Fish news
Fish news
 
Archives for: June 2009
Dubai’s largest reef moved 15 km

Dubai’s largest reef, consisting of over 1,100 coral-encrusted rocks, has been moved to a new location to protect it from future development. Details of the relocation have been kept secret for more than a year to ensure its success, and the transfer was therefore not announced until today, on World Environment Day.

By William with 0 comments
Revisting the rectum – the “Eel”uding answer!

As reported earlier, an ill-fated eel somehow ended up in the butt of an allegedly constipated Chinese gentleman. Two European fish experts have now taken a closer look at a photograph of the eel in question and given their expert opinion on its identity.

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Disinfectants commonly used by fish breeders increase the risk of swim bladder disorder

Several types of commonly used fish egg disinfectants increase the risk of swim bladder disorder in fish, a new study from Israel reveals.

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The nanny effect

In several species of fish, such as the cichlid species Neolamprologus pulcher, it is common for subordinate females to help an unrelated dominant breeding pair raise their young. The reason behind this seemingly altruistic behaviour, known as alloparental care, has puzzled scientists for many years and one of the most widely spread hypotheses put forward has been the ‘pay-to-stay’ hypothesis. According to the ‘pay-to-stay’ rationale,

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Sharks can be cuddled like dolphins, scientists say

Just like dolphins, sharks can be trained to roll over to be cuddled by humans. In experiments carried out in the United States, several species of shark allowed themselves to be picked up from the water and cuddled by their trainers.

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Fish exposed to unnatural levels of oestrogen may become more susceptible to disease

Scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) have revealed that largemouth bass injected with oestrogen produces less hepcidin than normally. Hepcidin is an important iron-regulating hormone in fish, amphibians and mammals, and researchers also suspect that hepcidin may act as an antimicrobial peptide.

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U.S. citizen heavily fined for injuring Belize reef

Two years after destroying part of the Belize barrier reef, an U.S. skipper has been ordered by a Belize court to pay BZ$3.4 million, roughly equivalent of US$1.7 million, for the damage.

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Black Death destroying Green Island coral reefs

Hundreds of thousands of tourists visits Green Island each year to enjoy scuba diving and snorkelling among its beautiful reefs, but no sewage treatment exists so an average of 1,500 tons of untreated sewage is flushed into the sea on a daily basis.

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Fisheries-induced evolution

As reported earlier, fish populations may adapt and change in response to significant fishing pressure. Researchers are now suggesting that the genetic make-up of cod in the Atlantic Ocean might be changing, since cods genetically predisposition to seek out shallower waters are more likely to end up in nets or on fishing lines, while deep-dwellers are more likely to survive and reproduce.

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Why do whales strand?

This Saturday, about 55 False killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) stranded on Long Beach, Kommetjie, in South Africa. Both adults and calves began to appear on the shore around 5.30 in the morning, perhaps as a result of the bad weather. This incident is the second large stranding in a short period of time; in March about 80 whales stranded in Hamelin Bay on Western Australia’s southern coast.

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Love trap used to combat Michigan blood suckers

In an effort to curb the population of invasive Atlantic sea lampreys (Petromyzon marinus) in the North American Great Lakes, researchers are now testing a “love trap” in northern Michigan.

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Poaching gangs on the increase; now also with illegal guns and drugs

Criminal gangs are becoming a growing problem in Adelaide, Australia, but unlike most other gangs, these criminals are not fighting over drugs, precious stones or illegal firearms – they’re in it for the fish.

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