Halibut Herald October 31

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APPY HALIBUT HERALD HALLOWEEN! October 31, 2008

Bits and Bites Mexico City: Dia de los Muertos Every November 1 and 2, Mexicans and visitors alike celebrate Dia de los Muertos, a traditional remembrance of the dead

http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/places/enlarge/mexicocity-dia-meurtos.html

Today we do the same for Tag & Nyac <3

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Conservationists search for elusive ‘ghost whale’ ‘The western gray whale was thought to be extinct, but the there was a sighting in 1977. That was the last.’

Next time you are in Ulsan on the southeastern coast, look out to sea. There’s a reward out for spotting a certain species of endangered mammal. “Wanted: Ghost Whales!” cry out posters around town with a promise of 10 million won ($8,074) for sightings - dead or alive - and 5 million won for photos or video footage. There have been no takers yet. Korea’s Cetacean Research Institute, a group dedicated to research on whales, has been distributing these posters to fishing communities along this stretch of coastline since the beginning of the year. The fliers describe in detail the physical and behavioral characteristics of the so-called ghost whale, a local name for the Western Pacific Gray Whale. In 1937, the International Whaling Commission gave western gray whales, their numbers decimated by overfishing, partial protection from commercial hunting. In 1947, they got full protection but in 2003 the International Union for Conservation of Nature was compelled to list the whales as “critically endangered,” the highest category of threat, on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. READ ON HERE: http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2896247

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Piglet Squid Unaccustomed to Earth's atmosphere, the visitor quickly perished. The following info is from a short press release provided by the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium when they found this little tyke. Piglet Squid, Helicocranchia pfefferi This funny looking squid is about the size of a small avocado and can be found most commonly in the deepwater (greater than 100 m or 320 ft) of virtually all oceans. Its habit of filling up with water and the funny location of its siphone with a wild-looking 'tuft' of eight arms and two tentacles had prompted scientists to name it the piglet squid.

The body is almost totally clear revealing a dark mass that is the internal organs and barely visible, feather-like gills. Pigment organs dot the surface of the skin. In the picture a row of these 'chromatophores' provide a smilelike look. There are two small finst at the opposite end of the body from the head. Very little known of its biology. It has been observed from submersibles in the head down oriengation, but no one is sure why. It is a sluggish swimmer with ammonium ions in its body fluid that help keep it bouyant. A large light producing organ (photophore) is located beneath each of its large eyes.

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CHIANG MAI ZOO - Aquarium Shuts Temporarily After Official Opening CHIANG MAI Technical glitches have forced the new 600-million-baht aquarium at the Chiang Mai zoo to close temporarily only a day after its official opening on Sunday. Zoo director Thanapat Pongpamorn said the aquarium was ordered closed yesterday after it was found that water in the aquarium was too muddy because the water treatment system was not working properly. Besides, an automatic ticket vending machine developed problems and needed to be reprogrammed, he added. The aquarium opened its doors to visitors on Sunday after an opening ceremony presided over by Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat. Claiming to be the largest aquarium in Southeast Asia, it is a joint collaboration between the Zoological Park Organisation and MarineScape (Thailand). Roj Thuwanasin, chairman of MarineScape, explained that the water was muddy because it was being pumped in from a natural water source. The treatment machine was not working fast enough, he said. Staff are fixing the problems and the aquarium is expected to reopen on Nov 15, Mr Roj said. More than 50 ticket-holders were turned back and refunded. Located on a 10-rai plot in the sprawling zoo, the aquarium takes up a space of 13,895 square metres and is 4.5 metres deep, with a holding capacity of 8,000 cubic litres of water. It houses more than 8,000 aquatic animals of 250 fresh and sea water species kept in two separate compartments. It also features a 133-metrelong tunnel - the world's longest. Its construction started four years ago during the Thaksin Shinawatra administration.

