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Unprecedented Numbers of Starving California Sea Lion Pups Found on Beaches – Video

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Unprecedented Numbers of Starving California Sea Lion Pups Found on Beaches
Since the beginning of the year, unusually large numbers of California sea lion pups have been found on the beaches of Southern and Central California. The animals are starving and stranded...

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Unprecedented Numbers of Starving California Sea Lion Pups Found on Beaches - Video

Coliform in Davao beaches a tourism turnoff

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DAVAO CITY -- The high levels of coliform in beaches are not only an environmental problem but for tourism too, an official said.

Davao Tourism Regional Director Roberto Alabado III said beach resorts in the region should observe proper waste disposal system to prevent problem of coliform contamination.

"It is also a tourism problem because it is one of our assets," Alabado said during the I-Speak Forum held at the City Hall on Thursday.

Coliforms are a "broad class of bacteria found in the environment, including the feces of man and other warm-blooded animals".

Alabado said the public must be aware of coliforms in beaches to avoid these disease-causing organisms.

"Even one of the best beaches in the world, naay coliform (there's coliform). Sa akong nalibot nga mga resorts, wala lang na sila naga ingon pero ako makabalo kong anaa nay E-Coli (I've went around the resorts, they may not tell but there's E-coli)," he said.

Councilor Leo Avila III earlier warned that some of the beaches in the city are "not healthy for swimming," as the rivers have been found with high levels of coliform in the recent Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) water quality assessment.

He said results from the 2014 water quality assessment of the EMB showed that the city had "failed miserably."

Copy of the report showed that total coliform found for both downstream and upstream of Davao River was estimated at 4,900 to 1,887,000 most probable number (mpn) per 100 ml wherein the standard level should only be 1,000mpn per 100 ml.

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Coliform in Davao beaches a tourism turnoff

High Surf, Powerful Rip Currents At San Diego County Beaches Friday, Saturday

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Photo by Jessica Plautz

Above: Bystanders gathered along the beach in Del Mar to watch the huge waves on January 14, 2010.

People who flock to San Diego County beaches this weekend to beat the heat will also have to cope with high surf and powerful rip currents, meteorologists said Thursday.

"A long-period south swell will move into the coastal waters early Friday and will continue through Saturday," according to the National Weather Service. "South-facing beaches will get the highest surf, but all beaches will get some strong rip currents and longshore currents through the weekend."

The agency said waves this weekend are likely to reach 3 to 5 feet with occasional 6-foot sets.

Warmer than usual temperatures could spell larger than normal crowds at local beaches.

"High temperatures in the upper 80s to mid-90s are likely west of the mountains today and Friday," the weather service said, adding the coast will see mostly low to mid-80s.

A slow cooling trend is expected to begin on Sunday.

RELATED: San Diegans Get Ready For Another Heat Wave

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High Surf, Powerful Rip Currents At San Diego County Beaches Friday, Saturday

EDITORIAL: Time to tackle seaweed

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THE ANNUAL INVASION of our beaches by Sargassum seaweed, a problem that appears to be escalating, cannot be blamed on the Freundel Stuart Administration.

At least on that we are sure all Barbadians will agree.

Another point Barbadians should be able to agree on with some ease is that this inundation of some of our most popular beaches is not good for tourism especially at a time when that industry appears to be the one area of promise in an economy that is not performing anywhere near its optimum.

And it is here that we have a challenge with our national leadership. We have searched our archives for at least one statement from our Minister of the Environment Dr Denis Lowe that suggested he and his officers believe they have any duty or responsibility to respond to this problem.

There is no public discussion, no mobilisation of state resources, no concerted effort to bring the tourism community together to act, nothing to say there is a rallying cry for civic organisations and community groups to join in a clean-up exercise. It is as though we have accepted that it is an act of God and the Father will remove it when He is good and ready.

When the Sargassum seaweed first became an issue a few years ago, the National Conservation Commission (NCC), which falls under the ambit of Minister Lowes ministry, had significantly more human resources at its disposal as Government had not yet sent home 3 000 plus workers. Is the absence of these workers today an excuse for doing nothing?

Take the case of Texas in the United States where more than 300 miles of beach becomes covered with Sargassum annually. The Texas General Land Office has determined that the US$7 billion tourist industry and US$1.9 billion in commercial fishing business was at risk and has invested significant sums in a Sargassum early warning system that allow them to put mitigation measures in place.

They have even planted signs along the coast to win the support of beachgoers who might otherwise be disconcerted by the phenomenon.

These signs declare Sargassum seaweed to be the eighth wonder of the world and add: Please excuse the seaweed while Mother Nature rebuilds our beaches. Texas also tells visitors that the seaweed is a floating ecosystem, important to create dunes and conserve sand, an invaluable food source for coastal birds, and a natural occurrence along all coastal destinations.

