Two dives – one clip – featuring the historical twin bridges in Lake Dunstan, Central Otago, Queenstown, New Zealand.

The first bridge is the Cromwell Bridge, built 1864. The second is the Lowburn Bridge, built 1938. Both bridges were submerged in 1992 with the flooding of the Clutha River for a hydro electric dam development forming Lake Dunstan.

Maui's dolphins are at risk of extinction. Photo / Glenn Jeffrey

Scientists will use DNA profiling for the first time to count the critically endangered Maui dolphins.

The world’s smallest and rarest dolphins lived only off the west cost of the North Island coast and the Department of Conservation (DOC) said fewer than 150 were thought to be left.

“Knowing whether the population is increasing or decreasing in number is critical when assessing the effectiveness of the protection currently provided to them,” DOC biodiversity programme manager Phil Brown said.

A two-year joint study by Auckland University and the Oregon State University began in February when 26 dolphins were sampled.

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The Kermadec Islands, New Zealand’s northern-most territory, could soon receive World Heritage status.

The subtropical islands in the South Pacific ocean lie about 1000 kilometres north east of New Zealand, and are one of the most diverse marine areas in the world.

They have been earmarked for World Heritage status since 2006.

Some of the marine life in the Kermadec Islands - Source: ONE News

Kiwi scientists say they are keen to learn more about the islands.

Te Papa’s fishes collection manager, Andrew Stewart says there’s life waiting to be discovered in the region.

“What we don’t know is the scope and the diversity of that life. We’re only beginning to get a handle on that. It’s a very exciting time to be studying. We now have the means to be sampling remotely, and sample deeply.”

PEW Environment Group spokesman Jay Nelson says the most exciting part is that there are new species of fish being found there every two weeks.

“There’s an enormous biodiversity of sea life that you don’t find in most places in the world. Not only are the species new, but many of these species occur only in the Kermadec region, which is really phenomenal.”The New Zealand government has been working on getting the area recognised as a World Heritage site for some years.

Science Minister Wayne Mapp says they are ready to take the bid to the next level.

Read the full story here.

Becky Kagan, Owner of Liquid Productions, LLC gives you tips and tricks to shooting both topside and underwater video.

When you jump into the water to shoot video or stills do you know what you’re shooting? I love watching videos and others’ work, but I’m always plagued by one thought as I watch, There’s no storyline. As a photojournalist I’m taught to tell a story through images, I made this video to help give some advice and tips about taking your video to the next level! Hopefully it will help you think about what your shooting, and make a plan the next time you splash.

Forty-five whales have so far been buried in sand dunes near Karikari beach after stranding themselves last week. Photo / APN

There has been no sign of nine refloated whales, meaning the sole survivors of the 58-strong pod that stranded on a Far North beach last week are likely to be still alive.

Burials are under way for four whales euthanised after they either tried to re-strand themselves or were swimming around in a distressed state, causing concern they may attract the other nine back to the shore.

Forty-five whales, weighing in at about one tonne each, have already been buried in sand dunes near Karikari Beach in the Far North where they were found.

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Press Release: Forest and Bird

Independent conservation organisation Forest & Bird is deeply disappointed that Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson has turned down an application to create a new marine reserve in Akaroa Harbour on Banks Peninsula.

Ms Wilkinson said she declined the application because a reserve would unduly affect recreational use of the area, particularly fishing.

Hectors dolphins, the world’s smallest dolphins can be found in Akaroa Harbour

Forest & Bird Marine Conservation Advocate Kirstie Knowles said the minister’s reasoning for declining the application meant the government is putting recreational fishers ahead of other users such as divers, while also ignoring the need to protect marine diversity.

“In light of this decision, Forest & Bird is very concerned about the future of any other marine reserve applications and the future of our marine life in general,” Knowles said.

“This application has been declined despite a huge effort over 14 years since the application was first made to work with tangata whenua and all the other stakeholders.”

“This sets a very bad precedent for the protection of marine life in New Zealand.”

Forest & Bird supports the creation of reserves because they give marine life a haven free from threats such as overfishing, damaging fishing methods and coastline development.

Nothing is allowed to be taken from marine reserves, although diving, swimming, boating, and any other activities that don’t harm marine life are permitted.

“Just 0.3 percent of New Zealand’s marine area is protected in reserves, indicating how little regard is given to our unique marine life, which is renowned around the world for its diversity,” Knowles said.

The application to create a marine reserve near the Akaroa Harbour entrance was first made by the Akaroa Harbour Marine Protection Society in January 1996. The government later asked for consideration of the application to be delayed while a taiapure was established to allow local tangata whenua to take an important role in management of the harbour’s marine resources.

The reserve would have covered 530 hectares – or only about 12 percent of the harbour – and would have included spectacular volcanic cliffs, sea caves and sea stacks. Underwater the cliffs and bluffs fall vertically to the seabed and at the base of some bluffs, huge room-sized boulders form caves and overhangs.

The area supports a rich array of southern New Zealand fish species, a number of which are important food sources for Hector’s dolphins, one of the rarest dolphins in the world. The fish include wrasse, rock and blue cod, butterfish, blue moki, leatherjacket, triplefin and carpet shark.