Check out all the cute creatures enjoying Halloween…

http://www.zooborns.com/zooborns/2008/10/happyhallzooween.html#more

More News Links Otto the octopus wreaks havoc A octopus has caused havoc in his aquarium by performing juggling tricks using his fellow occupants, smashing rocks against the glass and turning off the power by shortcircuiting a lamp. READ ON: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news /newstopics/howaboutthat/33284 80/Otto-the-octopus-wreckshavoc.html

Algae blooms: A new source of energy? http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2008/10/31/f-colihan-algae.html Canada, Mexico And The United States Push For Vaquita Conservation Plan; 'the World's Most-endangered Marine Mammal'

http://www.underwatertimes.com/news.php?article_id=06210471359 The Corpse Flower

Big, bold and beautiful, the Rafflesia arnoldii boasts the title of the largest flower in the world and can grow to massive proportions, with a flower diameter of up to one meter (three feet) and a hefty weight of up to 11 kilograms (24 lbs). It might seem like a great gift for that special someone except that it’s nicknamed the corpse flower and smells like rotting meat, so may not be quite as endearing as expected. READ ON: http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/ecology/corpse-flower/3244

Halloween Special A Haunting Ghost Story It's Halloween, and even out here in the Pacific, I have a ghost story to tell you... a true tale of horror and death. Here, in the middle of the ocean, hundreds of miles from land or other ships, there are unnatural creatures prowling the ocean depths, killing sea turtles, dolphins, and other animals indiscriminately. They're called ghost nets, and they drift aimlessly through the oceans, killing anything that crosses their path. These nets once belonged to commercial fisherman, but were abandoned overboard, to live on for years, creeping through ocean currents in search of innocent victims. When they've killed so many animals, they sink to the ocean floor with the weight of their prey, and let the elements devour the remains. Once the bodies ensnared within their ropes decompose, like Freddie Krueger in your worst nightmares, they rise up again to continue their dance of death beneath the waves. THE END http://weblog.greenpeace.org/oceandefenders/archive/2006/10/a_haunting_ghost_story.html

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Ghost Ship: The Flying Dutchman The Flying Dutchman, according to folklore, is a ghost ship that can never go home, and is doomed to sail the oceans forever. The Flying Dutchman is usually spotted from afar, sometimes seen to be glowing with ghostly light. It is said that if she is hailed by another ship, her crew will often try to send messages to land or to people long since dead. In ocean lore, the sight of this phantom ship is reckoned by seafarers to be a portent of doom.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_Dutchman

Where: Ralph Shaw Room When: Wednesday, Nov. 5 When: 9AM – 12 PM CASH ONLY NO EARLY BIRDS B.Y.O.B(ag)

Green Tips & Links Green Burials The ritual of burying remains is considered to be one of the first indicators of "culture" in human evolution, perhaps meaning that how we bury loved ones is a hallmark of who we are as a people. If so, the recent increase in ecological burial options is not just a wacky trend, but a sign that social consciousness about the environment has reached a deeper level. To help those interested in more natural burials, the Trust for Natural Legacies Inc., a Madison, Wisconsin based non-profit group, plans to establish cemeteries that would use a small piece of conservation property for burials, and protect the rest as a natural area and park. "Cemeteries take up a lot of land, and that land is changed from either forest land or prairie land into something that's just made for our use, and there's no reason that we need to maintain that land for our use over centuries," says Bill Moore, a supporter of the Trust.

In the coming month, the Green Burial Council plans to announce guidelines that will standardize the practices used in ecologically sensitive burials. "We're trying to just set the ground rules (for burial) so it's done in an appropriate fashion," said Joe Sehee, the group's founder and executive director. Standards will be especially critical for certifying green burial practices to ensure that proper care is taken for both the remains and the natural landscape. http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/08/green_burials.php

How to Green Your Funeral http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/03/how-to-green-your-funeral.php

Green Coffins Environmentally-friendly handmade Cocoon, composed of rapidly-renewable untreated jute and natural resin

http://www.uono.de/

Ecopod Sustainable Coffins http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/02/ecopod_green_co.php

Silkscreened Paper Coffins

Paper Acorn Urn

Also available: Willow lattice, cardboard, wood grain or bamboo caskets.

TECH PUMPKINS!

