Jun 2008
May 2008

Palau reveals new fish species... Pacific dives recover novel fish... The bright blue damselfish is finally in the hands of science, blue damselfish found 120m down off Palau

Amazing NEW find in the Pacific, Palau reveals new fish species...
for the images and Video please go to:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7564126.stm

Pacific dives recover novel fish...Marine biologists being filmed for a BBC TV series have confirmed an astonishing 13 new fish species on a single expedition in the Pacific Ocean.

The bright blue damselfish is finally in the hands of science.
The researchers have a further 15 animals they think may also be new to science but require additional study. The haul comes from deep dives made across reefs in Micronesia. The quest to find the novel fish is detailed in the series Pacific Abyss and includes the capture of a long-sought and spectacular damselfish. The team concentrated its efforts on waters referred to as the "twilight zone".
Sited some 60m (200ft) to 150m (500ft) down, this is a transition region between depths that still receive some sunlight during the daytime and waters that are in perpetual darkness.

The twilight zone is rarely explored, being below the activity of normal scuba activity but above the operations of most submersibles.
The scientists had to use sophisticated closed-circuit rebreather gear to avoid decompression problems. Even so, for safety reasons, their dives were strictly time-limited, and each sortie saw a quick scramble to net as many different fish as possible before the required slow ascent to the surface.
The newly described species include several new colourful damselfish in the Chromis genus; at least one new species of basslet (from the Plectranthias genus); an unusual hawkfish and a new species of butterflyfish.

The most spectacular recovery was of the bright blue damselfish found 120m down off Palau. This was described recently in the scientific literature by team-member Dr Richard Pyle, from the Bishop Museum, Honolulu, Hawaii.
The fish has been named Chromis abyssus in honour of the TV series.
The story is a more complicated one, however, because Dr Pyle first saw this fish more than a decade ago. Other researchers, too, had sightings, including one from a small submersible and another from a Remotely Oerated Vehicle (ROV).
It was during the BBC filming, though, that nine specimens were finally captured, allowing for an official scientific submission this year.
Discovery of a new fish species
Pacific Abyss starts its three-part run on Sunday, 17 August, on BBC One, at 2000 BST
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7564126.stm

Latest NEWS...Press Release from the BELAU ROYAL Yacht CLUB... EARTHRACE returns to Palau, Micronesia,

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PRESS RELEASE FROM PALAU, MICRONESIA!

For Immediate Release from the
Balau Royal Yacht Club
EARTHRACE returns to Palau, Micronesia.

What is earthrace?
The goal of Earthrace is to set a new world record for a powerboat to circumnavigate the globe, running 100% renewable biodiesel fuel, and with a net zero carbon footprint. The amazing Earthrace boat will make the attempt starting from Sagunto in Spain. Earthrace is also undertaking a two year promotional tour, visiting 100 great cities around the globe. The crew meet local people, talk about their experiences, and most of all connect with people about the need to get renewable fuels into our energy mix and to inspire them to do something themselves to minimise their impact on the environment.


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KOROR, PALAU, May 29, 2008:

Earthrace, the world’s fastest eco-boat returns to Palau on its second attempt to break the Round-The-World record set by the vessel Cable and Wireless back in 1998. The 24,000 nautical mile journey began in Spain and has included crossing the Atlantic Ocean, transiting the Panama Canal, and crossing the Eastern Pacific enroute to Hawaii. The current leg of the journey now underway took EARTHRACE from Hawaii to Majuro, Marshall Islands with Palau as the next refueling stop before heading for Singapore.

The complete round-the-world itinerary includes Sagunto (Spain) – Horta (Azores) – San Juan (Puerto Rico) – Colon (Panama Canal, Panama) – Manzanillo (Mexico) – San Diego (USA) – Maalaea Harbor, Maui (Hawaii) – Majuro (Marshall Islands) – Koror (Palau) – Singapore – Kochi/Cochin (India) – Salalah (Oman) – Port Said (Suez Canal, Egypt) – Sagunto (Spain).

EARTHRACE powered in to Hawaii well ahead of the record time however she suffered a fuel line failure shortly after departure that reduced her to one engine, slowing her progress from Hawaii to the Marshall Islands where repairs were made to get her back in the race. Even on one engine, EARTHRACE manages 16 knots so despite the delays, she remains very much in the race.

Skipper Peter Bethune said: “The progress we’ve made so far is nothing short of outstanding, but it’s nervous times. There are so many possible situations that can slow
you down when you take on a challenge as ambitious as this, but the team has so far managed to overcome every obstacle that’s been thrown at us. “We’ve conquered the Atlantic and most of the Pacific, at an average speed of 20 knots. The engine problem is a setback but we have overcome challenges all the way through the race so far.”

Earthrace is already beyond the half-way point on its historic round-the-world record attempt to circumnavigate the globe in a vessel powered by renewable bio-diesel, a fuel created from plants and waste materials. Given diminishing fossil fuel reserves worldwide as highlighted by rapidly escalating gasoline costs, EARTHRACES goal to focus attention on the need to develop renewable sources of energy makes more and more sense.

EARTHRACE is crewed by skipper Peter Bethune, New Zealand; Robert Drewett, Britian; Mark Russel, Britian; and Adam Carlson, Sweden. The Royal Belau Yacht Club bestowed Lifetime Honorary Membership on Skipper, Peter Bethune during his last visit to Palau, recognizing him for his outstanding accomplishments and contributions to the art of circumnavigation.

EARTHRACE is scheduled to arrive in Koror, Palau late Saturday evening, May 31. The public is invited to join the Royal Belau Yacht Club in giving EARTHRACE and her crew a warm welcome to Palau at the Royal Belau Yacht Club, located at Sam’s Tours in Malakal, immediately following port clearance and refueling, Saturday evening.

On Sunday, EARTHRACE is open to the public for a unique opportunity to get a close up view of this radical wave-piercing high speed craft.

EARTHRACE is scheduled to depart late Sunday, June 1 or early Monday, June 2.

For more information, please contact the
Royal Belau Yacht Club at 488-4382 or contact Sam’s Tours at 488-7267.

EARTHRACE on-line:
www.earthrace.net


Late NEWS...Ban on live fish export becomes law in Palau Micronesia a step in the right direction to preserve Palau's natural environment and unique Bio-diversity

Late breaking NEWS from PALAU Micronesia!
...brought to you by palautours.com

Ban on live fish export becomes law in Palau Micronesia
a step in the right direction to preserve Palau's natural
environment and unique Bio-diversity.


See below excerps from a News Paper article by the
Horizon News Staff

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With a stroke of his pen, president Tommy Remengesau, Jr. has put a stop to the export of live reef fish yesterday in Bai Mengeliakl,
Ngarchelong. Remengesau signed into law the Senate Bill.
President Tommy Remengesau, Jr. makes it clear, the significance of stopping the exportation of live reef fish yesterday.

We are proud to announce...the PALAU Tours website is almost completed...enjoy Micronesia like never before...

We are almost there...the Palau Tours website almost completed ready for you to use...the most comprehensive and informative site on the NET soon for YOU to browse. Please stay tuned or subscribe to our Blog. Visit Palau Tours @ www.palautours.com

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© Gunther Deichmann - Milky Way, Palau Micronesia