News and views from the world of marine heritage and conservation
Otter madness
Octopus ’ s garden
Protection racket
ENVIRONMENT
Protect Our Seas
News and views from the world of marine heritage and conservation
Otter madness
First it was Orcas v Outboards in the Bay of Biscay – now a California sea otter is making headlines for commandeering surf boards . Authorities are concerned about a particular otter , known as 841 , who has been involved in multiple incidents , including one captured on video in which she scares a surfer away and then relentlessly gnaws on the abandoned board . Wildlife authorities still don ’ t have a clear explanation of the five-year-old otter ’ s behaviour , but say they are working to capture and relocate her .
Octopus ’ s garden
A new species of octopus has been found in a deep sea nursery off Costa Rica . Scientists say both the discovery of the new species of Muusoctopus , a genus of medium sized octopus without an ink sack , and the nursery area are notable . The Dorado
Outcrop nursery , in a cold hydrothermal vent off the coast of Puntarenas , has been located by scientists as long ago as 2013 . However , a more recent expedition led by the US-based Bigelow Laboratory returned to the site and discovered the extent of the nursery , at depths of 2,800m .
Protection racket
The Scottish government has scrapped its plans to create Highly Protected Marine Areas in 10 % of Scotland ’ s seas . The proposals would have restricted fishing and other human activities in some coastal areas , in a bid to protect the environment . However , members of the Scottish fishing industry , coastal communities and even some MSPs had raised fierce objections to the marine conservation proposals .
The Scottish Fishermen ’ s Federation
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