
The SeaVax concept as a
proof of concept model in 2016, first exhibited in the UK, in London.
Since then the design has developed significantly. The Cleaner Ocean
Foundation is part of a consortium of academics and high-tech companies
that could tackle autonomous energy harvesting, navigation and fleet
control, in relation to ocean cleaning. In 2019 a study of the energy
required for such operations was undertaken by a masters degree student. As a result, the SeaVax
will look a little different. The fishing net harvesting apparatus is
not included on this model.
When
fully developed, the SeaVax will be capable of harvesting ghost fishing
nets. These machines could be used to stop illegal poaching using
driftnets and other devices that are set deliberately to get around the
international whaling ban.
Since
first showing in 2016, the SeaVax concept, via the
Cleaner Ocean
Foundation and others, has been the subject of three applications for
European funding under the Horizon
2020 scheme, the last in February of 2020.
It
speaks for itself that the EU is not serious about dealing with the
deaths of thousands of endangered species, making the Commission, the
policies and policy makers part of
the problem - in that if you won't pursue viable solutions - then you
are effectively condoning pirate operations and the deaths of thousands
of whales from ghost nets.
The
United
Nations' response is to attempt to tag fishing
nets, but again no direct action - and again - that makes such
organizations part of the problem.
That
is why we believe it is time for a change in the law at international
level. To make it illegal to fail to act with due diligence, to protect
the planet
and the most vulnerable of its inhabitants.
FAILURE
TO ACT WITH DUE DILIGENCE
We
are not alone in this belief. In April 2020 a Federal Judge ruled that
the National Marine Fisheries Service, were not doing enough to protect
Right Whales from lobster gear entanglement.
The
same could be said of the United
Nations, European
Union, G20 and
just about every fishing nation. Where else are the nets coming from?

PERSISTENT
MONITORING CE-FNR-09 - Machines
like the Pilot SeaVax concept above provide sufficient energy to sample
the marine environment continuously, also able to transport the sensors
and sampling equipment anywhere in the world without using fossil fuels.
We applied for funding in 2017 to build a simpler version of this
machine, and again in 2020
to build this prototype with more frills and whistles, but were turned
down on both occasions.
The
head of the proposed machine can be raised out of the water during
transit, and lowered to 8 meters to sample microplastics on the seafloor
or riverbeds. It is possible to design a head to travel to greater
depths, but this will require additional R&D. Without funding it is
just historical proof that the establishment don't give a fig.
Although
we have shown this equipment as part of the Pilot concept, once
completed, heads like this could have been fitted to other suitably
equipped research vessels. Again, without funding it is just us showing
the world what might have been.
PRESS
RELEASE August 19, 2020
Judge Orders Deadline for New North Atlantic Right Whale Protections
WASHINGTON — As a result of a successful lawsuit by several environmental and animal organizations, a federal judge today ordered federal fishery managers to issue a new rule for critically endangered North
Atlantic right
whales no later than May 31, 2021.
The Center for Biological Diversity, Conservation Law Foundation, Defenders of Wildlife and the Humane Society of the United States sued the federal government for violating the Endangered Species Act by allowing the lobster fishery to operate in a manner known to entangle right whales.
U.S. District Court Judge James E. Boasberg also ordered a new ESA-mandated analysis of the American lobster fishery that takes into account the full scope of its harm to right whales. He stopped short of prohibiting
lobster
fishing with vertical buoy lines in a key right whale feeding area, which the groups had requested as an interim measure.
“The survival of the species cannot wait for endless debate on new protections,” said Erica Fuller, senior attorney at CLF. “The judge made it clear that the federal government needs to go back to the drawing board and meaningfully address all of the impacts of the lobster fishery on right whales. Today’s ruling will put a stop to the government’s endless foot-dragging on implementing new long-term protections.”
“The judge has given the agency clear marching orders, and there’s no more time to waste. The National Marine Fisheries Service must respond quickly with strong new regulations that prevent right whale entanglements,” said Kristen Monsell, the Center for Biological Diversity attorney who argued the case in court earlier this month. “This amazing species can’t withstand more harmful entanglements in lobster gear.”
In April, the judge agreed with the groups’ argument that the National Marine
Fisheries Service violated the Endangered Species Act when it authorized the American lobster fishery without appropriately analyzing its impact on right whales and issuing the legally required permit.
“Vessel strikes and entanglements have killed over 40 imperiled right whales over the past four years, while the federal government has sat on its hands,” said Jane Davenport, senior attorney at Defenders of Wildlife.
“This order puts an end to that inaction, demanding that the government implement new protections that will help the right whale come back from the brink of extinction.”
“With right whales teetering on the brink of extinction, National Marine Fisheries Service has done little more than wring its hands without taking decisive action to reduce the unsustainable number of right whale deaths resulting from entanglements in the lobster fishery,” said Sharon Young, senior strategist for marine issues at the Humane Society of the United States.
“Finally the agency’s feet are held to the fire so right whales can get additional protections they desperately need.”
There are only about 400 North Atlantic right whales remaining, and at least 40 of them have been killed since the summer of 2017. Entanglements in heavy fishing gear, which is used in the American lobster fishery, are a major threat to their survival. In July 2020, the International Union for Conservation of Nature uplisted the North Atlantic right whale’s status to “critically endangered,” just one step below extinct.
CENTER
FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY CONTACTS
Kristen Monsell, Center for Biological Diversity, (510) 844-7137, kmonsell@biologicaldiversity.org
Jake O’Neill, Conservation Law Foundation, (978) 478-8318,
joneill@clf.org
Jake
Bleich, Defenders of Wildlife, (510) 882-1592, jbleich@defenders.org
Emily
Ehrhorn, The Humane Society of the United States, 202-779-1814, eehrhorn@humanesociety.org

Please use our
A-Z INDEX to
navigate this site