The next PNWMAS meeting is being hosted by the Hatfield Marine Science Center and we are looking forward to welcoming new members as well as returning members and their generosity. As the Russian author Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn once said, talent is always aware of its abundance and does not object to sharing. We are pleased to announce that we have made our public interest registry tool available for PNWMAS members to use in their everyday work.
HMSC to host next PNWMAS meeting
The Hatfield Marine Science Center is excited to host the next PNWMAS meeting, and we look forward to meeting PNWMAS members and returning members. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn once said that talent is constantly aware of its abundance and does not object to sharing it. That is certainly true for this meeting. The event is sure to be a hit. Here are a few reasons why.
PNWMAS official public interest registry tool
The Pacific Northwest Marine Aquarium Society is launching the PNWMAS official public interest registry tool to help users rate aquariums. This tool rates aquariums on several criteria including educational content, safety and accessibility. The new PAR tool is available for both free and paid accounts. It is also designed to help visitors learn about aquariums and make the decision of whether to visit a particular location more easy. The tool is available online for anyone to use, so anyone can rate any aquarium they find interesting.
The Public Interest Registry is a nonprofit corporation that has a duty to act in the public interest. As such, they believe that domain registrants should have due process. The registry is required by law to lock domains if a court order has been issued against them. If the domains are locked, the registrant must go through a court order before being able to register again. The PNWMAS official public interest registry tool helps users protect their personal information.
The Internet Society was facing financial difficulties when it launched the Public Interest Registry. They renegotiated an agreement with Afilias to manage registrations, but the deal fell through. In response, the Internet Society reorganized its governance and membership, and decided to establish the PNWMAS public interest registry. The registry has more than two million domains. However, it is still working out the details of how this tool works.
Members reduce collection pressure on natural reefs
Many factors contribute to the destruction of coral reefs, but the most significant factor is human-induced pollution. In some cases, urban or industrial pollution enters coastal areas through rivers and discharge pipes. One 1998 report found no sewage treatment facilities in the major coastal cities. Additionally, agricultural development adds an increasing amount of nutrients and chemicals to the environment. These impacts are widespread, as the Spermonde Archipelago illustrates.
Luckily, PNWMAS members are generous enough to donate species and frags of coral to the Hatfield Marine Science Center. Members’ generous donations were so valuable that they fetched a respectable price at retail outlets. Putting a dollar value on these donated pieces is not entirely ethical, but it does indicate that the PNWMAS is helping to reduce collection pressure on natural reefs.