AUUC will be holding its Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 29th September. This is when we go through the formal procedures to elect a new committee to govern the club in 2011.

Your club needs you!

We’re looking for enthusiastic, organised, committed individuals who would be willing to devote their time and energy to help out in the organisation of the club. We have a whole bunch of different roles to fill, from President to Treasurer to Boat Officer to Webmaster to Flotsam Editor, and much more. Each committee role involves different responsibilities and skills, so there’s sure to be a job on the committee that would suit you.

Find out more about each of the committee roles here.

Find out first hand what it’s like to be on the committee by emailing current committee members. They’re all listed here.

Being involved on the committee is your chance to help build a better club for the future. You’ll learn important management skills that will help you when you enter the workforce. Best of all, you get that rewarding feeling from having volunteered and given back to your community, helping to make AUUC the best scuba diving club around.

Want to get involved?
Email your nomination to our Secretary Hayley on secretary@akunidive.com.

Photo of lionfish courtesy of NOAA

Good news for seafood eaters–the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) not only endorses, it encourages the eating of lionfish, a tasty species apparently flourishing in the Atlantic Ocean.

“A new study looking at how to curb the rapid growth of lionfish, an invasive species not native to the Atlantic Ocean, suggests that approximately 27 percent of mature lionfish will have to be removed monthly for one year to reduce its population growth rate to zero,” NOAA said in a news release posted on its website this week.

“But the good news is that the invasive fish happens to be delicious–and NOAA is encouraging chefs to find new ways to introduce it to U.S. consumers,” said the agency charged with understanding and predicting changes in Earth’s environment and conserving and managing coastal and marine resources to meet U.S. economic, social, and environmental needs.

Read full article from National Geographic.

The good news from the first Census of Marine Life is: New Zealand’s waters are indeed teeming with wondrous creatures and plants; we are a hotspot for biodiversity in many respects.

Our seas are home to more species found nowhere else in the world than previously thought. Unfortunately, that increases our responsibility to ensure they survive.

This species of ercolania nudibranch is found off Wellington's southern coast. Photo / Geoff Read

About half the flora and fauna in our marine environment are endemic – found only in New Zealand – according to a regional stocktake on marine biodiversity compiled for the global census, an international scientific collaboration.

We have impressive arrays of sponges, sea snails, shellfish, deepwater sea cucumbers and seaweeds.

Our fish stocks are a unique mix – thanks to our isolation, location (which laps the southeastern edge of the hugely diverse Indo-Pacific region, southern temperate and sub-antarctic waters) and varied undersea geography and habitats.

The habitats within our 200-mile economic zone range from coral reefs in the warm waters of the Kermadecs to cold sub-antarctic waters; from mangrove forests to deep canyons and active undersea volcanoes where weird creatures can survive huge pressure and sulphurous gases pouring from hydrothermal vents.

This, coupled with our isolation, accounts for the high endemism of our species: 95 per cent of our sponges, 84 per cent of shellfish and snails; 75 per cent of sea squirts, two-thirds of penguins, cormorants and shags are found nowhere else.

The census is a collaboration between marine scientists from 80 countries designed to improve understanding of the health and wealth of the environment that covers 70 per cent of the planet.

The exercise has produced both a database of accumulated knowledge, which can be added to, and a baseline to monitor changes in ecosystems from influences such as fishing, pollution and climate change.

CELEBRATING DIVERSITY

New Zealand has:
* 66 species of black corals, representing about 41 per cent of known Indo-Pacific species.
* 55 species of hydrocorals, among the world’s most diverse.
* Higher diversities of bivalves and some gastropods than elsewhere in the world.

TYPES OF LIFE
* We are the global centre for new and distinct species of two gastropods – anabathridae and eatoniellidae.
* The diversity of three deepwater gorgonian (fan-like) corals is probably the highest in the world for a single country.
* Sea cucumbers at depths between the continental shelf and the abyss are remarkably diverse.
* Fish families which make our mix unique include triplefins (small reef fish), clingfish, right-eyed flounders and sleeper fish.
* Our total marine diversity may equal that of the European marine region, five times larger than NZ’s.

SOURCE: Marine Biodiversity of Aotearoa

By Geoff Cumming

Read the full article from the NZ Herald.

A marine park covering much of the Whangarei District’s coast could generate $22 million a year for Northland, the proposal’s backers say.

The park would see commercial fishing banned in an 1800sq km triangle between Whangarei Heads, Cape Brett and the Poor Knights Islands.

Recreational fishing would still be allowed, albeit with reduced bag limits, except in a few protected areas.

The Marine National Park proposal has been around at least since 2005. It has won the backing of environmental groups and the Northland Chamber of Commerce, but is strongly opposed by commercial fishers.

Now two of its backers, Dive Tutukaka owner Jeroen Jongejans and Tutukaka investor John Dentice, are hoping to bring the region’s environmental watchdog, the Northland Regional Council, on board.

In a presentation to councillors last week the pair said axing commercial fishing in the 1800sq km area would cost the region $250,000 in lost income.

However, that would be easily outweighed by $22 million in economic benefits through tourism and recreational fishing.

Read full article from The Northern Advocate.