News

How Japan’s Return To Commercial Whaling Might Help Whale Populations

Featured Image: Fox News

In July, Japan resumed commercial whaling for the first time in 31 years. While whaling in all forms is horrible, this could actually be a step in the right direction for Japan. Although Japan has officially left the International Whaling Commission (IWC) after 6 months notice, the transition may result in fewer whale deaths each year.

In 1988, Japan switched to “research whaling” after commercial whaling was banned by the IWC. Even though Japanese whaling boats were pulling in hundreds of whales each year, it was classified under “research” activities. The meat from these “research” whales was sold in the markets of Japan. With that obvious link to commercialism, the “research whaling” faced intense criticism for years. Additionally, it was losing money for the Japanese government.

Most of this “research whaling” took place in Antarctic waters which are a hotspot of biodiversity for whales. It is a region that is absolutely critical to the success of global whale populations.

With the switch to commercial whaling, Japan will be limiting it’s harvest to 227 whales this year and all will be harvested in Japanese waters. Although it is still horrible to kill whales under any circumstances, the new location and decreased number of captured whales may help the overall global whale population, but only time will tell. In the meantime, pressuring for the end of all commercial whaling is all that we can do.

Conservation

Southern Resident Killer Whales Have Disappeared From The Salish Sea

Southern resident killer whales are typically easy to spot in the Salish Sea at this time of year. This year, however, the whales are proving very difficult to find. In fact, researchers think they have disappeared from the area completely. Without a sighting in over 2 months, everyone is wondering where the whales have gone.

According to Michael Weiss, a researcher with the Center for Whale Research, “The lack of Southern Resident in the Salish Sea for the entirety of June reflects a fundamental shift in the behavior of this population. Dramatic changes in the distribution of Chinook salmon, particularly due to the ongoing decline of the Fraser River stocks, have increasingly forced these whales to abandon an area that was once their core habitat.”

Without a stable food source, the orcas are forced to leave their home in search of other food. The director of Whale Scout, Whitney Neugebauer, says, “the absence of Southern Residents tells us that the ecosystem is out of balance. We should be listening and responding appropriately. If the whales can’t make a living in our inland waters, we, too, are in trouble.”

Human activities have rendered the waters unsuitable, leaving the whales no choice but to leave in search of more hospitable environments. It will take drastic action for these whales to return to their home on a regular basis.

Conservation

Researchers Investigate The Long Term Effects Of Coral Bleaching On Fish Populations

Featured Image: Vox.com

It is tragic to bear witness as coral bleaching leeches the color from once vibrant ecosystems. However, sometimes the reef is able to recover and support a new community of aquatic life. Unfortunately, a new study has found that after a bleaching event, the community of fish on the coral reef can be altered dramatically and permanently.

The study found that bleached reefs had fewer predators like groupers, and more plant-eating fish like parrotfish. James Robinson, the leader of the study, said, “other reefs have reported the recovery of fish communities within 10 years, so we really didn’t expect Seychelles fish to get stuck in these new state.”

The study looked at the surveys conducted on coral reefs between 1994 and 2017. Analysis shows that the diversity of fish species on reefs changes dramatically when the reef recovers from bleaching. The change seems to stick around for at least 15 years. Unfortunately, the timespan between bleaching events has decreased to less than a decade in many parts of the world, meaning many reefs don’t have time to fully bounce back before another bleaching event occurs. Nick Graham, a professor of marine ecology at Lancaster University, points out, “The new normal for coral reefs will be reef fish communities which have fewer species and are dominated by herbivores and invertebrate feeding fish. This will alter the way coral reefs function, and the fishery opportunities for coastal communities adjacent to coral reefs.”

Scientists continue to search for ways that active management can help to rebalance these struggling ecosystems.

Conservation

Poachers Continue To Harm Turtles Protected By The Endangered Species Act

Late last month, a dead sea turtle was found in a National Park in Florida. The turtle had a spear shaft through its head that was obviously put there by a poacher. The park authorities of Biscayne National Park found the animal’s body and are now searching for the person responsible.

