News on Southern Ocean

Deep-sea volcanoes play key climate role: scientists

2010-03-14T22:45:11Z

<div><p>SINGAPORE (Reuters) - A vast network of under-sea volcanoes pumping out nutrient-rich water in the Southern Ocean plays a key role in soaking up large amounts of carbon dioxide, acting as a brake on climate change, scientists say.</p><p>A group of Australian and French scientists have shown for the first time that the volcanoes are a major ...

Japan Whaling

2010-03-12T09:30:57Z

FILE - In this Feb. 10, 2010, file photo released by Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, captain Peter Bethune poses onboard the MV Steve Irwin, in the Southern Ocean. Japan's coast guard s...

Vast iceberg could disrupt ocean currents, weather

2010-02-27T08:20:50Z

<div><p>An iceberg the size of Luxembourg knocked loose from the Antarctic continent earlier this month could disrupt the ocean currents driving weather patterns around the globe, researchers said.</p><p>While the impact would not be felt for decades or longer, a slowdown in the production of colder, dense water could result in less temperate winters in the north Atlantic, they said Thursday.</p><p>The 2,550 ...

Mammoth iceberg 'could alter ocean circulation'

2010-02-27T08:20:48Z

Mammoth iceberg could alter ocean circulation: study

2010-02-26T02:17:16Z

<div><p>An iceberg the size of Luxembourg knocked loose from the Antarctic continent earlier this month could disrupt the ocean currents driving weather patterns around the globe, researchers said Thursday.</p><p>While the impact would not be felt for decades or longer, a slowdown in the production of colder, dense water could result in less temperate winters in the north Atlantic, they said.</p><p>The 2550 s...

IWC draft plan sees end to commercial whaling ban

2010-02-22T20:45:20Z

<div><p>CANBERRA (Reuters) - Whaling nations including Japan could be allowed to resume limited commercial hunting for the first time in 24 years under a draft plan drawn up by a working group of the International Whaling Commission.<...

Antarctic Whaling

2010-02-12T23:15:31Z

In this photo supplied by Sea Sheperd, the crew on the Nisshin Maru fire what they claimed to be pepper spray at the Steve Irwin in the Southern Ocean, Thursday, Feb. 11, 2010. Three crew members of a Japanese whaling vessel suffered face and eye injuries from acid fired by anti-whaling protesters during their latest clash in th...

Activists urge legal action against Japan whalers

2010-02-22T23:34:20Z

<div><p>AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Anti-whaling activists have asked the Dutch public prosecutor to launch a criminal investigation into a clash between protesters and Japanese whalers which led to the sinking of a protest boat.</p><p>The hardline CANBERRA (Reuters) - The futuristic anti-whaling protest boat struck by a Japanese harpoon vessel near Antarctica finally sank on Friday, prompting Australia to voice official concern about safety in the remote Peter Hammarstedt, first officer of the "

Japanese whalers accused of sinking protest boat

2010-02-23T00:47:14Z

<div><p>CANBERRA (Reuters) - Anti-whaling activists accused Japanese whalers of ramming and sinking a high-tech protest boat in the frigid Southern Ocean on Wednesday, but Japan said that its ship could not avoid the collision.</p><p&a...

Japanese whalers clash with militant activists

2010-02-23T12:05:31Z

<div id="subtitle">Japanese whalers clash with militant conservationists in Antarctic Ocean with water cannon</div><div><p>Japanese whalers and militant conservationists have clashed in the Antarctic Ocean over two days, with weapons including water cannon, blinding lasers and bottles of rancid acid, both sides said Wednesday.</p><p>Each accused the othe...

Wish we weren't here: postcards to Copenhagen

2010-02-23T19:46:23Z

<div><p>(Reuters) - As world leaders prepare to head to Copenhagen for talks aimed at reaching a deal to slow the pace of climate change, people around the world are experiencing environmental destruction in myriad ways, some subtle, others devastating.</p><p>Here are a few examples from recent months:</p>&...

Anti-Japan whaling protests: govts urge restraint

2010-02-23T19:51:39Z

<div><p> Militant protesters opposed to Japanese whaling left for the Southern Ocean Monday as New Zealand, Australia and The Netherlands urged them to avoid violent confrontations.</p><p>The Southern Ocean (Reuters) - As Captain Benoit Hebert steers the icebreaker l'Astrolabe on Monday through a stormy Southern Ocean heading for Antarctica his thoughts will soon turn to the dangers of icebergs....

Governments urge restraint in whaling protests

2010-02-23T19:55:41Z

<div><p>The governments of New Zealand, Australia and The Netherlands called Monday for people protesting against Japanese whaling in the Southern Ocean to exercise restraint and avoid violence.</p><p>As the Japanese whaling f...

Australia 'disappointed' at Japan whaling mission

2010-02-24T02:49:10Z

<div><p>Australia said it was "deeply disappointed" after a fleet of Japanese whaling ships set out to kill hundreds of the giant ocean mammals on their annual hunt.</p><p>Environment Minister Peter Garrett urged Japan, which says the killings are for research purposes, to "swap harpoons for s...

DNA study of humpback whales reveals mating habits

2010-02-24T19:15:05Z

<div><p>SYDNEY (Reuters Life!) - A 15-year genetic study of Southern Hemisphere humpback whales has opened a window into the little known mating habits of the giant cetaceans, revealing some whales travel between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans to mate.</p><p>Analyzing DNA skin samples from 1,527 whales in the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans, an international group of scienti...

Australian navy rescues Vendee Global yachtsman

2010-03-01T00:39:15Z

<div><p>An Australian navy frigate on Saturday rescued a French yachtsman badly injured in the remote Southern Ocean during a solo round-the-world race, race organisers said.</p><p>Two crew members transferred Yann Elies to the HMAS Arunta from his 60-foot (...

Australian warship rescues Vendee Globe sailor

2010-03-01T00:50:03Z

<div><p>An Australian warship has rescued a French yachtsman badly injured in the remote Southern Ocean during a solo round-the-world race, race organisers said on Saturday.</p><p>Two crew members transferred Yann Elies to the HMAS Arunta from his 60-foot (18-metre) yacht Generali, fellow sailor