More than half of ships involved in the 100 largest oil spills of the past three decades were registered in states that consistently fail to comply with international safety and environmental standards, UBC researchers have determined.
The research also found one-third of the current global oil tanker fleet are flying the flags of states with poor marine safety records—what they term “flags of non-compliance.”
“Vessels flying flags of non-compliance create more problems than the rest of the global fleet,” observes Rashid Sumaila, co-author of the study and director of UBC’s Fisheries Economics Research Unit (FERU). “We think the best thing to do is to put pressure on flag states to ensure that anyone who uses their flag conforms to the regulations.”
Lead author Dana Miller, a FERU post-doctoral fellow, notes that ship owners often register with foreign states for cost-cutting reasons.
“International law says there should be a genuine link between the nationality of the vessel owner and the flag the vessel is flying, but that is not necessarily always the case,” Miller explains. “Just because a vessel owner is using a foreign flag doesn’t mean they are irresponsible, but there is recognition by the international community that there are some flag states that are just doing a terrible job. Some would argue that if we don’t get rid of the system of flags of convenience, the problem will always persist.”
To obtain their results, the researchers consulted data gathered by the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation; the Information Handling Services Sea-web global database; inspection reports from the United States Coast Guard’s annual targeted flag list and seven regional Memoranda of Understanding on Port State Control.
Tags: Dana Miller, faculty, FERU, IOF postdoctoral fellows, ocean ecology, oil spills, Rashid Sumaila
Posted in 2014, IOFNews, News Release | Tagged with Dana Miller, faculty, FERU, IOF postdoctoral fellows, ocean ecology, oil spills, Rashid Sumaila
Large numbers of fish will disappear from the tropics by 2050, finds a new University of British Columbia study that examined the impact of climate change on fish stocks. The study identified ocean hotspots for local fish extinction but also found that changing temperatures will drive more fish into the Arctic and Antarctic waters.
Using the same climate change scenarios as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, researchers projected a large-scale shift of marine fish and invertebrates. In the worst-case scenario, where the Earth’s oceans warm by three degrees Celsius by 2100, fish could move away from their current habitats at a rate of 26 kilometres per decade. Under the best-case scenario, where the Earth ocean warms by one degree Celsius, fish would move 15 kilometres every decade. This is consistent with changes in the last few decades.
William Cheung
“The tropics will be the overall losers,” says William Cheung, associate professor at the UBC Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries and co-author of this study, published today in
ICES Journal of Marine Science. “This area has a high dependence on fish for food, diet and nutrition. We’ll see a loss of fish populations that are important to the fisheries and communities in these regions.”
Cheung and his colleague used modeling to predict how 802 commercially important species of fish and invertebrates react to warming water temperatures, other changing ocean properties, and new habitats opening up at the poles.
“As fish move to cooler waters, this generates new opportunities for fisheries in the Arctic,” says Miranda Jones, a UBC Nereus Fellow and lead author of this study. “On the other hand it means it could disrupt the species that live there now and increase competition for resources.”
This study follows previous research that looked at change in fisheries catch in relation to ocean warming since 1970.
Tags: Antarctic, Arctic, climate change, IOF postdoctoral fellows, Nereus Program, ocean ecology, William Cheung
Posted in 2014, IOFNews, News Release | Tagged with Antarctic, Arctic, climate change, IOF postdoctoral fellows, Nereus Program, ocean ecology, William Cheung
For scientific work relating to environmental problems.
The Miroslaw Romanowski Medal was established in 1994, at the generous bequest of the estate of internationally renowned metrologist Miroslaw Romanowski.
The medal is awarded for significant contributions to the resolution of scientific aspects of environmental problems or for important improvements to the quality of an ecosystem in all aspects – terrestrial, atmospheric and aqueous – brought about by scientific means. The bronze medal and a cash amount of $3,000 are awarded every year if there is a suitable candidate. An annual lecture series for the award recipient is also associated to the medal.
Nomination package:
- RSC Nomination form
- Primary Nominator letter. Nominator MUST be a RSC member or institutional member (president/CEO of university/organisation)
- Co-nominator letters (2). Nominators do not have to be RSC Fellows
- Citation (70 words)
- Detailed appraisal (1200 words)
- Referee letters (max 750 words) + biographical sketches (approx. 250 words)
- CV (maximum 20 pages)
Special notes:
- Candidates cannot apply on their own behalf.
- Candidates shall be Canadian citizens or have had status for at least three years as Canadian Permanent Residents at the time of their nomination.
- The packages MUST be created and submitted in a specific manner or they are automatically rejected. Ensure that submission follows the instructional guide EXACTLY.
Deadline: After the March 2025 competition, RSC will be moving the deadline for its Medals and Awards to December to align with the membership nomination deadline.
