30 July 2015

DEADLINE EXTENDED!



Hi to all amateur Philippine-based photographers!

We are very pleased to announce that the deadline for submission of entries for the FishBase Symposium digital photo contest  is extended until 14 August 2015. Still photos should showcase the theme "Under the sea connections: different relationships among aquatic organisms". So what are you waiting for? Send in your entries to sealifebase@fin.ph.


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22 July 2015

Digital Photo Contest Awaits Your Entries!




Hurry! The countdown is on for the FishBase Symposium digital photo contest. The contest is open to all amateur Philippine-based photographers. Photos should exemplify the theme "Under the sea connections: different relationships among aquatic organisms." Send your entry to sealifebase@fin.ph

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10 July 2015

Collaborator of the Month: Lucas Brotz

Photo courtesy of Lucas Brotz

Lucas Brotz holds a Bachelor’s degree in Astrophysics and a Master’s degree in Oceanography. Currently, he is undertaking his doctorate in Zoology at the University of British Columbia’s Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries under the guidance of the esteemed Dr. Daniel Pauly. He is also working with the Sea Around Us.

His research focuses mainly on changing jellyfish populations and jellyfish fisheries, as well as the economic impacts of jellyfish blooms. A study that he published in 2012 together with UBC scientists was the first attempt to identify changes in global jellyfish abundance. Analysis of available data from 1950 to the present confirmed a remarkable rise in their populations. This was evident in 28 of the world’s Large Marine Ecosystems, or 62 percent of the regions analyzed.  

Consequently, this study has immense implications for humans and ecosystems. Negative impacts of this global phenomenon are felt on human activities like fishing, aquaculture, tourism, power generation, and desalination, among others. Aside from exploiting jellyfish as a food source, people may have to resort to creative ways to reduce economic loss. No single factor is responsible for increasing jellyfish blooms, but mounting evidence suggests that pollution, aquaculture, fishing, shipping, global warming, and coastal development are likely to contribute to this observed rise. UBC scientists urge that subsequent studies on jellyfish populations and awareness are vital to make sure we still have fishes, and not just jellyfishes, on our plates.

Lucas Brotz makes use of SeaLifeBase for jellyfish taxonomy as well as FishBase, since he is also studying the dynamics between jellyfish populations and fisheries. He has contributed data on taxonomic updates of jellyfish, photographs of jellyfish, and scientific papers on jellyfish populations as well as the results of his MSc Thesis.


Cheers to more years of collaborating with you!


________________________
The University of British Columbia Fisheries Centre . http://www.fisheries.ubc.ca/students/lucas-brotz [Accessed 6/29/2015]
The University of British Columbia. http://news.ubc.ca/2012/04/18/jellyfish-on-the-rise-ubc-study/  [Accessed 6/29/2015]


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07 July 2015

FishBase Symposium: Art Contest 2015 is now ON



FishBase Symposium Art Contest is now officially on, with the theme "Under the sea connections: different relationships among aquatic organisms". This activity features a poster-making contest, open for all elementary, high school and colleges in Los BaƱos, Laguna, and a digital photo contest which invites all amateur Filipino photographers. Read through the details and be among the winners!

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Artwork by: Mike Yap