Japan.

First manta ray born in captivity dies. The first manta ray born in captivity died just four days after its birth, officials at Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium have revealed. The cause of death was probably its abusive father who constantly chased and slammed into the juvenile. The juvenile, a female was born larger than most adult humans at 6 feet (1.9 metres) across. Her mother has a wingspan of nearly 14 feet (4.2 metres). According to the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium in southern Japan, the juvenile was born after 374 days of gestation.

Ecuador
Sea shepherd sting leads to seizure of over 18,000 shark fins

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and members of the Ecuadorian Environmental Police seized a total of 18,673 shark fins and arrested four suspects. “This successful sting is the result of several months working covertly with the cooperation of General Bolivar Cisneros, Chief Commander of the Ecuadorian National Police," said Sea Shepherd Galapagos Director Sean O'Hearn-Gimenez. "Sea Shepherd traced potential exit points in the illegal shark fin trade that occurs in the Galapagos Islands and Ecuador.”The fins seized were found on two different buses and those either travelling with them or picking them up were arrested. The fins had a street value of over USD$140,000 and Sea Shepherd will oversee the incineration of the fins.  

Philippines
3,500 artificial reef domes placed off GenSan

Over 3,500 artificial reef domes have been submerged in parts of Sarangani Bay, General Santos City,  Mindanao Island, to protect it, the project has taken two years.The Sarangani Bay Divers are happy that their project has gained the support of other private and public groups.The group’s spokesman Christopher Dearne said that the Project Aware Foundation provided 900 Australian dollars and the Philippine Ports Authority funded 100 domes for the project.The artificial reef dome project started April 1, 2005 at Maharlika Beach resort. Dearne said that they expect the project to be completed by the end of this year, having deployed 5,000 domes in three years. The project cost less than US$20,000, or US$4 for each dome.  

US Virgin birth

A female hammerhead shark in an aquarium has given birth without access to a male. Tests show that the offspring does not have any paternal DNA. The method of reproduction is known as parthenogenesis where the egg divides without being fertilised.  

Middle East
Bridge turned down

Plans to construct a ‘pilgrim bridge’ across the Red Sea’s Strait of Tiran between Sharm el Sheikh and Saudi Arabia have been shelved because of the likely damage to the environment.  

Egypt
Egypt stops the export of reef fish to Europe

The environmental group HEPCA have managed to persuade Egypt’s Ministry of Agriculture to make a U-turn on its decision to allow the collection of reef fish for export to Europe.