More information
Previous Winners
Rashid Sumaila (2022)
Posted in Award opportunities, December | Tagged with
For important contributions of knowledge in multiple domains.
The Sir John William Dawson Medal was established in 1985 by the RSC to honour the man who was its first President (1882-1883) and who was the foremost Canadian scientist and educator of his day: geologist, naturalist, teacher, author, man of religion, educational administrator and promoter of learning. The medal was endowed by McGill Graduates Society (founded by Sir William in 1857), the Henry Birks Foundation and the RSC itself, with contributions from Fellows, and staff and friends from McGill, to commemorate his term as Principal and to honour “the man who built McGill”.
To commemorate Dawson’s great versatility, the award is made for important and sustained contributions in two domains of interest to the RSC or in interdisciplinary research. The silver medal is awarded every two years if there is a suitable candidate.
Nomination package:
- RSC Nomination form
- Primary Nominator letter. Nominator MUST be a RSC member or institutional member (president/CEO ofuniversity/organisation)
- Co-nominator letters (2). Nominators do not have to be RSC Fellows
- Citation (70 words)
- Detailed appraisal (1200 words)
- Referee letters (max 750 words) + biographical sketches (approx. 250 words)
- CV (maximum 20 pages)
Special notes:
- Candidates cannot apply on their own behalf.
- Candidates shall be Canadian citizens or have had status for at least three years as Canadian Permanent Residents at the time of their nomination.
- The packages MUST be created and submitted in a specific manner or they are automatically rejected. Ensure that submission follows the instructional guide EXACTLY.
Deadline: After the March 2025 competition, RSC will be moving the deadline for its Medals and Awards to December to align with the membership nomination deadline. .
More information
Past IOF winners
Dr. Daniel Pauly (2017)
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Launched by the King Faisal Foundation (KFF) and granted for the first time in 1979, the King Faisal International Prize (KFIP) recognizes the outstanding works of individuals and institutions in five major categories: Service to Islam, Islamic Studies, Arabic Language and Literature, Medicine, and Science. Its aim is to benefit Muslims in their present and future, inspire them to participate in all aspects of civilization, as well as enrich human knowledge and develop mankind. KFIP winners are evaluated only based on merit and their works are meticulously examined by specialized selection committees. The strict selection procedure meets international standards, and many of the laureates who have been awarded the prize went on to receive other prestigious prizes, such as the Nobel Prize.
Science category
The Science subcategories cover a broad scope alternating between physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics.
Prizes for Science were added in 1982 and first awarded in 1984.
One is considered qualified to win the King Faisal International Prize for Science if they have carried out and published an original scientific research on the prize’s topic, with major benefits to humanity, and meeting one or more of the prize’s objectives as determined by the respective Selection Committee.
Requirements
- An official letter of nomination for each nominee separately, adequately justifying the nomination and outlining the nominee’s achievements in the field of the prize.
- A list of nominated works.
- A general information form to be filled by the nominee; this form can be duplicated if more than one candidate is nominated.
- A CV with a list of the nominee’s publications.
- A letter of commitment to present two lectures in his/her field of specialization, at academic institutions in the event s/he is awarded the prize.
- A copy of each nominated paper; the total number of nominated papers should not exceed ten (10).
- A copy of each nominated book and/or book chapters; the total number of nominated books and/or book chapters should not exceed five (5). The book’s title cover should be appended with each nominated book chapter.
- A recent colour photo of the nominee.
Award
- A certificate written in Arabic calligraphy featuring the laureate’s name with a brief description of the work for which s/he is awarded the Prize.
- A commemorative 24-carat, 200-gram gold medallion.
- A sum of SR 750,000 (US$ 200,000).
Deadline: Usually end of March
More information
Posted in Award opportunities, March | Tagged with
This medal is offered for outstanding research in the solid earth sciences and a second in the ocean and atmospheric sciences, if suitably worthy candidates are nominated
Twelve friends of Willet G. Miller (1867-1925), FRSC, a distinguished geologist and a guiding force in the development of the Ontario mining industry, subscribed funds in 1941 to provide the Willet G. Miller Medal for geology.
Nomination package:
- RSC Nomination form
- Primary Nominator letter. Nominator MUST be a RSC member or institutional member (president/CEO ofuniversity/organisation)
- Co-nominator letters (2). Nominators do not have to be RSC Fellows
- Citation (70 words)
- Detailed appraisal (1200 words)
- Referee letters (max 750 words) + biographical sketches (approx. 250 words)
- CV (maximum 20 pages)
Special notes:
- Candidates cannot apply on their own behalf.
- Candidates shall be Canadian citizens or have had status for at least three years as Canadian Permanent Residents at the time of their nomination.
- The packages MUST be created and submitted in a specific manner or they are automatically rejected. Ensure that submission follow the instructional guide EXACTLY.
Deadline: Usually mid-March
More information
Posted in March | Tagged with