All species of sea turtles in the United States are protected under the federal Endangered Species Act. They also have additional protections under the Florida Marine Turtle Protection Act. If anyone harms an animal that is protected under the Endangered Species Act, they risk a fine of up $50,000 and up to a year in prison. The perpetrator could also face civil penalties.

Unfortunately, this is not the only sea turtle incident that has occurred this summer. One woman was arrested after she was seen stomping on a sea turtle nest in Miami Beach. She was jabbing the sea turtle nest with a wooden stake while inside an area that was closed to the public due to sea turtle nesting.

Human-animal interactions are a part of life in the Miami area. However many incidents do not end well for the animals. If you see someone abusing wildlife in your area, please make sure to report it to the local authorities.

Conservation

Number Of Florida Loggerhead Nests On Track To Reach Record High This Year

Currently considered a threatened species, loggerhead sea turtles have been teetering towards being classified as endangered for many years. However, this summer there seems to be good news for these turtles. Instead of the depressingly low number of nests we have seen in recent years, the number of loggerhead nests this season is relatively high.

Along the southern Atlantic coast of Florida are the most densely populated nesting sites for loggerhead sea turtles. One nonprofit that studies these animals is the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach. The nonprofit keeps track of the sea turtles that nest on approximately 9.5 miles of beaches. In their area, a total of 10,977 loggerhead nests were found last season. This year, they have already logged 7,757 and the season is not even halfway over. According to the director of the center, Tom Longo, “we’re on pace to be over 20,000 this year. That’s a record for loggerheads.”

On other parts of the coast, the record-breaking trend continues. The turtles have been under protection for decades, so it seems like those years of effort may be paying off for the turtles. Protection includes certified biologists moving sea turtle eggs into better locations when the nest is in a bad spot and the exclusion of predators like raccoons and coyotes.

Hopefully this year will finish out strong for the loggerhead sea turtles!

Conservation

Five New Coral Reefs Discovered In The Gulf Of Mexico

Although many coral reefs are dying around the world, there is a glimmer of hope. Scientists have found five new coral reefs in the Gulf of Mexico that are beginning to build, even as other reefs are dying elsewhere in the world.

The new coral reefs are named Corazones, Pantepec South, Piedras Altas, Los Gallos, and Camaronera. These newly discovered reefs are near older reefs that form the Reef Corridor of the Southwest Gulf of Mexico. In total, these new reefs are part of a corridor that stretches at least 310 miles. The biological importance of this corridor cannot be understated.

Coral reefs provide habitat and breeding grounds for many ocean dwelling creatures. The researchers who discovered these reefs are working to protect them before oil and gas companies move into the region.

Leonardo Ortiz Lozano, one of the researchers that discovered the reefs says, “We want the coral corridor to be officially recognized to protect it from the fossil fuel industry. What’s most important is that these sites are where hundreds of fishermen receive their nourishment and work. It’s important to protect these sites, but it’s necessary to maintain the fishing industry.”

Protecting coral reefs around the world is a top priority as many face the threat of demise.

Conservation

Regulations Aim To Protect Whales From Getting Entangled In Fishing Gear

Featured Image: Pacific Standard

The Dungeness crabbing industry has a strong presence in Oregon waters. However, the whales that call these waters home are struggling to live in the same environment, with many whales becoming entangled with crabbing gear over the course of the crabbing season.

As of July 16th, 12 whales have been entangled, mostly with commercial fishing and crabbing gear. In response, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission has recommended several options to decrease the number of entanglement cases.

A few of the recommendations include new gear identification tags and equipment removal requirements before the end of the season. The assistant project leader of Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife shellfish program says”our primary goal is to have gear in Oregon’s waters marked so we can identify which fisheries may be coming into contact with whales. Right now we’re just in a tracking process of being able to identify which gear may be coming into contact with whales and when.”

If approved, the new regulations will go into effect on January 1, 2020. The goal of the agency is to work with crabbing and fishing industries to create safer waters for the whales without harming the livelihoods of these fishermen.