Seaside, Oregon - A group of kids from Oregon City brought in a Spotted Ratfish Saturday, which they had found on the southern cove area of Seaside, still alive. It.s a rare find for something that washes up alive, and the Seaside Aquarium now boasts another strange fish in its possession . one that normally lives rather deep in the ocean, and hardly ever shows up on land. The spotted ratfish.s technical name is Hydrolagus colliei, and is named a ratfish for its rat-like appearance. It is sometimes called a rabbit fish because of the visual similarity there as well. It exists between SE Alaska and Baha, California, normally living at depths of 3,000 feet, although it is found in shallower waters off the Oregon coast, at around 15 feet to 65 feet. 06/02/07

Ventura County, California - US engineers want to build their first successful artificial "surf reef" at a site known as Oil Piers, an accidentally created surfing hot spot that disappeared when a pier was demolished in 1998. Surfers hope the project will revive the waves at what had been one of the most reliable surf spots on a strikingly picturesque stretch of the Southern California coast. Environmentalists say the reef is needed to stop massive erosion eating away at the beach. The US$4 million (EUR 3 million) project is being proposed by BEACON, or Beach Erosion and Clean Ocean Nourishment, a coalition comprising Santa Barbara and Ventura city and county officials. Under the plan, the Army Corps of Engineers would use 700,000 pounds (317,500 kilograms) of synthetic tubes filled with water and sand to build a submerged reef at just the right angle to create waves. It would be 50 feet (15 meters) wide and 140 feet (43 meters) long. 04/23/07

Myrtle Beach, NC - will be hosting a Blues & Jazz Festival on Saturday: Noon-5:30 p.m. Saturday at LaBelle Amie Vineyard, corner of S.C. 90 and St. Joseph Road, just outside of North Myrtle Beach. Music by Jazz, ETC, with Herbert Riley, Tamir and Bobby Davis and The Myrtle Beach All-Stars Blues Band, featuring Jerry Van, Michael Stallings, George Davis, Rick Mariner and Michael James. Also a special appearance by Donnie and Susan Trexler. Festival admission is $8 and includes vineyard access, parking, music, a vineyard tour at 3 p.m., wine sampling and access to the gift shop. Bring a lawn chair. No coolers, food, beverages or pets allowed at festival events. Details: (843) 399-9463. 04/20/07

St. Johns County Beach, FL -- The 42-mile stretch of coastline in St. Johns County is facing several big rule changes as part of the county's new Habitat Conservation Plan. The biggest change beachgoers will see deals with driving on the beach. Beach driving currently lasts until 10 p.m., but the change will mean no one can drive on St. Johns County beaches after 8 p.m. Most of the changes will take place May 1st. 04/04/07

Durban beaches, South Africa - A massive operation is expected to begin today to clean up the promenade at much of Durban's Golden Mile which lies under sand washed far ashore by giant waves powered by Cyclone Gamede at the weekend. The cyclone devastated parts of Mozambique last week. The cyclone created swells reaching 3.5m along the coast. 03/05/07

Delaware Beaches, Delaware - In the past week and a half, more than 10 seals have come ashore on Delaware's beaches. If you see a seal, stay at least 100 feet away and report the animal to the Marine Education Research and Rehabilitation Institute. Gray seals, harbor seals and hooded seals swim in Delaware's waters, but harp seals are the most common. Most of the seals come in search of food from Canada or Maine. 03/01/07

Huntington Beach, California - The Western Surfing Association is heading to the South Side of the Huntington Beach Pier, for the ninth stop on the WSA Hobie Championship Tour, Sunday, March 4. This is a one-day event.

Queensland Beaches, Australia - Beach goers are being urged to swim between the flags as king tides hit southeast Queensland beaches this weekend. The worst tidal movements will be on Sunday, with a difference between high and low tides of more than 2.2 metres. On Sunday, high tide is expected to be 2.59 metres at 11.12am (AEST) and the low tide forecast to be 0.39 metres at 5.57pm (AEST). 01/20/07

Walton County Beaches, FL - The Walton County Commission has approved a new beach restoration project along 12.9 miles of beach in Walton County. Beaches in the 12.9 miles include Blue Mountain Beach, Dune Allen Beach, Inlet Beach, Seagrove Beach (old part). The project is estimated to cost $50-$60 million and will begin in 2008 if all goes well. 01/12/07

Matarangi Beach, New Zealand - Matarangi Beach will resound with the roar of Thundercat racing boats this Sunday as round two of the national surfcross competition gets underway at the popular Coromandel Peninsular beach. Thundercat racing is a high adrenalin, high action sport featuring tight competitive surf racing in tunnel hulled inflatable boats. The two person crews use their own body weight to stabilise the craft and achieve optimum speed. Matarangi is the second stop in a three leg national surfcross series which began at Whangamata and will conclude at Lyall Bay in Wellington on January 20. 01/04/07