The Eastern Pacific Garbage Patch, situated in remote waters between California and Hawaii, is created by ocean currents that pick up millions of tons of the world’s discarded plastic.
This summer, two separate expeditions will set sail for the patch to document the scope of the problem and call global attention to disastrous ocean pollution.
Also: Angling world in mourning for Benson the celebrity carp
She was, in her own way, one of the great celebrities of her age, a creature of such grace and physical perfection that admirers would come from hundreds of miles away just to catch a glimpse of her. Elusive, mysterious, no one ever knew when they would see her next, or how much she would weigh.
Now she is dead, and — just as with Diana, Princess of Wales, and Marilyn Monroe — a mythology has already started to build up around her passing. How did she die? Was she a victim of her own admirers? And just how old was she, Benson, the giant carp?
We do know that Benson was big, in every sense. She was, at 64lb 2oz (29kg), the biggest common carp in Britain, although mirror carp do come larger. She was also very popular: in 2005 readers of Angler’s Mail voted her Britain’s Favourite Carp.
Anglers would come from all over the country to her home lake in Cambridgeshire to catch her, weigh her, take her photograph and put her back again. Once a fishing party flew over from Germany just to try their luck. During her all-too-short life — she was said to be about 25, although carp can easily live twice as long — she was caught more than 60 times.
And: Jellyfish help to stir the ocean
Jellyfish help to stir up the ocean as they move, researchers have found.
Using a green dye, scientists showed how the animals’ umbrella-shaped bodies were a key factor in this mixing.
The distribution of heat, nutrients and chemicals helps maintain the marine environment and has an important influence on global climate.
Reporting in the journal Nature, the researchers said that marine animals of many shapes and sizes contributed to ocean turbulence. Jellyfish help to stir up the ocean as they move, researchers have found.
Using a green dye, scientists showed how the animals’ umbrella-shaped bodies were a key factor in this mixing.
The distribution of heat, nutrients and chemicals helps maintain the marine environment and has an important influence on global climate.
Reporting in the journal Nature, the researchers said that marine animals of many shapes and sizes contributed to ocean turbulence.
For more under the sea tales head to underwatertimes.com
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