Coral jewelry has been in high demand in Asia since the 8th century AD. The global market for corals used in jewelry is worth between 50 to 60 million dollars a year. The deep red variety, known as “oxblood” coral, now mostly purchased from Japan, is the most coveted,...
China has announced a ban on Shark Fin's at Official Banquets. Although the ban is intended to cut down on excessive spending and extravagance in the Chinese Government, it will have significant impact on Chinese Society. According to conservation group WildAid, up to...
Marine biologists in Australia have found the first evidence that the coral animal itself, not just its algal symbiont, may play an important role in regulating local climate. The researchers have shown that the coral animal makes dimethylsulphoniopropionate (DMSP)....
Cal State Long Beach's Shark Lab has been helping the world better understand Great White Sharks for the past 50 years. The research has been featured on tv networks and journals. Director Christopher Lowe has appeared on the Discovery Channel’s “Live From the Shark...
Researchers on the Great Barrier Reef are freezing coral sperm to help prevent some of the coral species from becoming extinct. Researchers are using human fertility processes to to cryo-preserve the reef. Dr. Mary Hagedorn from the Smithsonian Institute developed...
In 2011, nearly 16,000 tropical fish were used as drug smuggling vehicles in an attempt to transit over 35 lbs of cocaine, with a street value of over 2 million dollars, from Colombia to the UK. Out of the 16,000 fish that were found, only 34 fish survived. Some were...
Scientists have discovered a new species of giant clam on the coral reefs of the Indo-Pacific. The yet to be identified clam belongs to the genus Tridacna. “DNA sequences strongly suggest that a distinct and unnamed species of giant clam has been hiding literally in...
Many marine aquarium enthusiasts know about Richard Ross as the Aquarist Extraordinaire behind Steinhart Aquarium's stunning 212,000 gallon Philippine Coral Reef. He has kept marine aquariums for over 25 years and has made a name for himself through his many...
My first aquarium was a 10 gallon Hagen kit with an AquaClear filter. Who would have guessed that nearly 30 years later I would end up developing products for Hagen. I feel very fortunate to have turned my childhood hobby into a rewarding career. Like so many...
In the first installment of this series I gave you a quick glimpse of some of the awesome Mega Home Aquariums that have been built-in the Middle East over the past decade. In this final article of the series, I will provide a little more insight into how these large...