1) A group of finback whales were spotted interacting off the coast of Long Beach, with a biologist interpreting their behavior as flirtatious.
2) Cargo ships pose a serious threat to whales in the busy shipping lanes off Southern California, with several whales already killed via collisions this season.
3) An environmental group has sued to require ships to slow down to 10 mph when passing through areas with migrating whales, in an effort to reduce the risk of deadly collisions.
This document summarizes a meeting to discuss protecting wild brook trout populations in Rhode Island. It outlines the decline of brook trout populations due to threats like degraded habitat and introduced species. It proposes establishing an experimental management area in the upper Wood River watershed to protect brook trout by restricting fishing methods and ending stocking of non-native trout. Public opinion surveys and existing trout conservation models in other states support this approach. Protecting brook trout could also provide economic benefits from increased tourism. Action is needed to prevent brook trout from becoming further endangered in Rhode Island.
The document analyzes the impacts of drift gillnet fishing off the California coast. It finds that the fishery produces high rates of bycatch, catching over 17,000 marine animals from 2005-2015 while only keeping around 11,000. Though the size of the fishery and rates of bycatch have decreased in recent years, 30% bycatch is still considered high. Data from National Observer Program reports show the fishery catches many species of concern, including endangered whales, sea turtles, sharks and dolphins. While regulations have aimed to reduce impacts, conflicts remain due to the fishery's threats to biodiversity and protected species.
This document discusses the importance of the global ocean. It covers three main points:
1. The ocean covers over 70% of Earth's surface and is critical to regulating the planet's climate and supplying oxygen. It holds most of the world's biodiversity.
2. However, the ocean is under increasing pressure from threats like overfishing, pollution, and habitat loss. Overfishing has reduced fish stocks significantly and is putting food security at risk.
3. Some positive efforts to promote sustainable ocean management are highlighted, such as marine protected areas, bycatch reduction programs, and initiatives to recognize sustainable seafood practices. However, more urgent action is still needed to reverse ocean degradation.
Overfishing in the Gulf of California has led to the depletion of many fish populations and disruption of the marine ecosystem. The gulf supports over 700 species of fish and is an important food and economic source for nearly 6 million people. However, unsustainable fishing practices like catching too many adult fish and excessive bycatch have reduced fish populations by 52-90% in many areas of the gulf. This overfishing threatens the livelihoods of coastal communities and the health of the ecosystem. Stronger enforcement of fishing regulations and monitoring is needed to promote sustainable fishing and protect the Gulf of California.
This document discusses marine ecosystems and overfishing. It outlines the trophic levels in marine food webs, with top predators including sharks and tuna. Many fisheries are overexploited due to new technologies and fishing practices. This fishing down of food webs threatens biodiversity as it removes large predators and disrupt natural population controls. Bycatch from trawling and longlining is a major issue, with tens of millions of sharks caught annually. Ghost fishing from lost or abandoned gear also negatively impacts ecosystems.
This Is a Useful PDF describing various Fishing informatio, fishing terminology and fishing techniques, which will hopefully make it easier for yyour hatteras fishing experience!
http://hatterasfishingreport.com/
Important fish migrations take place in the Lower Mekong River of Southern Lao PDR during the dry and wet season months. The riparian communities are aware of these movements and target a large number of species using a wide range of fishing gear. The objectives of the research were to identify the main migratory species, the timing, fish production, direction, purpose, main influencing factors and the change in magnitude of migration between years. Research into the wet-season movements has been carried out from 2007 to 2013 in one rocky channel (Hoo Som Yai) at the Great Fault Line (Khong district) with supported by Fisheries Program of Mekong River Commision (MRC). The Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) data were recorded directly from fishers operating the Lee traps and measured water flow in Hoo Som Yai from late May to the end of September each year. The data were collected in wet season from 2007 to 2013 showed the main wet season migrants come from the families, Pangasidae, Siluridae catfish and Cyprinidae. The white fish were the dominant species that passed to this channel and follow by grey fish. A few black fish were also captured.
This document summarizes a meeting to discuss protecting wild brook trout populations in Rhode Island. It outlines the decline of brook trout populations due to threats like degraded habitat and introduced species. It proposes establishing an experimental management area in the upper Wood River watershed to protect brook trout by restricting fishing methods and ending stocking of non-native trout. Public opinion surveys and existing trout conservation models in other states support this approach. Protecting brook trout could also provide economic benefits from increased tourism. Action is needed to prevent brook trout from becoming further endangered in Rhode Island.
The document analyzes the impacts of drift gillnet fishing off the California coast. It finds that the fishery produces high rates of bycatch, catching over 17,000 marine animals from 2005-2015 while only keeping around 11,000. Though the size of the fishery and rates of bycatch have decreased in recent years, 30% bycatch is still considered high. Data from National Observer Program reports show the fishery catches many species of concern, including endangered whales, sea turtles, sharks and dolphins. While regulations have aimed to reduce impacts, conflicts remain due to the fishery's threats to biodiversity and protected species.
This document discusses the importance of the global ocean. It covers three main points:
1. The ocean covers over 70% of Earth's surface and is critical to regulating the planet's climate and supplying oxygen. It holds most of the world's biodiversity.
2. However, the ocean is under increasing pressure from threats like overfishing, pollution, and habitat loss. Overfishing has reduced fish stocks significantly and is putting food security at risk.
3. Some positive efforts to promote sustainable ocean management are highlighted, such as marine protected areas, bycatch reduction programs, and initiatives to recognize sustainable seafood practices. However, more urgent action is still needed to reverse ocean degradation.
Overfishing in the Gulf of California has led to the depletion of many fish populations and disruption of the marine ecosystem. The gulf supports over 700 species of fish and is an important food and economic source for nearly 6 million people. However, unsustainable fishing practices like catching too many adult fish and excessive bycatch have reduced fish populations by 52-90% in many areas of the gulf. This overfishing threatens the livelihoods of coastal communities and the health of the ecosystem. Stronger enforcement of fishing regulations and monitoring is needed to promote sustainable fishing and protect the Gulf of California.
This document discusses marine ecosystems and overfishing. It outlines the trophic levels in marine food webs, with top predators including sharks and tuna. Many fisheries are overexploited due to new technologies and fishing practices. This fishing down of food webs threatens biodiversity as it removes large predators and disrupt natural population controls. Bycatch from trawling and longlining is a major issue, with tens of millions of sharks caught annually. Ghost fishing from lost or abandoned gear also negatively impacts ecosystems.
