NEWS FROM ABOUT: Compiled by J. Dan McAskill'.

A concentration of 130 Atlantic Bottlenose Whales are being studied in an undersea canyon on the edge of the Scotian Shelf near Sable Island. The visiting population has remained constant for over 10 years despite a 10% annual mortality. Transmitters attached to their tails by Hal Whitehead revealed that this species often dives to 1,000 m with the deepest dive recorded being 1,450 m. Analysis of stomach contents on stranded specimens revealed the presence of squid (Griatus) which weigh about 180 gm. and are found at 1,000 m in depth. Concern has been expressed over the noise and chemical pollution arising from exploration and development of oil and gas resources. (adapted from a Stephanie Robertson article in The Halifax Field Naturalist #98)

The first species at risk list for P.E.I. was recently released by the Atlantic Canada Conservation Data Centre, Island Nature Trust, the provincial government and experts from around the Maritimes. The list contained 1,005 plants, 347 birds, 36 mammals, 25 freshwater fish and 13 amphibians and reptiles ranked from secure to extremely rare. In the extremely rare category, 2 mammal, ll bird, 1 fish and 173 plant species were listed. These lists will help the government implement the endangered species provisions of the Wildlife Conservation Act.

(The Guardian, pg. A3, May 2, 2000)[Adapted from P.E.I. EN April May]

The Island Nature Trust is renaming its annual conservation award to honour our late premier and recipient of the award, J. Angus MacLean. The Hon. J. Angus MacLean Natural Areas award was presented to two Islanders at the 2000 annual general meeting of the INT on May 10th. (The Guardian, pg. A4, May 3, 2000)

President Clinton unveiled a new plan to protect America‘s ocean wildlife. This orders creation of a National System of Marine Protected Areas. At the start of the Memorial Day weekend, President Clinton announced what could become the most sweeping protections for marine waters in US history. In response to growing calls from scientists and conservationists, the President ordered federal agencies to establish a comprehensive national system of marine protected areas throughout US marine waters to protect sea life from a growing list of human-caused threats. Marine protected areas (MPAs) are areas of the ocean and coast that are protected from some or all human activities to conserve biodiversity, fisheries, cultural and recreational resources, and to provide valuable natural laboratories for scientific research. Currently, less than 0.1% of US marine waters are fully protected fiom harm. The Executive Order calls for each federal agency with management authority in marine waters-such as the Departments of Commerce and the Interior to establish new MPAs that contribute to a scientifically based, comprehensive national system of MPAs representing the diversity of ecosystems in US waters. This Executive Order requires federal agencies to complete a biological assessment of the minimum amount of area that should be fully protected from consumptive uses to adequately conserve different habitat types throughout US waters. (To view a fact sheet on imperiled marine life and the Call for Presidential Action on marine protected areas from marine scientists to President Clinton and Vice President Gore, go to http://wwwmcbiorg )[Adapted fiom a mcbi E-mail by Charlene Kingsley of the Marine Conservation Biology Institute dated May 26, 2000 forwarded by I. Novaczek] .

There are differences in the capability of particular bird census methods to address certain conservation questions. This need to address particular questions, led to the development of the Canadian Landbird Monitoring Strategy. This document provides an action plan for long-term monitoring of Canada‘s landbirds and selected waterbirds to help guide data collection efforts by improving the coverage, quality and analysis of monitoring data. This document is available on-line at http://199.212.18.79/birds/clms.html

Thanks to an initiative by Compaq computers, TrailPAQ is compiling and rating hiking trails across Canada. A team led by Andrew Ings is scouring the trails of Prince Edward Island to deliver this project to the national body. You can see what they're up to by visiting their web site at http://www.trailpaq.com