Free Republic

A rare “dinosaur fish,” once believed to have disappeared 70 million years ago, has been filmed in the wild by divers in the Indonesian archipelago. The Indonesian coelacanth (Latimeria menadoensis) was captured on camera in its natural habitat, marking a breakthrough for marine exploration. The discovery was made in October 2024 during a deep-sea mission led by Alexis Chappuis of UNSEEN Expeditions. Using special breathing equipment, Chappuis and fellow diver Alexandre Leblond descended to 152 meters along a volcanic slope in the Maluku Islands, where they spotted the elusive creature at a depth of 144 meters. Long-lost species returned to...

EXCLUSIVE: A top DOGE leader in the Senate is trying to reel in a massive federal grant from a nonprofit focused on promoting fishing, boating and outdoors that she alleges is being used to pad executive salaries, a characterization the organization rejected. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, and her colleagues have been scouring federal grants for appearances of waste, fraud or abuse of taxpayer funds, and came upon a $27 million grant to the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF). More than $26 million of the grant had been paid out, and long-term figures showed RBFF received $164 million in funding...

Could introducing seafood to kids early on be the key to sociability? In a nutshell Children who ate the recommended amount of seafood (two servings weekly) showed better prosocial behavior—they were more helpful, sharing, and considerate toward others. Not eating any seafood at age 7 increased the risk of poor prosocial behavior by 35% at age 7 and 43% by age 9, compared to children who ate recommended amounts. The beneficial nutrients in seafood, including omega-3 fatty acids, iodine, and selenium, may contribute to brain development in ways that specifically support social behavior rather than cognitive abilities like IQ. =========================================================================================...

The sprawling estuary about 70 miles inland from San Francisco feels distinctly out of place — more like the swampy Florida Everglades than arid California. But from that confluence of two great rivers, the Sacramento and the San Joaquin, 1,100 miles of webbed waterways and levees send upward of six million acre-feet of freshwater a year to thirstier parts of the state, from farms in the San Joaquin Valley to the Southern California megalopolis. Known as the California Delta, the estuary is among the state’s most important sources of water — and most consistent flash points over environmental protection. Donald...

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:Section 1. Purpose. The production of timber, lumber, paper, bioenergy, and other wood products (timber production) is critical to our Nation’s well-being. Timber production is essential for crucial human activities like construction and energy production. Furthermore, as recent disasters demonstrate, forest management and wildfire risk reduction projects can save American lives and communities.The United States has an abundance of timber resources that are more than adequate to meet our domestic timber production needs, but heavy-handed Federal policies...

A high dietary intake of lean and oily fish may slow the progression of disability in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), suggests a comparative population-based study. The anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties of the nutrients found in fish may be key, say the researchers. All participants provided information on environmental exposures and lifestyle habits. Their disease progression, measured using the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), was tracked for up to 15 years through the Swedish MS Registry. The highest fish consumption at diagnosis was associated with a 44% lower risk of confirmed disability worsening as well as a 45% lower risk...

errifying footage captured the moment a massive fish chomped its jaws down on the head of a woman dressed as a mermaid as she performed underwater for children at a Chinese aquarium. The Russian aquatic artist, identified only as Masha, was swimming in a tank at the Xishuangbanna Primitive Forest Park in southern China on Tuesday when she swam in the path of the beast, according to The Daily Mail. The fish bites down on Masha, 22, nearly fitting her whole head in its mouth while children and other spectators yell in horror... Masha claims her employer forced her back...

The following is a press release issued by the Center for Biological Diversity: ....In response to a 2012 petition by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to protect the Clear Lake hitch — a large minnow found only in Northern California’s Clear Lake and its tributaries — as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.

In a breakthrough for marine science, researchers have recorded the largest predation event ever observed. Captured off Norway’s coast, this monumental feeding frenzy saw around 2.5 million Atlantic cod devouring more than 10 million capelin within a matter of hours. According to Oceanographic, this rare predation was documented by a team of Norwegian and MIT scientists, who used advanced underwater acoustic technology, specifically the Ocean Acoustic Waveguide Remote Sensing (OAWRS) system. “This is happening over a monstrous scale,” explained MIT ocean engineer Nicholas Makris. By sending sound waves that reflect off fish, the team created a real-time map of the...