This Is a Useful PDF describing various Fishing informatio, fishing terminology and fishing techniques, which will hopefully make it easier for yyour hatteras fishing experience!
http://hatterasfishingreport.com/
Important fish migrations take place in the Lower Mekong River of Southern Lao PDR during the dry and wet season months. The riparian communities are aware of these movements and target a large number of species using a wide range of fishing gear. The objectives of the research were to identify the main migratory species, the timing, fish production, direction, purpose, main influencing factors and the change in magnitude of migration between years. Research into the wet-season movements has been carried out from 2007 to 2013 in one rocky channel (Hoo Som Yai) at the Great Fault Line (Khong district) with supported by Fisheries Program of Mekong River Commision (MRC). The Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) data were recorded directly from fishers operating the Lee traps and measured water flow in Hoo Som Yai from late May to the end of September each year. The data were collected in wet season from 2007 to 2013 showed the main wet season migrants come from the families, Pangasidae, Siluridae catfish and Cyprinidae. The white fish were the dominant species that passed to this channel and follow by grey fish. A few black fish were also captured.
Lavides et al 2016_reef fish disappearances Philippines_Plos One.PDFMargarita Lavides
This document summarizes a research article that uses fishers' knowledge to infer patterns of disappearance of coral reef finfish species in five marine biodiversity areas in the Philippines. Through interviews with over 2,600 fishers, the study identified 59 finfish species that have disappeared from catches between the 1950s and 2014. Five species that were reported to have zero catches by the most fishers were analyzed in more detail. Statistical models estimated an 88% decline in the catch of green bumphead parrotfish, an 82% decline in humphead wrasse, a 66% decline in African pompano, a 74% decline in giant grouper, and a 64% decline in mangrove red snapper based on
While state-of-the-art technologies for fish passage at hydropower dams for small and medium-sized rivers or for single species such as salmon are available nowadays, solutions for large rivers with multi-species such as the Mekong River are widely missing. Objective of this review is to elucidate migratory particularities of large rivers inhabiting multi-species fish assemblages, analyse advantages and disadvantages of existing fish pass solutions, discuss the potential applicability to the Mekong River and identify research gaps. Large warm-water rivers inhabit a wide range of different species encompassing migratory fish ranging from 20 to >200 cm, migration distances >1000 km and iteroparous life histories. Migrations may take place throughout the year due to species-specific spawning seasons and other migratory needs. A key challenge for fish pass solutions at large rivers is to attract fish to fish pass entries. As a solution, multiple fish passes and/or entries are recommended including options for bottom, surface and open water orientated species. Large fish and large number of fish during migration peaks require dimensions of fish passes going far beyond the size of conventional fish passes. A further challenge is that solutions or even experiences for downstream migration in large, multi-species rivers are widely lacking.
Lessons from Damming in the Mekong Tributaries: Effects on Riverine Fish Comm...Mekong Fish Network
Fish monitoring was conducted in three Mekong tributaries in Thailand that share a similar natural environment but differ in hydrological regulations. Despite similar historical fish assemblages reported prior to the regulation, these tributaries currently support contrasting assemblages for both adults and larvae. Fish assemblage in an unregulated tributary with no existing dams along its mainstem showed a highest species diversity with a clear seasonal fluctuation in the number of species. Fish assemblage in a tributary having a series of low-head dams was characterized by low species diversity and less seasonal fluctuation in the diversity. Lastly, fish assemblage in a tributary with a large hydropower dam near the Mekong confluence changed according to the operation of the dam. Short-distance as well as a few long-distance migratory species dominated the assemblage during a period when sluice gates were opened in the rainy season.
A change from lotic to lentic systems and associated alternations to river flow by dams impact a life history of fishes, especially that of facultative riverine species. Although these fish are able to sustain populations in a lentic system, they typically exhibit lower productivity, slower growth rates, smaller maximum sizes and delayed maturation ages compared to their lotic counterparts.
Fisheries of the Mekong: Death by a 1000 Cuts or Just Another Day at the Office?Mekong Fish Network
Economic development in the Mekong region has brought with it considerable environmental change, with more to follow. The river has already been highly modified by a plethora or perturbations including damming for hydropower and irrigation, disconnection of the flood plains for agriculture and growing urbanization. These have all impacted on the fish and fisheries and delivery of aquatic food products from the system, but the system has to date remained largely resilient, or has it? This paper explores the widespread degradation of the system and how fisheries have responded, looks at future prospects of the river and how the fisheries may be impacts and final examines opportunities which may help to mitigate future development scenarios, especially with respect to hydropower development.
The document discusses the depletion of fish biodiversity along the Indian coast due to overexploitation and environmental changes. It notes that over 70% of the world's fish species are fully exploited or depleted due to poor fisheries management, destructive fishing practices, and excessive bycatch. A study in Kerala found that two popular fish species, Lactarius lactarius and Pampus argenteus, have been depleted. Conservation measures like enforcing bycatch reduction technologies and regulating total fishing efforts are needed to protect marine biodiversity.
This study examined differences between lionfish captured on the Atlantic versus Caribbean sides of Vieques, Puerto Rico. The researchers measured lionfish weight, length, sex, and stomach contents. They found no statistically significant differences between lionfish on the two sides in terms of weight, length, sex ratio, or diet. This suggests lionfish are similarly successful in the different marine habitats along each coast of Vieques.
1) Overfishing poses a serious threat to the global economy as many nations rely heavily on commercial fishing for food and income. Without limits on catch amounts, fish populations are declining rapidly which will be disastrous financially.
2) It also endangers ocean ecosystems as removing too many fish upsets the natural balance, causing other species' populations to crash from lack of food.
3) Additionally, the vast numbers of fish killed by overfishing raises ethical concerns about the inhumane treatment of ocean life.
The seafood industry’s affect on the world’s oceansruletheskies07
The document summarizes issues facing the seafood industry, including overfishing, illegal fishing, bycatch, and environmental impacts of some fishing and aquaculture practices. It notes that overfishing has reduced fish populations to just 10% of original levels and 75% of fisheries are overexploited. Improper aquaculture can also damage habitats and pollute waters. Sustainable solutions proposed include improved management of fisheries through catch limits, protected areas, and more selective fishing gear to reduce bycatch and habitat damage.
2000PhD dissertation Options for Co-management of an Indonesian Coastal FisheryLida Pet
- Landings in Spermonde Archipelago, Indonesia increased from 32,000 tons in 1977 to 53,000 tons in 1995 while fishing effort only slightly increased. However, standard effort measures are unreliable due to increasing motorization.
- Perceptions of fisheries authorities and fishers on fishery status seem to concur but they cannot find evidence linking catch and effort due to constraints and lack of variation in Spermonde.
- Co-management is not viable yet and data needs to be standardized and combined on ecological rather than administrative grounds to better inform management.
(See notes below) Four hundred years ago, the Chesapeake Bay that the English colonists found here was lined with huge oyster reefs that grew up from the bottom in waters both deep and shallow. Those reefs provided the base for much of the life in the Bay and its rivers, from worms and barnacles through mud crabs and tiny fish to big blue crabs and predators like sheepshead, drum, and rockfish (striped bass).
