Thar she blows!

Olivier Lambert, a Belgian scientist, has discovered a new species of whale, a prehistoric sperm whale. Unlike its modern cousin, this whale would prey on other whales.

"Leviathan melvillei, named after the Biblical sea monster and the author of Moby Dick, was a giant sperm whale that has just been discovered by Belgian scientist Olivier Lambert. At between 13.5 and 18.5 metres in length, it was no bigger than the modern sperm whale, but it was clearly far more formidable.

Today’s sperm whale has no functional teeth in its upper jaw and only small ones in its lower jaw (which are mostly used in fights). It feeds through suction, relying on a rush of water to carry its prey into its open mouth. But Leviathan’s mouth was full of huge teeth, the largest of which were a foot long and around 4 inches wide. This was no suction feeder! Leviathan clearly grabbed its prey with a powerful bite, inflicting deep wounds and tearing off flesh as killer whales do, but with a skull three times bigger."

Head over to Not Exactly Rocket Science to continue reading about these killer whales.

Chef Sues BP

Susan Spicer is suing BP on behalf of at least seven restaurant owners and seafood suppliers. BP must be held accountable, but does Spicer have a case?

"“I’m proud to be part of a resilient community,” she said. “I also feel strongly that [BP] needs to be held accountable for its negligence.”

Spicer is an icon in the food world. She’s been a Top Chef judge, a James Beard “Best Chef” winner and even inspired a character featured in the HBO’s seriesTreme, a drama about New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina."

Read the whole article here.

The New York Times answers your questions.

The facts, straight up. If you weren't mad at BP before, read this New York Times article and gain some insight into the severity of the situation. This is mandatory reading for everyone.

"Since the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico in April, killing 11 and setting off the biggest maritime oil spill in the nation’s history, questions about the potential dimensions of the disaster have only multiplied from week to week. Readers have been asking whether the oil can be contained, how serious the damage will be and what they can do to help."

What does BP's shareholders really care about?

Does BP's shareholders even considered the implications of the oil spill. It always comes down to money.

"Cameron is due to meet on Saturday with U.S. President Barack Obama on the sidelines of the G8/G20 summits in Canada. He has pledged to discuss BP with Obama, who has been highly critical of the company. British business and shareholder groups have clamored for Cameron to defend the company. "I think it is also in all our long-term interests that there is some clarity, some finality, to all of this, so that we don't at the same time see the destruction of a company that is important for all our interests," Cameron told Canadian broadcaster CBC."

Read the rest of the article.

Mid-Bay Marina in Destin, Florida

Here are some pictures a reader submitted from the Mid-Bay Marina in Destin, Florida. The 1,288-foot-long, 60-foot-high mural is courtesy of Wyland.

Check out his website for more great art.

Black Sand Beaches...?

Not quite... The Pensacola News Journal reports oil has made its way to the panhandle.

"For the first time since the Gulf of Mexico oil spill 65 days ago, emulsified oil in large patches stained the sugar-white sand on Pensacola Beach. Large numbers of tar balls continued to roll ashore.

A section of the Gulf along Pensacola Beach — but not the beach itself — was closed to swimming and wading after a health advisory was issued by the Escambia County Health Department."

Read on.

Share Your Stories

Are you currently volunteering to clean up BP's mess? Associated with a wildlife program or an environmental agency? We would love to hear some of your stories on any issue concerning our oceans. Comment or email us.

Panhandle Real Estate hit by the threat of Oil

The Herald Tribune posted an article about the falling real estate business due to the threat of oil. After facing a tough year, when the housing market bubble burst, now a new threat is looming offshore.

"Though most of the Gulf Coast remains free of tar balls, sheen and sludge from the spill in the Gulf of Mexico, owners and agents say the disaster has still stained a showcase piece of the real estate market.

It is the third sucker punch in six years for property owners, many of whom were depending on rental units to fund their retirement. State lawmakers are looking to let homeowners off the hook on some of their taxes, hoping to pass the cost along to BP.

But things will not get better as long as images of oiled sand keep buyers away."

Head over to The Herald Tribune to read the rest of the article.

Is BP burning sea turtles alive?

Fox New reports BP may get fined for up to $50,000 for harming or killing a critically endangered species.

"A boat captain working to rescue sea turtles in the Gulf of Mexico says he has seen BP ships burning sea turtles and other wildlife alive."

The FOX 13 report.

Asian Invasion

Non-native species can threaten the habitat of native species and even cause extinction or starving out of the species native to the are. The first Asian Carp has been found six mile from Lake Michigan.

"Scientists and fishermen fear that if the carp become established in the lakes, they could starve out popular sport species and ruin the region's $7 billion fishing industry Asian Carp can grow to 4 feet and 100 pounds and eat up to 40 percent of their body weight daily."

Read the rest of the article here.

Crisis on the half-shell

The Herald Tribune posted a great article on the effects of the oil spill has had on New Orleans' restaurant and oyster industry. How much more punishment can the city of New Orleans take?

"Though oysters are grown from the Long Island Sound to California's Humboldt Bay, industry officials estimate that 60 to 70 percent of the oysters eaten in the U.S. come from the Gulf. The Gulf oysters grow in submerged beds from Texas to Florida, with Louisiana accounting for more than half of the supply.

But Louisiana's oyster industry has been brought to a standstill since oil began gushing into the Gulf in April. Oyster beds have been closed -- mostly as a precaution -- and fishermen have been put on oil spill duty.
At stake is more than just a meal."

Read the rest of the article at The Herald Tribune.

National Wildlife Federation

Join the National Wildlife Federation's cause.

"Millions of gallons of oil have oozed into the water since the April 20th rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico. Some estimates calculate the oil flow to be up to 60,000 barrels of oil a day—that’s 2.5 million gallons of oil a day contaminating our waters and threatening wildlife and sensitive habitats!

And we still don’t know when it will stop."

Link to NWF's donation page. Join them on facebook.

Volunteer to Clean Up

Tonic has posted a great list of volunteer opportunities.

"The images and cries of oil-covered birds have been heartbreaking. As feared, the millions of gallons of crude oil that have gushed into the Gulf of Mexico since a BP oil rig explosion in April is washing up on the shores of Florida, Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi. Wildlife and conservation groups warn that the ever-widening slick could pose complete disaster for the shoreline flora and fauna, and volunteers are urgently needed to help."

Head over to Tonic for the full article and list.

For opportunities in your state contact the following:

Volunteer Louisiana
Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service
Volunteer Florida
211 Connects Alabama

More scenes from the Gulf of Mexico

Pictures via www.boston.com

Scenes from the Gulf of Mexico

Pictures via www.boston.com