Library News New Books This Week:

A Complete Guide to Arctic Wildlife by Richard Sale (2006) – Available for in-library use only Fishes: An Introduction to Ichthyology – 5th edition by Moyle and Cech (2004) Lake Victoria Basin Cichlids: a Complete Pet Owner’s Manual by Smitth The Cichlid Fishes: Nature’s Grand Experiment in Evolution by Barlow (2000) Arctic Dream by Lopez (1986) Please return your library items The library is in the process of switching to an online catalogue which will be available in the New Year. In order to make sure that all library books are barcoded and entered into the new catalogue it is important that they come back to the library for processing. Please return anything you are done with. If you have recently borrowed books or DVD’s please make sure to return them on time – Books are due back within 3 weeks and DVD’s are due in one week. We have waiting lists for many of the newer books and DVD’s and are having a problem with getting them returned on time. If you don’t have time to watch or read something, please return it so someone else can have access to it.

Archival Photo

Two Dolphins Performing Jump BC Tel Pool, 1969

Green Team Bike to Work Week is Back!!! November 17-23 The VACC wants to help you and your workplace make the move from fair-weather cycling to allweather cycling! Get your workplace team together and start logging your commutes now. Log your commutes from November 17th to 23rd and win great prizes!

http://www.vacc.bc.ca/index.php?task=btw2.main

Ride-Sharing for Employees of the Vancouver Aquarium The Vancouver Aquarium has its very own Ride Share site for Aquarium employees! Jack Bell Ride-Share allows you to find ride matches with coworkers to fill your personal car, find a driver to carpool with, or use a Jack Bell fleet vehicle! This calculates both costs and greenhouse gas savings at the same time! Registration is restricted to email addresses ending in @vanaqua.org. Register today! 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Go to http://vanaqua.ride-share.com/en/my/ Register for free with your @vanaqua.org email address Enter your home address Search for matching commuters with adjustable search options Click matching commuters to suggest a ride-share Start ride-sharing!

Quick Tip: Did you know that approximately 45% of commuters in Metro Vancouver travel alone in their vehicles? Ridesharing with just 1 other person would eliminate over 1 million cars a day crossing in and out of Metro Vancouver. This is equivalent to 1.6 million litres of gas saved, and 4000 tonnes of greenhouse gases not emitted. Other sustainable modes of transportation: Don’t forget, every day is a good day to walk, bike, or swim to the Aquarium! Did you know that the Vancouver Aquarium has shower and locker facilities as well as secure bike storage for cyclists? Secure bike storage is found on the east side of the building near the Grounds office, and the shower and locker facilities are in the washrooms on the 1st floor (basement) of Aquaquest.

Events

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BC TOURISM INDUSTRY AWARDS CALL FOR NOMINATIONS Do you know of a tourism business practicing industry excellence? Be sure to nominate them in one of the nine categories for the 10th Annual BC Tourism Industry Awards. Winners will be selected by a panel of judges and award presentations will take place during the BC Tourism Industry Conference on February 12, 2009 in Vancouver. Award categories: ·

Tourism industry leader of the year

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Tourism media

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Best tourism marketing campaign

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SuperHost® customer service

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Environmentally responsible tourism

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Technology in tourism

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Foresight sustainability award

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Employees first

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Sport tourism community legacy

Find award nomination forms and criteria on Tourism BC's corporate website at www.tourismbc.com. Previous nominees may resubmit as appropriate. Deadline for nominations is November 28.

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The Vancouver Aquarium connection is that Marcel Gijssen, BC Waters Aquarium Biologist, rode along on part of the journey. The Long Road North is a film playing as a part of the Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival. It is the beautifully shot, fascinating and funny story of Gwendal Castelan's bicycle journey from Patagonia to the Canadian Arctic. The film was an official selection of the Vancouver DOXA Documentary Film Festival, nominated for "Best of the Fest" award at France's Strasbourg Film Festival, and received the Audience Choice Award at the Townsend film festival. This is a great film and it is about "green travel" at its best. It will be shown on Nov. 20th, 7 pm (doors at 6), at the Centennial Theatre, 2300 Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver. Tickets: $15 in advance, $17 at the door, available at the Theatre (604 984-4484) and at www.vimff.org. For more info and previews: http://www.longroadnorth.com/

For Sale