The oyster reefs weren’t as “pretty” (to us humans) as the coral reefs further south, but in terms of ecosystem richness, they were just as important. One key to their strength was their three-dimensional structure, which successive generations built gradually on the shells of their predecessors over several thousands of years. The structures placed the oysters up in the water column, away from gill-choking bottom sediments, where dissolved oxygen was plentiful and currents brought food in the form of algae cells seeking sunlight.
This PowerPoint presentation, developed by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Fisheries Program Director Bill Goldsborough, tells the story of those reefs and what has happened to them over the past four hundred years. It is not a pretty story, but it offers a hopeful conclusion, as we learn more each year about how to restore these essential elements in the Chesapeake ecosystem.
Anglers have as much to gain as anyone in restoring the Chesapeake’s oysters. The presentation closes with suggestions for how to get involved in oyster restoration, and how to incorporate the restoration reefs into your 2015 angling season.
To participate in CBF’s oyster restoration programs in Virginia and Maryland, visit http://www.cbf.org/oysters.
(See notes below) Four hundred years ago, the Chesapeake Bay that the English colonists found here was lined with huge oyster reefs that grew up from the bottom in waters both deep and shallow. Those reefs provided the base for much of the life in the Bay and its rivers, from worms and barnacles through mud crabs and tiny fish to big blue crabs and predators like sheepshead, drum, and rockfish (striped bass).
The oyster reefs weren’t as “pretty” (to us humans) as the coral reefs further south, but in terms of ecosystem richness, they were just as important. One key to their strength was their three-dimensional structure, which successive generations built gradually on the shells of their predecessors over several thousands of years. The structures placed the oysters up in the water column, away from gill-choking bottom sediments, where dissolved oxygen was plentiful and currents brought food in the form of algae cells seeking sunlight.
This PowerPoint presentation, developed by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Fisheries Program Director Bill Goldsborough, tells the story of those reefs and what has happened to them over the past four hundred years. It is not a pretty story, but it offers a hopeful conclusion, as we learn more each year about how to restore these essential elements in the Chesapeake ecosystem.
Anglers have as much to gain as anyone in restoring the Chesapeake’s oysters. The presentation closes with suggestions for how to get involved in oyster restoration, and how to incorporate the restoration reefs into your 2015 angling season.
To participate in CBF’s oyster restoration programs in Virginia and Maryland, visit http://www.cbf.org/oysters.
This document discusses management of the California swordfish fishery. It finds that utilizing multiple gear types, including drift gillnet, harpoon, and longline, would achieve the highest swordfish catch and profit without exceeding bycatch limits. This approach could reduce reliance on swordfish imports, which have higher bycatch rates, while decreasing global bycatch interactions. The analysis also considered reinstating a longline ban and increasing harpoon or inactive drift gillnet permits. Overall, the study aims to balance swordfish supply with bycatch reduction on both domestic and global scales.
1) The study examined the physiological impacts on sea turtles accidentally captured by recreational fishermen in North Carolina and Virginia. Blood samples from captured turtles showed elevated lactic acid levels, indicating fatigue, but not at unrecoverable levels.
2) Many turtles also had hooks lodged in their bodies, requiring surgical removal and rehabilitation. With proper handling, captured turtles have a good chance of survival.
3) The researchers aim to expand outreach and education efforts to inform fishermen on proper turtle handling and reporting procedures to improve survival rates upon release and fill data gaps on recreational fishery interactions.
Day-tripping across the Gulf - 25,000 farmed Sea Trout on the move and copepo...International Aquafeed
On Monday 24th February 2015, Tom Blacker of IAF visited two special scientific research sites for aquaculture. He followed the journey of 25,000 trout from the University of Southern Mississippi’s (USM) Gulf Coast Research Laboratory – The Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Centre’s RAS system near Gulfport and Biloxi - to the Lyman Fish Hatchery. He reports below on copepods, trout and more from Mississippi, USA
The document discusses several issues with overfishing, including depleting fish populations, discarding unwanted catch, and bottom trawling damaging seafloor habitats. It provides examples of overfishing causing the cod population collapse in Canada in 1992, which resulted in economic crisis and job losses. Additionally, it discusses threats from shark finning and issues with aquaculture. Solutions proposed include creating no-take zones to help species regenerate and moving to more sustainable aquaculture practices.
Kuterra aquaculture by ‘Namgis First Nation raises hope for wild salmon— and ...Tyee Bridge
The 'Namgis First Nation has launched Kuterra, a land-based closed containment aquaculture project, as an alternative to open net-pen salmon farming which many conservation groups oppose due to risks to wild salmon from sea lice and disease transmission. Kuterra aims to be more environmentally sustainable while still economically viable. It has garnered international interest but its long term profitability remains to be proven after two years of operations. The project aims to catalyze a transition within the salmon farming industry toward closed containment systems.
India is rich in natural resources and the annual harvestable fishery potential of the country is estimated to be 3.48 million
tones. It is established that the fish biodiversity of the country is diminishing at an alarming rate in all the aquatic zones. The
data on species diversity of fishes from Uran coast revealed presence of 31 species of which 3 species of Chondricthyes
representing 2 genera and 2 families and 28 species of Osteicthyes representing 28 genera and 23 families were recorded. Of the recorded species, 55 % belonged to Order Perciformes, 10 % to Clupeiformes, 6 % each to Rajiformes, Mugiliformes and Anguilliformes, 3 % each to Aulopiformes, Carcharhiniformes, Pleuronectiformes, Siluriformes and Tetraodontiformes. Among the recorded species, ribbon fishes/spiny hair tail (Lepturacanthus savala), croakers (Johnius soldado), dhoma (Sciaena dussumierii) and gold spotted grenadier anchovy (Coilia dussumierii) are abundant where as Bleeker’s whipray (Himantura bleekeri), Sharp nose stingray (H. gerrardi) and Spotted Green Puffer fish (Tetraodon nigroviridis) were rare. Stripped mullet (Mugil cephalus), cat fish (Mystus seenghala), three stripped tiger fish (Terapon jarbua) and mudskippers (Boleophthalmus boddarti) were very common. At present, the yield of fin-fish resources from Uran coast is optimum; it is decreasing day by day due to coastal pollution affecting the status of the local fishermen because of which they are looking for other jobs for their livelihood.
Keywords: Fin-fish Resources, Species diversity, JNPT, Uran, Navi Mumbai
The document discusses the problem of overfishing and its negative impacts. It notes that fishing rates currently exceed fish reproduction rates, and that overfishing has led to a decline in fish populations and sizes. Certain destructive fishing methods like bottom trawling and gillnetting contribute significantly to bycatch and damage fish habitats. Examples are provided of overfished areas like the cod fisheries in Newfoundland and bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean. Proposed solutions mentioned include establishing no-take marine zones and restricting fishing during fish reproduction seasons.
