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