Marine protection plan unveiled

Public consultation has begun on proposals to extend protection for marine life around Britain.

Seven areas, totaling 10,000sq km (4,000sq miles) of sea, have been earmarked as sites for the UK’s first offshore Special Areas of Conservation. They include habitats of important sea life, such as sandbanks, sand volcanoes and cold-water coral reefs, found in the seas surrounding the UK. Currently, only coastal and inshore areas are protected. The government says areas rich in wildlife further out to sea face a different kind of threat. Jonathan Shaw, the minister for marine, landscape and rural affairs, said: “The UK has one of the richest marine environments in the world.

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Superferry back in service to Maui

The Hawaii Superferry has finally made it to Maui.

Storm damage to the ferry dock at Kahului Harbor had delayed the ‘Alakai’s’ return to service between Oahu and Maui. The ‘Alakai’ had been docked since late August when a series of court rulings led to suspension of the service. About 100 protesters turned out at the harbor, some carrying signs and yelling at disembarking passengers and vehicles. The protests were peaceful and no arrests were made. The ‘Alakai’ headed back to Oahu with about 190 passengers on board and carried about 60 vehicles on its trip to Maui and 170 passengers and 50 cars on its return trip to Honolulu. Bad weather delayed the second attempt to return the vessel to Maui.

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Stranded tanker temporarily blocks Suez traffic

Traffic in Egypt’s Suez Canal was temporarily disrupted after an oil tanker ran aground in the waterway.

The 150,000-tonne tanker, flying the Maltese flag and traveling from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean, rammed the east bank of the canal after its navigation system broke down. No oil spillage was reported from the tanker, which has a double hull. After five hours, tugs managed to free the tanker and traffic was able to resume. The Suez Canal is Egypt’s third-largest source of revenue after tourism and remittances from expatriate workers and currently about 7.5 percent of global trade passes through the waterway.

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