Ocean overfishing is simply the taking of wildlife from the sea at rates too high for fished species to replace themselves. The earliest overfishing occurred in the early 1800s when humans, seeking blubber for lamp oil, decimated the whale population. Some fish that we eat, including Atlantic cod and herring and California's sardines, were also harvested to the brink of extinction by the mid-1900s.
This document discusses issues facing the West Coast rock lobster fishing industry in South Africa. It notes that rock lobster populations have declined dramatically to only 3% of original levels due to overfishing. While the fishery has been carefully managed, a recent dispute emerged when government disregarded scientific advice and maintained catch limits, damaging conservation efforts. Additionally, rock lobsters are shifting locations and growing more slowly due to climate change and overfishing. Conservation groups are working to raise awareness of sustainable seafood choices.
Cómo orientar la formación en lenguaje en lasergiiosoto
El documento propone tres caminos para orientar la formación en lenguaje en la educación básica y media: 1) enfoque semántico-comunicativo, 2) definición de lineamientos y indicadores de logro curriculares, y 3) reflexión crítica. También identifica tres campos fundamentales en la formación en lenguaje: 1) pedagogía de la lengua castellana y competencia comunicativa, 2) pedagogía de la literatura y lectura, y 3) pedagogía de otros sistemas simbólicos verbales y no verb
This short document promotes the creation of Haiku Deck presentations on SlideShare by stating "Inspired?" and providing a button to "GET STARTED" making your own Haiku Deck presentation. It encourages the reader to try making presentations on the Haiku Deck platform hosted on SlideShare in a concise and engaging manner using just two words and a call to action.
Lavides et al 2016_reef fish disappearances Philippines_Plos One.PDFMargarita Lavides
This document summarizes a research article that uses fishers' knowledge to infer patterns of disappearance of coral reef finfish species in five marine biodiversity areas in the Philippines. Through interviews with over 2,600 fishers, the study identified 59 finfish species that have disappeared from catches between the 1950s and 2014. Five species that were reported to have zero catches by the most fishers were analyzed in more detail. Statistical models estimated an 88% decline in the catch of green bumphead parrotfish, an 82% decline in humphead wrasse, a 66% decline in African pompano, a 74% decline in giant grouper, and a 64% decline in mangrove red snapper based on
While state-of-the-art technologies for fish passage at hydropower dams for small and medium-sized rivers or for single species such as salmon are available nowadays, solutions for large rivers with multi-species such as the Mekong River are widely missing. Objective of this review is to elucidate migratory particularities of large rivers inhabiting multi-species fish assemblages, analyse advantages and disadvantages of existing fish pass solutions, discuss the potential applicability to the Mekong River and identify research gaps. Large warm-water rivers inhabit a wide range of different species encompassing migratory fish ranging from 20 to >200 cm, migration distances >1000 km and iteroparous life histories. Migrations may take place throughout the year due to species-specific spawning seasons and other migratory needs. A key challenge for fish pass solutions at large rivers is to attract fish to fish pass entries. As a solution, multiple fish passes and/or entries are recommended including options for bottom, surface and open water orientated species. Large fish and large number of fish during migration peaks require dimensions of fish passes going far beyond the size of conventional fish passes. A further challenge is that solutions or even experiences for downstream migration in large, multi-species rivers are widely lacking.
Lessons from Damming in the Mekong Tributaries: Effects on Riverine Fish Comm...Mekong Fish Network
Fish monitoring was conducted in three Mekong tributaries in Thailand that share a similar natural environment but differ in hydrological regulations. Despite similar historical fish assemblages reported prior to the regulation, these tributaries currently support contrasting assemblages for both adults and larvae. Fish assemblage in an unregulated tributary with no existing dams along its mainstem showed a highest species diversity with a clear seasonal fluctuation in the number of species. Fish assemblage in a tributary having a series of low-head dams was characterized by low species diversity and less seasonal fluctuation in the diversity. Lastly, fish assemblage in a tributary with a large hydropower dam near the Mekong confluence changed according to the operation of the dam. Short-distance as well as a few long-distance migratory species dominated the assemblage during a period when sluice gates were opened in the rainy season.
A change from lotic to lentic systems and associated alternations to river flow by dams impact a life history of fishes, especially that of facultative riverine species. Although these fish are able to sustain populations in a lentic system, they typically exhibit lower productivity, slower growth rates, smaller maximum sizes and delayed maturation ages compared to their lotic counterparts.
Fisheries of the Mekong: Death by a 1000 Cuts or Just Another Day at the Office?Mekong Fish Network
Economic development in the Mekong region has brought with it considerable environmental change, with more to follow. The river has already been highly modified by a plethora or perturbations including damming for hydropower and irrigation, disconnection of the flood plains for agriculture and growing urbanization. These have all impacted on the fish and fisheries and delivery of aquatic food products from the system, but the system has to date remained largely resilient, or has it? This paper explores the widespread degradation of the system and how fisheries have responded, looks at future prospects of the river and how the fisheries may be impacts and final examines opportunities which may help to mitigate future development scenarios, especially with respect to hydropower development.
The document discusses the depletion of fish biodiversity along the Indian coast due to overexploitation and environmental changes. It notes that over 70% of the world's fish species are fully exploited or depleted due to poor fisheries management, destructive fishing practices, and excessive bycatch. A study in Kerala found that two popular fish species, Lactarius lactarius and Pampus argenteus, have been depleted. Conservation measures like enforcing bycatch reduction technologies and regulating total fishing efforts are needed to protect marine biodiversity.
This study examined differences between lionfish captured on the Atlantic versus Caribbean sides of Vieques, Puerto Rico. The researchers measured lionfish weight, length, sex, and stomach contents. They found no statistically significant differences between lionfish on the two sides in terms of weight, length, sex ratio, or diet. This suggests lionfish are similarly successful in the different marine habitats along each coast of Vieques.
1) Overfishing poses a serious threat to the global economy as many nations rely heavily on commercial fishing for food and income. Without limits on catch amounts, fish populations are declining rapidly which will be disastrous financially.
2) It also endangers ocean ecosystems as removing too many fish upsets the natural balance, causing other species' populations to crash from lack of food.
3) Additionally, the vast numbers of fish killed by overfishing raises ethical concerns about the inhumane treatment of ocean life.
