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Editors --- "In Brief" [2000] MarStudies 11; (2000) 111 Maritime Studies 33

• IN BRIEF
• A Shorter Route from Europe to the Pacific?
• Monitoring the Indian Ocean for Climate Prediction
• Suspect Fishing Vessels Denied Entry

IN BRIEF

A Shorter Route from Europe to the Pacific?

A time-saving new shipping route connecting Europe to the Pacific may be navigable thanks to global warming, scientists say. The North Eastern Passage, which cuts through the Arctic waters along Siberia, was until now locked by ice. However, the steady rise in temperatures over the last 20 years has seen the ice thin and retreat substantially.

This means that the passage may soon become navigable for most of the year.

Dr Peter Wadhams, of the Scott Polar Research Institute in Cambridge, UK, said that the long-sought dream of a North East shipping route ‘could become reality in as little as 10 years time’. Commercial companies trading between Europe and the Far East or North Western America would see shipping times slashed. At the moment, a voyage from London to Japan via the Suez Canal covering 20,300 km. (11,000 nautical miles) takes 35 days. The distance via the North Eastern passage is only 13,000 km (7,000 nautical miles) and would take around 22 days - a substantially shorter journey.

‘If you can use the northern sea route, it’ll be very, very advantageous in terms of freight costs,’ Dr Wadhams told the BBC. Ships can currently only reach the East through the Panama Canal, the Suez Canal, or by going around Africa or South America.

Dr Wadhams said that satellite images showed Arctic sea ice receding towards the North Pole at a rate of 5% per decade. American and British submarines have also been monitoring the thickness of the ice which has thinned by 40% over the last 20 years. These changes have been attributed to human-induced global warming by some scientists. Others believe much of the retreat could be explained by a natural climate phenomenon known as the Arctic Oscillation, which can result in particular wind patterns that last several years.

Whatever the cause, there are several political, legal and commercial issues to address before any lucrative route can be used. The North Eastern Passage lies entirely in Russian waters. The Russians have been using the passage internally for some time, but show signs of willingness to open it up to international traffic. Insurance companies are also reluctant to insure vessels in Arctic waters because of fears of ice damage.

Courtesy: BBC News Online

Monitoring the Indian Ocean for Climate Prediction

An ocean-observing system in the Indian Ocean may forecast changes in regional rainfall months ahead, pretty much the same way as ocean currents in the Pacific indicate the development of an El Niño. Senior Australian climatologist Dr Nan Bray says scientists are assessing a possible Indian Ocean climate-observing system, following the discovery of currents in the Indian Ocean that are not unlike those associated with the Pacific’s El Niño.

Dr Bray is chief of CSIRO Marine Research in Hobart, Tasmania.

The system would be similar to a Pacific Ocean system that predicted massive changes in ocean conditions leading up to the last major El Niño in 1997. The currents are associated with a basin-wide shift in sea temperatures, winds, and rain. This phenomenon, known as the ‘Indian Ocean Dipole’, affects the frequency of occurrence of certain storm systems. These may, in turn, affect Australian winter rain, she says.

‘Improved climate prediction for the nations around the Indian Ocean would impact on the lives of almost two-thirds of the world’s population.’ Dr Bray spoke to scientists and fisheries and agricultural extension officers during the 13th Australia-New Zealand Climate Forum in Hobart.

Dr Bray says the Indian Ocean is associated with the monsoon system while the western tropics of the Pacific are strongly coupled to the ENSO climate phenomenon. Storm systems associated with Indian Ocean Dipole were discovered in 1999 by Professor Peter Webster of the University of Colorado during an international climate research project, JASMINE, in which Australia is a participant.

Presently, scientists obtain ocean observations from regional research voyages, and routine monitoring by merchant ships.

Ocean data collection will be greatly enhanced in the future using a new development - special deep-ocean-profiling floats. Six of these instruments are currently being used in a pilot experiment by CSIRO in the Indian Ocean northwest of Australia.

For further information contact Craig Macaulay, Communication Officer, email craig.macaulay@marine. csiro.au.

Courtesy: CSIRO Marine Research

Suspect Fishing Vessels Denied Entry

Two Belize-registered fishing vessels suspected of unregulated harvesting of Patagonian toothfish have been refused entry to the Western Australian port of Fremantle, the Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Warren Truss, announced in early April.

The vessels, Cisne Azul and Cisne Rojo, were denied access to Fremantle’s port facilities by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority, (AFMA) and Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry - Australia (AFFA).

‘Australia is totally opposed to unregulated fishing, particularly for the Patagonian toothfish, and will not provide any support to vessels we suspect of operating illegally,’ Mr Truss said.

‘Both vessels are known to land toothfish without a licence under the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, and the Government is not prepared to take any action including granting them entry to our ports which could help their illegal operations.

‘Rather than allowing the vessels to continue towards Australia, we have acted in accordance with our obligations and responsibilities under the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement (UNFSA) and turned them away,’ he said.

The Australian Seafood Industry Council (ASIC) described the action as ‘an important step in efforts to detect and prevent foreign poaching of Australian stocks.’

Decisive actions are needed to tell the world that Australia is becoming serious about illegal foreign incursion into Commonwealth waters, said ASIC chair, Mr Nigel Scullion.

‘Illegal fishing threatens sustainability of fish stocks and has no regard for sound environmental practices.

‘The Australian industry is serious about building a sound, long-term future by cooperating with AFMA.

‘We cannot accept a duty to preserve these fisheries for future generations, then watch foreign vessels come in and undo our hard work,’ Mr Scullion said.

ASIC has also welcomed the passage of legislation to prevent ‘bunkering vessels’ from berthing in Australia. Bunkering vessels may support illegal fishing vessels with fuel or other services.

Courtesy: Professional Fisherman