Americans consume about 6.3 billion pounds of seafood each year, making the United States the second largest consumer of seafood in the world after China, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Whether enjoyed at home or eaten with family and friends while out, fish is a tasty, healthy protein that can be served in countless ways.

A new study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution lifts the veil on what happens when octopuses and fish hunt together. As it turns out, this cross-species relationship is more complex than anyone expected. Animals of the same species often cooperate—work together to reach some kind of goal. But it's relatively rare to find cooperation between individuals from different species. A classic example you'll be familiar with is the close relationship between dogs and humans, whether in the context of herding sheep or hunting. In these situations, the dog and the human work together to achieve a goal. That's mammals....

A new study has found evidence linking the intake of small fish, eaten whole, with a reduced risk of all-cause and cancer mortality in Japanese women. The study highlights the potential life-extending benefits of habitually eating small fish. Japanese people habitually eat small fish, such as whitebait, Atlantic capelin, Japanese smelt, and small dried sardines. Importantly, it is common practice to consume small fish whole, including the head, bones, and organs, which are rich in micronutrients, such as calcium and vitamin A. The research team investigated the association between the intake of small fish and mortality risk among Japanese people....

...A large number of young hatchery-raised salmon that were released into the Klamath River recently were killed when they passed through a tunnel near the base of the Iron Gate Dam on the river...

California, which is in a state of perpetually self-inflicted drought, restricts all sorts of practical water solutions based they would hurt some living creature somewhere. (People, especially farmers, don’t count.) And along the way the state decided to demolish a dam to help some salmon. The destruction was celebrated by environmentalists and rubber-stamped by the media. Native American tribes, environmentalists and state officials have been big advocates for this dam removal. Governor Gavin Newsom announced “California’s Salmon Strategy for a Hotter, Drier Future” in hopes of restoring salmon populations in the state. The governor lists his six priorities: removing barriers...

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a man who was seen taking a 50-pound live fish from a Bass Pro Shops on Wednesday evening, according to the sheriff’s office.

Researchers have identified an amino acid that may play a key role in predicting poor clinical outcomes and the treatment of long COVID. In research, the team says it has developed a predictive test to determine which patients with COVID-19 will go on to develop longer-term symptoms and proposes a clinical trial of an already-approved supplement as a potential treatment. "This research helps us understand what's happening in the bodies of people with long COVID and could lead to better treatments," says Gavin Oudit. The team followed 117 patients who were admitted to hospital with acute COVID-19, taking blood samples...

The Uyghurs Forced to Process the World’s Fish (Can't be posted, per FR rules.)

More than 100 dolphins died in Brazil last week, and a local governor has declared a state of emergency as experts say additional deaths could be expected. The Brazilian Amazon continues to grapple with a severe drought. Experts say the most likely cause of the deaths in the lakes were high water temperatures, as temperatures have exceeded 102 degrees Fahrenheit in the Tefe Lake region. The Mamiraua Institute, a research group of Brazil’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, said additional dolphins were found Monday. Local media has reported thousands of fish have also died at Tefe Lake, which is...

Research led by Nicolas Bazan, MD, Ph.D. suggests that age-related macular degeneration (AMD) decreases an essential fatty acid, preventing the formation of a class of protective molecules and reducing repair potential. The discovery may also open new therapeutic avenues for AMD. The study shows that AMD decreases peripheral retinal docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) 22:6 in rod photoreceptor cells, limiting the elongation of fatty acids to form very-long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (VLC-PUFAs). VLC-PUFAs are precursors of elovanoids, bioactive chemical messengers made from omega-3 very- long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Elovanoids, discovered by the Bazan lab, have been shown to restore the structure and...

There’s a warning about a dangerous bacteria that might have infected a local woman who’s still recovering after nearly two months in the hospital. An online fundraising effort says she contracted the bacterial infection after eating fish and is now a quadruple amputee. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently issued a warning about a bacterial infection that people can get by eating raw or undercooked fish or by exposing an open wound to coastal waters. A friend tells us this San Jose woman likely got this specific infection after eating undercooked tilapia. A San Jose mother’s life...