The seafood industry’s affect on the world’s oceansruletheskies07
The document summarizes issues facing the seafood industry, including overfishing, illegal fishing, bycatch, and environmental impacts of some fishing and aquaculture practices. It notes that overfishing has reduced fish populations to just 10% of original levels and 75% of fisheries are overexploited. Improper aquaculture can also damage habitats and pollute waters. Sustainable solutions proposed include improved management of fisheries through catch limits, protected areas, and more selective fishing gear to reduce bycatch and habitat damage.
2000PhD dissertation Options for Co-management of an Indonesian Coastal FisheryLida Pet
- Landings in Spermonde Archipelago, Indonesia increased from 32,000 tons in 1977 to 53,000 tons in 1995 while fishing effort only slightly increased. However, standard effort measures are unreliable due to increasing motorization.
- Perceptions of fisheries authorities and fishers on fishery status seem to concur but they cannot find evidence linking catch and effort due to constraints and lack of variation in Spermonde.
- Co-management is not viable yet and data needs to be standardized and combined on ecological rather than administrative grounds to better inform management.
(See notes below) Four hundred years ago, the Chesapeake Bay that the English colonists found here was lined with huge oyster reefs that grew up from the bottom in waters both deep and shallow. Those reefs provided the base for much of the life in the Bay and its rivers, from worms and barnacles through mud crabs and tiny fish to big blue crabs and predators like sheepshead, drum, and rockfish (striped bass).
The oyster reefs weren’t as “pretty” (to us humans) as the coral reefs further south, but in terms of ecosystem richness, they were just as important. One key to their strength was their three-dimensional structure, which successive generations built gradually on the shells of their predecessors over several thousands of years. The structures placed the oysters up in the water column, away from gill-choking bottom sediments, where dissolved oxygen was plentiful and currents brought food in the form of algae cells seeking sunlight.
This PowerPoint presentation, developed by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Fisheries Program Director Bill Goldsborough, tells the story of those reefs and what has happened to them over the past four hundred years. It is not a pretty story, but it offers a hopeful conclusion, as we learn more each year about how to restore these essential elements in the Chesapeake ecosystem.
Anglers have as much to gain as anyone in restoring the Chesapeake’s oysters. The presentation closes with suggestions for how to get involved in oyster restoration, and how to incorporate the restoration reefs into your 2015 angling season.
To participate in CBF’s oyster restoration programs in Virginia and Maryland, visit http://www.cbf.org/oysters.
(See notes below) Four hundred years ago, the Chesapeake Bay that the English colonists found here was lined with huge oyster reefs that grew up from the bottom in waters both deep and shallow. Those reefs provided the base for much of the life in the Bay and its rivers, from worms and barnacles through mud crabs and tiny fish to big blue crabs and predators like sheepshead, drum, and rockfish (striped bass).
The oyster reefs weren’t as “pretty” (to us humans) as the coral reefs further south, but in terms of ecosystem richness, they were just as important. One key to their strength was their three-dimensional structure, which successive generations built gradually on the shells of their predecessors over several thousands of years. The structures placed the oysters up in the water column, away from gill-choking bottom sediments, where dissolved oxygen was plentiful and currents brought food in the form of algae cells seeking sunlight.
This PowerPoint presentation, developed by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Fisheries Program Director Bill Goldsborough, tells the story of those reefs and what has happened to them over the past four hundred years. It is not a pretty story, but it offers a hopeful conclusion, as we learn more each year about how to restore these essential elements in the Chesapeake ecosystem.
Anglers have as much to gain as anyone in restoring the Chesapeake’s oysters. The presentation closes with suggestions for how to get involved in oyster restoration, and how to incorporate the restoration reefs into your 2015 angling season.
To participate in CBF’s oyster restoration programs in Virginia and Maryland, visit http://www.cbf.org/oysters.
This document discusses management of the California swordfish fishery. It finds that utilizing multiple gear types, including drift gillnet, harpoon, and longline, would achieve the highest swordfish catch and profit without exceeding bycatch limits. This approach could reduce reliance on swordfish imports, which have higher bycatch rates, while decreasing global bycatch interactions. The analysis also considered reinstating a longline ban and increasing harpoon or inactive drift gillnet permits. Overall, the study aims to balance swordfish supply with bycatch reduction on both domestic and global scales.
1) The study examined the physiological impacts on sea turtles accidentally captured by recreational fishermen in North Carolina and Virginia. Blood samples from captured turtles showed elevated lactic acid levels, indicating fatigue, but not at unrecoverable levels.
2) Many turtles also had hooks lodged in their bodies, requiring surgical removal and rehabilitation. With proper handling, captured turtles have a good chance of survival.
3) The researchers aim to expand outreach and education efforts to inform fishermen on proper turtle handling and reporting procedures to improve survival rates upon release and fill data gaps on recreational fishery interactions.
Day-tripping across the Gulf - 25,000 farmed Sea Trout on the move and copepo...International Aquafeed
On Monday 24th February 2015, Tom Blacker of IAF visited two special scientific research sites for aquaculture. He followed the journey of 25,000 trout from the University of Southern Mississippi’s (USM) Gulf Coast Research Laboratory – The Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Centre’s RAS system near Gulfport and Biloxi - to the Lyman Fish Hatchery. He reports below on copepods, trout and more from Mississippi, USA
The document discusses several issues with overfishing, including depleting fish populations, discarding unwanted catch, and bottom trawling damaging seafloor habitats. It provides examples of overfishing causing the cod population collapse in Canada in 1992, which resulted in economic crisis and job losses. Additionally, it discusses threats from shark finning and issues with aquaculture. Solutions proposed include creating no-take zones to help species regenerate and moving to more sustainable aquaculture practices.
Kuterra aquaculture by ‘Namgis First Nation raises hope for wild salmon— and ...Tyee Bridge
The 'Namgis First Nation has launched Kuterra, a land-based closed containment aquaculture project, as an alternative to open net-pen salmon farming which many conservation groups oppose due to risks to wild salmon from sea lice and disease transmission. Kuterra aims to be more environmentally sustainable while still economically viable. It has garnered international interest but its long term profitability remains to be proven after two years of operations. The project aims to catalyze a transition within the salmon farming industry toward closed containment systems.
India is rich in natural resources and the annual harvestable fishery potential of the country is estimated to be 3.48 million
tones. It is established that the fish biodiversity of the country is diminishing at an alarming rate in all the aquatic zones. The
data on species diversity of fishes from Uran coast revealed presence of 31 species of which 3 species of Chondricthyes
representing 2 genera and 2 families and 28 species of Osteicthyes representing 28 genera and 23 families were recorded. Of the recorded species, 55 % belonged to Order Perciformes, 10 % to Clupeiformes, 6 % each to Rajiformes, Mugiliformes and Anguilliformes, 3 % each to Aulopiformes, Carcharhiniformes, Pleuronectiformes, Siluriformes and Tetraodontiformes. Among the recorded species, ribbon fishes/spiny hair tail (Lepturacanthus savala), croakers (Johnius soldado), dhoma (Sciaena dussumierii) and gold spotted grenadier anchovy (Coilia dussumierii) are abundant where as Bleeker’s whipray (Himantura bleekeri), Sharp nose stingray (H. gerrardi) and Spotted Green Puffer fish (Tetraodon nigroviridis) were rare. Stripped mullet (Mugil cephalus), cat fish (Mystus seenghala), three stripped tiger fish (Terapon jarbua) and mudskippers (Boleophthalmus boddarti) were very common. At present, the yield of fin-fish resources from Uran coast is optimum; it is decreasing day by day due to coastal pollution affecting the status of the local fishermen because of which they are looking for other jobs for their livelihood.