In Barbados, it would appear, we simply leave our guests to be upset when they cant enjoy the idyllic beaches and crystal clear waters we sold them via our travel brochures and television advertising.

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EDITORIAL: Time to tackle seaweed

Trip to basang basa beach resort iloilo video | Philippines’ Best Beaches – Filipino Love – Video

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Trip to basang basa beach resort iloilo video | Philippines #39; Best Beaches - Filipino Love
About Philippines and downloads here: http://philippinestravelsite.com/about/ About this weeks episode: WEBSITE NEWSLETTER: More Free information and updates here : http://philippinestra...

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Trip to basang basa beach resort iloilo video | Philippines' Best Beaches - Filipino Love - Video

Texan has passion for protecting beaches, Gulf coastline

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GALVESTON, Texas -

It was 66 degrees on a sunny February afternoon, and along the stretch of coast where the seawall ends abruptly, Ellis Pickett was walking and talking nonstop about stewardship of the Texas coast.

"I believe in standing up to the people who are trying to steal the beaches from the people of Texas," he said.

Pickett is a tall, lean man with brown hair tinged in silver. He wore bluejeans, a blue and white striped shirt, sunglasses, and well-worn boots.

The Galveston County Daily News reports he spoke plainly and persuasively in a pleasant native drawl about what's at stake for the state's beaches, then he stopped, lifted his face toward the sun and gazed out over the Gulf.

The tide was high and the sun was sparkling on the water.

"Look at this it's beautiful," Pickett said. "All I want is to be sure that there are safe, clean public beaches for my granddaughters to enjoy."

This particular spot, just beyond the seawall with its pink granite riprap, has special meaning to Pickett. It's where he first drove his 1956 GMC pickup truck onto the beach in 1964.

It's where he learned to surf on a 9-foot polyurethane surfboard rented for $5 a day.

"Back then, in Texas, you could get your driver's license when you were 14 years old; now that was a stupid law," he said.

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Texan has passion for protecting beaches, Gulf coastline

Health advisories issued at four Hillsborough beaches

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Health advisories were issued Wednesday at four Hillborough County beaches based on criteria for bacteria levels recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Samples taken this week were above thresholds for enterococci bacteria for the water at Ben T. Davis, Davis Islands, Picnic Island and Simmons Park beaches.

The beaches under advisories should be considered unsafe for swimming, the countys health department said.

The beaches will be sampled again this Monday. When sampling indicates the water is within the satisfactory range, the advisories will be lifted.

The health department has been conducting coastal quality monitoring at nine sites once every two weeks since August 2000 and weekly since August 2002 through the states Healthy Beaches Monitoring Program.

Enterococci bacteria is typically found in the intestinal tracts of humans and animals and may cause human disease, infections, or rashes. It is an indication of fecal pollution, which may come from stormwater runoff, pets and wildlife, and human sewage, the health department said.

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Health advisories issued at four Hillsborough beaches

Hawaii frets over vanishing beaches

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HONOLULU -- More than 13 miles of Hawaii beaches have been lost to erosion in the past century, and lawmakers are tackling the problem by attempting to secure more money for beach restoration.

Chronic erosion is affecting 70 percent of beaches on Oahu, Kauai and Maui, according to a study by the U.S. Geological Survey.

"That's just the tip of the iceberg," said Sam Lemmo, administrator for Hawaii's Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands. "Most of the beaches in the state are on an erosion basis now, and that's only going to increase in the future with sea level rise. It's going to double, it's going to possibly triple, by the end of the century."

A study by the University of Hawaii released Monday indicated that coastal erosion of Hawaii's beaches could double by mid-century. Following current trends, the shoreline could recede by an average of 20 feet in 2050 or 40 feet by 2100, according to the report.

A bill in the Legislature would set aside part of the transient accommodation tax to help fund beach restoration. The bill is supported by the Hawaii Tourism Authority, which has an obvious interest in ensuring that beaches aren't lost.

"It is one of the most important things that we need to focus in on, because we are known for our beautiful beaches, our sand, our environment," said Senate President Donna Mercado Kim, "and if that should go, that would be so detrimental to the economy and to the environment."

The dollar amount for beach restoration in the bill is currently blank, and Kim said she's hoping for $3 million to $5 million a year for what would be a new beach restoration and conservation special fund.

Kim's proposal in the Senate, SB 617, died, but a companion measure introduced in the House is alive. A joint Senate panel approved that bill, HB 444, on Monday.

"Our beaches are so vital to not only our visitors, but to our local families," said Rep. Ryan Yamane, who introduced HB 444. Yamane is hoping for $5 million for the beach restoration fund.

The bill would give the Department of Land and Natural Resources a foundation for a program to sustain beach management, Lemmo said.

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Hawaii frets over vanishing beaches


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