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California aquarium showcases newly discovered species

Agencia EFEMay 24, 2013 17:19
Los Angeles, May 24 (EFE).- Danny Muñoz, a marine biologist at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, is part of the team behind an exhibit of more than a dozen newly discovered species for the facility's new Wonders of the Deep gallery. "To explore the oceans from where these little creatures come is important, because besides finding many food sources, there could be many medicines that humanity needs to eradicate illnesses which currently cannot be cured," Muñoz told Efe.

Chinese boat damaged Philippine reef: marine official

Agence France-PresseMay 4, 2013 04:45
A Chinese fishing vessel that crashed into one of the Philippines' most famous reefs damaged almost 4,000 square metres of centuries-old coral, the marine park said on Saturday. Some 3,902 square metres (42,000 square feet) of coral was destroyed after the boat became stranded in the Tubbataha marine park -- a UNESCO World Heritage-listed coral reef -- the park management said. "The damage the Chinese vessel caused to the reef is heart-breaking," Angelique Songco, the head of the marine park said in a statement after experts assessed the affected area.

Chinese poachers' ship hauled off Philippine reef

Agence France-PresseApril 19, 2013 07:31
A Chinese fishing vessel that ran aground on one of the Philippines' most famous coral reefs more than a week ago was removed on Friday, the coast guard said. The 48-metre (157-foot) ship was hauled by a tugboat from Tubbataha, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed coral reef near the western island of Palawan where its crew are facing serious charges, a spokeswoman said. "The hull of the vessel is still okay so according to (the salvage team), it is safe to tow the vessel," Lieutenant Greanata Jude told AFP.

Philippines discovers pangolins on Chinese poacher boat

April 15, 2013 07:31
The Philippine coast guard said Monday it had found hundreds of frozen pangolins, or scaly anteaters, in the cargo hold of a Chinese boat which ran aground in a protected marine sanctuary last week. Wildlife officials have been informed of the discovery, which could lead to more charges for 12 Chinese men arrested for allegedly poaching after their boat was stranded in Tubbataha Reef last week. "We found 400 boxes containing anteaters aboard the vessel, and we are now determining where these came from," coast guard spokesman Lieutenant Commander Armand Balilo told AFP.

Philippines discovers pangolins on Chinese poacher boat

April 15, 2013 00:00
The Philippine coast guard said Monday it had found hundreds of frozen scaly anteaters, or pangolins, in the cargo hold of a Chinese boat that ran aground in a protected marine sanctuary last week. Wildlife officials have been informed of the surprising discovery, which could lead to more charges for the 12 Chinese men arrested on charges including poaching after their boat was stranded in Tubbataha Reef last week.

Coast Guard to siphon bunker fuel off grounded Chinese fishing vessel

April 11, 2013 13:20
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Palawan will attempt to lighten the load of the Chinese fishing vessel in the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (TRNP), Sulu Sea in a bid to float it off the North Atoll where it ran aground Monday night. Major Oliver Bañaria, spokesperson of the Western Command (WESCOM), disclosed this to the Philippine News Agency (PNA) Thursday while the vessel’s 12 Chinese crewmen are being charged for violating Section 27 of Republic Act 10067 (Tubbataha National Park Act) at the Palawan Regional Trial Court (RTC). As of this writing, Bañaria said the PCG has

PCG deploys additional teams to help remove grounded Chinese fishing vessel in Tubbataha

April 11, 2013 12:57
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Thursday announced the deployment of additional teams to Tubbataha Reef to help remove a Chinese fishing vessel grounded since Monday night and to prevent any oil spill in the marine sanctuary. Coast Guard spokesman Lt. Cmdr.

Chinese fishing vessel runs aground in Tubbataha

April 11, 2013 08:17
More than a week after the last remain of the ex-USS Guardian was taken off the South Atoll of the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (TRNP), a new grounding incident was recorded in the marine protected area late Monday night - a Chinese fishing vessel with 12 crewmen. Commodore Enrico Efren Evangelista of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)-Palawan District told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) that the Chinese fishing vessel with bow number 63168 ran aground on the North Atoll, where the ranger station of the TRNP is located 1.1 nautical miles east. He said Coast Guard vessel, BRP Ro

Madrigal calls for tighter security around Tubbataha Reef

April 11, 2013 07:32
Amidst reports that a Chinese fishing vessel had run aground in Tubbataha Reef, Team PNoy senatorial bet Jamby Madrigal on Tuesday called for tighter security measures around the Unesco World Heritage site. Madrigal, principal author of the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park Act of 2009, said in a statement issued to media that Philippine naval authorities should exert serious efforts in guarding restricted zones, apprehending intruders and imposing stiff penalties - including possible jail time - against offenders. “This latest incident shows how vulnerable our marine resources are

Chinese fishermen to be charged with poaching

April 11, 2013 07:31
The superintendent at the Tubbataha National Marine Park on Tuesday said the Chinese fishermen whose vessel got stuck on a reef there would be charged with poaching and could face imprisonment on top of fines of up to $200,000. As of 4 p.m., the 48-by-8 meter ship was still stuck on a reef, as the Coast Guard vessel deployed to extricate it was too light, Angelique Songco of the Tubbataha Management Office said. She said rangers detected the presence of the grounded vessel at 11:40 p.m.
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