Keywords: Fin-fish Resources, Species diversity, JNPT, Uran, Navi Mumbai
The document discusses the problem of overfishing and its negative impacts. It notes that fishing rates currently exceed fish reproduction rates, and that overfishing has led to a decline in fish populations and sizes. Certain destructive fishing methods like bottom trawling and gillnetting contribute significantly to bycatch and damage fish habitats. Examples are provided of overfished areas like the cod fisheries in Newfoundland and bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean. Proposed solutions mentioned include establishing no-take marine zones and restricting fishing during fish reproduction seasons.
Ocean overfishing is simply the taking of wildlife from the sea at rates too high for fished species to replace themselves. The earliest overfishing occurred in the early 1800s when humans, seeking blubber for lamp oil, decimated the whale population. Some fish that we eat, including Atlantic cod and herring and California's sardines, were also harvested to the brink of extinction by the mid-1900s.
This document discusses issues facing the West Coast rock lobster fishing industry in South Africa. It notes that rock lobster populations have declined dramatically to only 3% of original levels due to overfishing. While the fishery has been carefully managed, a recent dispute emerged when government disregarded scientific advice and maintained catch limits, damaging conservation efforts. Additionally, rock lobsters are shifting locations and growing more slowly due to climate change and overfishing. Conservation groups are working to raise awareness of sustainable seafood choices.
Cómo orientar la formación en lenguaje en lasergiiosoto
El documento propone tres caminos para orientar la formación en lenguaje en la educación básica y media: 1) enfoque semántico-comunicativo, 2) definición de lineamientos y indicadores de logro curriculares, y 3) reflexión crítica. También identifica tres campos fundamentales en la formación en lenguaje: 1) pedagogía de la lengua castellana y competencia comunicativa, 2) pedagogía de la literatura y lectura, y 3) pedagogía de otros sistemas simbólicos verbales y no verb
This short document promotes the creation of Haiku Deck presentations on SlideShare by stating "Inspired?" and providing a button to "GET STARTED" making your own Haiku Deck presentation. It encourages the reader to try making presentations on the Haiku Deck platform hosted on SlideShare in a concise and engaging manner using just two words and a call to action.
O documento discute arpejos de três notas, chamados de tríades, explicando que tríades maiores contém uma terça maior enquanto tríades menores contém uma terça menor. Ele fornece exemplos de digitação de tríades maiores usando diferentes números de cordas e ritmos.
This document discusses the benefits of community gardens in Portland. It outlines how gardens can foster community organizing, prevent crime, provide cultural opportunities, benefit youth, and produce food. The document then evaluates strategies for coordinating gardens, scouting locations, and creating an online forum. Feedback is provided on these strategies. It also covers holding question and answer sessions at schools and the benefits of online communities. The document ends by reviewing the current website and providing recommendations, such as adding an online application and forum, to make processes more organized.
Este documento presenta una oportunidad para ganar dinero adicional o tener una pensión a través de un negocio de mercadeo multinivel. Ofrece varias razones para unirse, como ingresos adicionales, pensión en 2-3 años, y heredar el negocio. Explica cómo el 95% de las personas solo ganan el 5% del dinero, mientras que el 5% restante gana el 95% restante a través de esfuerzos de mercadeo. El documento también describe cómo construir una red de mercadeo para ganar comisiones basadas en
El documento describe el SDK de Kinect v2 de Microsoft. Explica que Kinect es un dispositivo de captura de movimiento que usa reconocimiento de gestos, voz y seguimiento de mirada para interactuar sin comandos. Luego compara Kinect v1 y v2, destacando las mejoras de Kinect v2 en seguimiento esquelético, reconocimiento de expresiones y gestos, y procesamiento de voz. Finalmente, resume los tipos de datos que maneja Kinect y los requisitos del sistema para usar el SDK.
This document summarizes the discovery of two whaling ships that were lost in the Arctic 144 years ago. An archaeological team led by NOAA used advanced mapping technology to discover the wrecks of the whaleships Monticello and J.D. Thompson, which were part of a larger fleet of 33 ships trapped by ice off Alaska in 1871. This discovery sheds new light on Connecticut's historical whaling industry and the largest whaling disaster in U.S. history. The document provides historical context on whaling and details William Williams' first-hand account of the events as a 12-year old crew member aboard the Monticello.
Oceanographers and marine biologists are studying the many threats facing endangered whale populations, including noise pollution, fishing industry practices, and chemical pollution. These experts are working to implement solutions such as detecting whales with acoustic monitoring buoys to divert ship traffic, modifying fishing gear, and studying whale movements after oil spills to understand environmental impacts. By protecting whale habitats and populations, oceanographers help ensure the health of both ocean ecosystems and human communities.
This document summarizes the life cycle and current challenges facing the American eel. It describes how glass eels are collected at a monitoring station on the York River and how elvers are trapped climbing upstream at the Conowingo Dam on the Susquehanna River. The eels have a complex catadromous life cycle, migrating from freshwater to spawn in the Sargasso Sea, though many details remain unknown. Their populations have declined significantly due to dams blocking habitat, glass eel harvesting, and other threats. Conservation efforts aim to help eels access habitat and rebuild depleted stocks.
Mysterious New York, Washed up Creatures, Finger Lake Beasts and Sewer-gatorsCharlie
I talk about the strange and the unexplained of the US state of New York from sewer-gators under New York City, to UFO's and lake Monsters in Upstate New York.
Grand Lake St. Marys water quality update & The Fishes of Grand Lake St. Marys presented by Wright State University-Lake Campus' Dr. Stephen Jacquemin at the April 2021 Lake Improvement Association membership meeting. https://lakeimprovement.com
Great white sharks are large predatory fish found in oceans worldwide. They can detect very small amounts of blood in water from long distances using their highly developed sense of smell. Great white sharks grow up to 20 feet long and weigh up to 5,000 pounds, making them a top predator that feeds on sea lions, seals, sea turtles, and whales. The document proposes adaptations that would allow great white sharks to inhabit Antarctica, such as growing fur to withstand cold temperatures, camouflaging coloration, and physical adaptations like lungs, blubber, enhanced fins and tail for mobility on land and in water.
