and 3°C, even with those efforts. “The Paris agreement therefore asks all countries to review these contributions every five years from 2020; they will not be able to lower their targets and are encouraged, on the contrary, to raise them,” UNFCCC stated on their website about COP 21.
The goal is for emissions to peak as soon as possible and that the countries will aim to achieve carbon neutrality in the second half of the century, but in order to do this nations are going to have to stop using the most polluting fossil fuels For some developing countries this will be a difficult. Industrialized nations are obligated Since 2010, The World Climate Summit (WCS), has to provide further funding for climate finance for poor been providing business, finance and government fo- countries depending on their wealth. A stronger system rums for the United Nations Framework Convention of transparency will be developed in order to track of on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Par- these commitments. ties (COP). COP 21 was created in order to find a solu“Long live the planet. Long live Humanity. Long live life tion to keep the rise in global temperature below 2°C, itself,” slogan for the France COP 21. n although, for the first time, the agreement establishes 22| Seawords
If you are interested in submitting articles, photography, or art to Seawords, send us an email at seawords@hawaii.edu with the subject line “Student submission.” We accept submissions year round.
Photo credit: Koa Matsuoka, UHM MOP Alumnus
Seawords Volume XXX Number 1, January 2016 Editor: Camra Hopper Advisor: Kathryn Lam Dr. Cynthia Hunter (éminence grise) Jeffery Kuwabara (éminence grise) Seawords- Marine Option Program University of Hawai‘i, College of Natural Sciences 2450 Campus Road, Dean Hall 105A Honolulu, HI 96822-2219 Telephone: (808) 956-8433 Email: <seawords@hawaii.edu> Website: <http://www.hawaii.edu/mop> Seawords is the monthly newsletter of the Marine Option Program at the University of Hawai‘i. Opinions expressed herein are not necessariliy those of the Marine Option Program or of the University of Hawai‘i. Suggestions and submissions are welcome. Submissions may include articles, photography, art work, or anything that may be of interest to the marine community in Hawai‘i and around the world. All photos are taken by MOP unless otherwise credited.
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January Photo credit: Daniel Jenning, UHH MOP Alumnus
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New Student Or tion & Camera C Workshop 5:00- 6:00PM Dean Hall 104
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