Fishing Nets May Cause Extinction of the Maui's Dolphin

In the past, I have written blog posts about the dangers of fishing with large nets. These nets are incredibly destructive catching large amounts of bycatch, or unwanted fish, and causing a huge threat to marine mammal species. I have recently learned that large fishing nets, usually anchored to the ground are catching and large amounts of Maui's dolphins and they are nearing extinction. The fishing industry needs to see that the ocean is not their home and that fishing practices must become sustainable and ecofriendly. 

The Maui's dolphin is the worlds smallest species of dolphin usually reaching a lenth of 1.7 meters which is about 5 feet and 7 inches. Maui's dolphins live only on the west coast of New Zealand. With only 55 living members of the species (compare that to 111 in 2004) the Maui's dolphin is now listed as critically endangered meaning that they could become extinct in the near future, within our lifetime! The coast is supposedly protected  from fishing in the areas where Maui's dolphins are found however the Maui's dolphin are commonly entangled or struck by large, anchored fishing nets. This rare species can not afford to be killed from human influence. The areas where the Maui's dolphins live must be protected in order to save their species. Humans do not own the ocean and humans do not live in the ocean. We have to stop invading the ocean and endangering beautiful creatures like the Maui's dolphin. Dr. Barbara Maas, a zoologist at Cambridge University said "Their extinction is really imminent now, within a few years. New Zealand is a civilized country, which markets itself as an unspoiled paradise. They must act before it is too late." Marine mammal species should not be pushed to extinct because of the error of human ways. The New Zealand government should put more harsh fishing bans in place where Maui's dolphins live. The ocean is their home and we are only intruders, people must learn to respect the ocean and marine mammals.

                                          Maui's dolphin via flickr.com cliff1066

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2118304/Worlds-smallest-dolphin-threat-nets-species-reduced-just-55-survivors.html

http://www.doc.govt.nz/conservation/native-animals/marine-mammals/dolphins/mauis-dolphin/facts/

Fish Swallow Tons of Plastic Each Year

Have you ever wondered just how many tons of plastic waste are dumed into the ocean each year?  According to a blog on the New York Times website about 7 million tons are dumped into the ocean every year. This number was shocking to me. This plastic is now slowly breaking down and ending up in the stomachs of fish. Companies should not dump their waste plastic into the ocean and alternative ways to clear waste plastic should be found.

A new study has found that in the North Pacific ocean alone, fish swallow between 12,000 and 24,000 tons of plastic a year. This number is completely unacceptable and refelcts upon the unhealthy amounts of plastic that are dumped into the ocean every single year. These numbers are also alarming scientist and environmentalist alike. Doug Woodring, the co founder of a non profit organization called Project Kaisei that supports research on waste plastic in the ocean, said "our ecosystem and environment is paying the price. The aggregation of plastic waste, even in remote places, is now evident to the point where the hope for dilution or turning our heads on the problem is no longer a solution." A solution to the waste project problem must be solved. Fish can not continue to swollow plastic, it is not good for them and it is absolutely not good for our oceans. Plastic can be recycled, new technology can even turn plstic into oil! there is no need to outsource plastic to our oceans.

                                             flickr.com Kevin Krejci



http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/08/fish-ingesting-plastic-waste-study-finds/

Seismic Exploration Leads to Ocean Noise

     Imagine loud explosions constantly going off in your neighborhood, you would be unable to concentrate, and have hearing damage. Plans have moved forward to begin dangerous seismic drilling for oil on the mid and south Atlantic coastlines.This drilling is harmful to many marine species and the government should not allow companies to continue this form of oil exploration.

     "Using giant arrays of seismic air guns to explore for oil and gas is equivalent to blasting dynamite in a neighborhood every 10-12 seconds for weeks or months on end." This fact was shocking to me. The ocean is not our home and humans should not invade it in such a loud and overbearing manner. Seismic drilling uses loud high-pressure air guns to look for water below the ocean. I understand that the world has a large demand for oil and new sources are needed, however, I feel that the search for oil should not happen at the expense of marine life such as the endangered North Atlantic right whale.

                                         North Atlantic right whale near dolphins, flickr.com myFWC Research

 This form of drilling can also decrease the catch of commercial fishing. I see this starting a vicious cycle: if more seismic drilling occurs in an area then the commercial fishing rates may drop there. As the rates drop fishermen may then start to fish new areas which endangers new fish and opens new parts of the ocean to the dangers of commercial fishing. Then, as the span of seismic drilling locations increase the fishermen continue to have to move into new territory. I think that explained the dangers the best when he said "“Today’s announcement is great for petroleum companies, but horrible news for our coastlines and a potentially deadly blow to ocean fisheries and wildlife. It’s yet another reason why we need to break our dangerous addiction to oil—not find more ways to feed that addiction." Seismic drilling can not be tolerated and companies need to find new ways to look for oil or reduce the amount of drilling done.


http://ecowatch.org/2012/offshore-oil-exploration-proposal-horrible-for-oceans-and-marine-life/