This document provides an overview of a proposed wave energy project off the coast of the Makah Tribe's reservation in Neah Bay, Washington. The project would involve installing buoy devices in the ocean that harness the kinetic energy of waves to generate electricity. The proposal was brought to the Makah Tribe by Alla Weinstein's company AquaEnergy Group. While securing permits has been challenging, if approved the project could provide a renewable source of electricity for the Makah Tribe and help diversify their economy which relies heavily on seasonal fishing. The project faces scrutiny from the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary which must ensure any development does not harm the sensitive marine environment.
1. It’s whale-watching season, and as Michelle Sousa looked over the side of a boat floating seven miles off the Long Beach
coast, she was downright giddy about what she was seeing.
“Oooh, look!” exclaimed Sousa as she ogled a group of finback whales, which had just interrupted an uneventful hour at sea.
“They’re flirting with each other!”
People on these whale-watching tours tend to get a little anthropomorphic—that is, to lend human traits to non-humans—but
Sousa’s come-hither interpretation of the finbacks’ behavior was grounded in science. She’s a senior biologist with the
Aquarium of the Pacific.
Sousa explained that when the finback whale rolled to her side and showed off the baleen—that is, the inside of her mouth—it
was the equivalent of a girl flipping her hair and flashing a smile after a couple of beers. Well, she didn’t put it exactly
that way. But she did add that it is unusual for finbacks, which are typically loners, to travel in a group for long periods of
time—again, suggesting there were ulterior motives at play.
For all this unfettered courtship, however, the migration of whales through local waters is a very dangerous proposition. All
kinds of hazards lurk along their journey through an urban coastline. For example, as this female lay seductively on her side,
her mouth open, she nearly sucked in a quart-size plastic oil container.
But one of the whales’ biggest problems—cargo-ship big—was represented by a huge Yang Ming freighter passing nearby.
It’s one of 7,000 such monstrous vessels that visit the ports of Long Beach, LosAngeles and Hueneme every year. Inevitably,
WHALE, WATCH OUT!
By Diana Bosetti
In the past two years, three whales have been struck and killed by cargo ships in the Santa Barbara
Channel—and also one in the Port of Long Beach. A look at one environmental organization’s
fight to force freighters to slow down
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
2. one or another of them runs into a whale.
As huge as these animals are—the largest weigh 150 tons—they are no match for the behemoth ships, which churn through
the water at speeds up to 30 knots (25 mph). When there’s a collision, the whales often end up as waterway road kill.
Last year, three blue whales were struck and killed by cargo ships near Santa Barbara. This season, a finback whale has al-
ready died off the coast of Long Beach. A vessel from the COSCO fleet collided with it last October, and the captain didn’t
even know until he chugged into port. You remember the photo in the Press-Telegram—the majestic animal draped limply
over the bow of the ship like a grotesque figurehead. It added a sad category to the concept of whale-watching.
While it was a horrible sight, the impaled whale served the purpose of attracting attention to a tragedy that usually occurs
out of view. Many fatal collisions between ships and whales are not reported, often because the perpetrators aren’t even
aware of them. The whales are hit, they die and are left to drift at sea until their stinky carcasses wash onto a beach or are
eaten by scavengers.
The very public death of this animal contributed evidence in support of an escalating movement that hopes to make gigantic
freighters slow down when they cross the paths of migrating whales.
That effort will arrive in United States District Court on March 6, when Judge Maxine Chesney will hear a lawsuit brought
by an environmental group asking that large vessels crossing Southern California’s offshore channel observe a speed limit
of 10 mph.
Ships have been crashing into whales for a long time, and Captain Ahab’s problem with Moby Dick notwithstanding, the
whales usually end up on the dead end of the equation.
An article in a 2001 issue of Marine Mammal Science rather dryly described such collisions as “a recognized source of
whale mortality.” After lamenting the lack of data on the issue, it pored through historical records and computerized strand-
ing databases for some evidence of its own.
“Historical records suggest that ship strikes fatal to whales first occurred late in the 1800s as ships began to reach speeds of
13-15 kn[ots; 15-17 mph], remained infrequent until about 1950, and then increased during the 1950s-1970s as the number
and speed of ships increased,” the journal reported. “Of the 11 species known to be hit by ships, fin whales (Balaenoptera
physalus) are struck most frequently [and] right whales (Eubalaena glacialis and E. australis), humpback whales (Megaptera
novaeangliae), sperm whales (Physeter catodon) and gray whales (Escbricbtius robustus) are hit commonly. In some areas,
one-third of all fin whale and right whale strandings appear to involve ship strikes.”
To get a sense of which ships are most at fault—and why—the Marine Mammal Science researchers compiled descriptions
of 58 collisions. The results?
“They indicate that all sizes and types of vessels can hit whales,” the scientists reported. “Most lethal or severe injuries are
caused by ships 80 m[eters] or longer. Whales usually are not seen beforehand or are seen too late to be avoided. And most
lethal or severe injuries involve ships traveling 14 kn or faster.”
The journal emphasized that “ship strikes can significantly affect small populations of whales, such as northern right whales
in the western North Atlantic.”
As for a solution?
“In areas where special caution is needed to avoid such events,” said the journal, “measures to reduce the vessel speed below
14 knots [16 mph] may be beneficial.”
Back on the whale-watching boat, there was a lot to see. In a single week, Aquarium of the Pacific scientists spotted and
recorded about 35 whales and 700 dolphins during twice-daily excursions on Harbor Breeze Cruises.And earlier this month,
3. a female gray whale and her calf were spotted and photographed by Aquarium personnel—a rarity, since the point of gray
whales’ southward journey is to mate and calve in the lagoons of Mexico.
Sousa explained that the grays are commuting further than ever these days.
“They are having to go further north [in the Arctic] to get food,” she said. “Because their gestation is limited, they are giv-
ing birth during their migration.”
As for the flirty finbacks that got Sousa so excited? Usually, they’re not here at all during this time of year. Typically, they’re
gone in September and don’t pass through again until early summer.
Even the blue whales, which also historically arrive in the summer, stayed longer last year. Throw in the mink, humpback,
sperm whales—and the hungry orca killer whales, which make life miserably tenuous for the other breeds—and the local
waters constitute a super-sized seafood medley.
In fact, Southern California’s so-called whale-watching season—commonly considered to be the few months in winter when
gray whales pass southward—actually is going back and forth off our coast all year round.
Hard to believe, but despite all the pollutants, litter and fishing nets, the local waters are abundant with plankton—so much
that the whales may be lingering a little longer than usual to eat and remain closer to the water’s surface.
That may delight human voyeurs, but it also keeps placing them in the crisscrossing paths of one of the busiest shipping
lanes in the world.
Four reported dead whales in two years across the Santa Barbara Channel—an area approximately 80 miles long and 30
miles wide, including Long Beach—may not be a staggering number, but it is significant for a protected species. Especially
since the deaths are likely preventable, if the cargo ships would simply slow down.
At the Port of Long Beach, which occupies 3,200 acres of land with 25 miles of waterfront, many ships are already going
slower—at least when they arrive, anyway. The Green Flag program instituted last year asks ships to observe a speed limit
of 12 knots (just under 14 mph) when they are within 20 nautical miles of the port. The request was recently expanded to 40
nautical miles. In exchange, vessels receive a reduction in docking rates.
But the Green Flag program is voluntary, and it was not designed with whales in mind. Instead, the idea was to reduce the
air pollution emanating from ships when their engines run faster. Nonetheless, a reported 83 percent of the ships that arrived
at the Port of Long Beach in 2008 came in more slowly.
Has the Green Flag program saved any whales? Nobody’s studied it.
“There’s no way to really evaluate its effectiveness on ship strikes,” said ChrisYates, a spokesman for the Southern California
branch of the National Marine Fisheries Service.
Meanwhile, 17 percent of thousands of ships still aren’t slowing down when they arrive in Long Beach—and none of the ships
bound for the Port of Los Angeles, which is located right next door, are offered financial incentives to reduce their speed.
Put most simply, the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) is a nonprofit environmental organization—headquartered in
Tucson, Ariz., with offices in nine states and Washington, D.C.—dedicated to the proposition that all living things are inter-
connected, including human beings.
“We believe that the welfare of human beings is deeply linked to nature—to the existence in our world of a vast diversity of
wild animals and plants,” the CBD proclaims in its mission statement, posted on its Web site (biologicaldiversity.org). “. . .
[W]e work to secure a future for all species, great and small, hovering on the brink of extinction. We do so through science,
law, and creative media, with a focus on protecting the lands, waters, and climate that species need to survive.”
4. Last June 18, the CBD took that fight to the federal courts, filing a lawsuit seeking to force the U.S. Coast Guard to reduce
the speed of large ships off the California coast so as to protect endangered whales. Without this lowered speed limit, the
CBD contends that the Coast Guard is not in compliance with the Endangered Species Act. CBD has also petitioned the
National Marine Fisheries Service, which is charged with enforcing the Endangered Species Act, to assert its authority over
the Coast Guard on this matter.
“Under the Endangered Species Act, the Coast Guard must consult with the Marine Fisheries Service,” stated a recent CBD
press release. “However, the Coast Guard has not taken this basic step.”
Not in California. But last year on the east coast, the Marine Fisheries Service pressed the Coast Guard to decrease speed
limits for ships to protect the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale.
Why the difference? Lt. Jeff Bray, an environmental law attorney for the Coast Guard, said he couldn’t comment on the
case—though he was downright apologetic about it. “I know that’s not what anyone wants to hear,” he said, “but until there’s
some sort of resolution, either through a settlement or in court, I really can’t comment. I’m sorry.”
That leaves the disagreement on its way to the court of Judge Maxine M. Chesney—a 67-year-old San Francisco-born-and-
raised jurist appointed to the bench in 1995 by President Bill Clinton. The hearing was originally scheduled for Jan. 23, but
a couple days before, Chesney bumped it back to March 6, asking for more information from the attorneys. Make of that
what you will.
When a cargo ship decreases speed miles away from its port, it increases expenses—the old time-equals-money equation.
Multiply that one cargo ship times the thousands that make the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles among the busiest in
the world, factor in the length and breadth of the Santa Barbara Channel, and nobody denies that balancing the protection of
whales with the promotion of commerce is a complex call.
“[The Santa Barbara Channel] is obviously a very long passage,” lamented Yates. “It would be unreasonable to expect ships
to slow down for extended periods of time, across great distances.”
Instead, Yates said the Marine Fisheries Service has tried to “actively engage all the various stake holders,” including envi-
ronmental groups and Southern California ports, to work together on the issue. He’s hopeful that the shipping industry will
voluntarily develop ways to coexist with whales, by using a combination of technologies—such as electromagnetic waves
(sonar), thermal imaging and even old-fashioned lookouts (like on the Titanic).
But every potential solution has its problems. For example, sonar waves tend to alarm blue whales, causing them to rise to
the surface, thus making them more prone to collisions with ships. “There’s really no silver-bullet technology at this point
to decrease ship strikes,” Yates said.
“The judge’s questions could certainly determine the direction this case might go,” said Andrea Treece, senior attorney for
the CBD. “Meanwhile, there are whales moving through the area year-round, an area which is rich in plankton. And these
ships are in their dining room.”
EPILOGUE
When it comes to concern for Earth’s creatures, people are often moved in strange ways.
Consider the public reaction to the death of a pit bull at the Long Beach animal shelter more than a year ago: Over 500 com-
ments poured into The District Weekly Web site. No other story has ever matched that fervor.
Several years ago, when a baby fin beached itself in Marina del Rey, volunteers arrived in droves to lend a helping hand.
Peter Wallerstein, founder of Playa del Rey-based Marine Animal Rescue, blogged on the Friends of Animals Web site that
over a dozen Los Angeles Police Department officers entered the water in full gear and knelt down to help lift the whale onto
a stretcher. Among others who rushed over to offer more muscle were two attorneys who had been bike riding and a man
who had just scattered his dad’s ashes. Nearby, a little boy stood clutching a stuffed whale (or dolphin, Wallerstein wasn’t
5. exactly sure)—”helping in his way,” he wrote.
According to Aquarium of the Pacific spokeswoman Marilyn Padilla, there have been similar responses to its call for street
cleanups—intended to prevent trash from traveling into the ocean—although the efforts evoke shock in some neighborhoods.
“We’ve had people ask us if we did something wrong and were being forced to do community work as punishment,” she
laughed.
The next neighborhood cleanup is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 7. In exchange for a bag of trash collected at the site, each
person will receive a free ticket to the Aquarium of the Pacific. Bags, gloves, refreshments “and a spirit of camaraderie” will
be provided, said Padilla.
Meanwhile, there are those whale-watching tours—offered daily at noon and 3 p.m.—that include entry to the Aquarium,
which is featuring a whale-related exhibit (“Whales: Voices in the Sea”) and film (Whales: A Journey with Giants).
And if you’re worried about the possibility of your whale-watching boat colliding with a whale, well, don’t . . . very much.
Because you’ll be whale-watching.
“Of all the marine vessels, whale-watch tours are actively looking for marine life,” says Alicia Archer, the aquarium’s boat
program coordinator, “making it less likely for collisions to occur.”