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One of the biggest migrations in the world
Right now, the Arctic is witnessing one of the biggest migrations in the world.
Bowhead and gray whales, belugas, ice seals, Pacific walruses and an estimated 12 million seabirds are traveling up through the narrow Bering Strait to stay with the sea ice—just as they’ve done for thousands of years. But these days, something else is journeying through the Bering Strait: commercial ships. Between 2008 and 2012, vessel traffic in the U.S. Arctic more than doubled, and is expected to grow even more in years to come. Every year marine wildlife faces bigger risks: ship strikes, ocean noise and oil spills. The U.S. Coast Guard can help protect Arctic wildlife from the threat of shipping by designating key hotspots as “areas to be avoided,” and by supporting speed restrictions in waters used by imperiled species. We have until June 3 to send the Coast Guard a message.
Tell the U.S. Coast Guard: Protect marine life from Arctic shipping.
Almost the entire western Arctic population of endangered bowhead whales and Pacific walruses migrate through the Strait each year. The risk of an accident in the Bering Strait region is compounded by the presence of seasonal sea ice, strong currents, adverse weather conditions and inadequate charting. With the region’s ecological and cultural importance, remoteness and lack of response resources, the consequence of an accident could be catastrophic.
The U.S. Coast Guard must act. Send them a message now to protect marine wildlife in the Arctic.
DNA detectives track covert Southern Ocean whaling.
Somewhere in the Southern Ocean, it seems someone has been covertly catching whales.
DNA detective work has tracked down meat on sale in Japan from endangered fin and sei whales that scientists say should not be there.
Either it wasn’t just the fake science that was illegal in Japan’s Southern Ocean whaling, or there is a pirate whaler.
These samples don't match records of whales declared by Japan in its now banned Antarctic "research" program, a scientific meeting has been told.
Instead, the detectives led by US scientist Scott Baker conclude there has been an illegal, unreported or unregulated hunt of sei and fin whale, against the rules of the International Whaling Commission.
"The are only two feasible options," said Matt Collis, campaigner for the International Fund for Animal Welfare.
"Either it wasn't just the fake science that was illegal in Japan's Southern Ocean whaling, or there is a pirate whaler, illegally smuggling whale meat into Japan's markets."
However, Japanese scientists have come up with a third possibility.
They suggest the whale meat could have been frozen since it was legally taken last century.
The whale meat puzzle was exposed at the commission's scientific committee meeting, which opens on Wednesday in San Diego.
The committee will give its verdict on Japan's plans for a new Antarctic hunt. The last program was ruled illegal by the International Court of Justice in a case brought by Australia.
In the lead-up to that decision, Professor Baker from Oregon State University submitted two reports on DNA analysis of dozens of whale meat products, bought in Japanese shops, and compared to a global genetic database.
The first report described finding 21 products that came from at least 11 individual southern hemisphere sei whales.
The sei, a temperate oceanic cousin of the minke up to 19 metres long, was last legally hunted in the southern hemisphere off Chile in 1979.
Professor Baker's researchers, who collected the whale meat over a 12-year period to 2009, also bought 19 products that came from 10 individual southern hemisphere fin whales.
These were purchased before the fin, the world's second-largest whale, was openly included in the Japanese Antarctic hunt from 2005.
Professor Baker declined to comment on the findings until after the meeting ended on June 4.
However, his paper concludes that the latest DNA classification work, based on the worldwide reference data set, "provides the most compelling evidence that the source of the IUU products is the southern hemisphere".
In response, Japanese scientist Hideyoshi Yoshida agreed that the sei whale products could be of southern hemisphere origin.
"The alternative hypothesis is that these products could have been stored from the end of commercial whaling in 1979," he said.
"This is 18 years before the first sei whale market product was purchased in 1997, and 28 years before the last product was purchased in 2007."
He said damage to the meat from long-term freezer storage could be prevented by vacuum packaging, or discarding outer portions at the time of sale.
Seaworld CFO Resigns
According to SeekingAlpha.com Seaworld Chief Financial Officer, James Heaney as resigned from Seaworld Entertainment. His place is held temporarily by Chief Accountant Marc Swanson.
SeaWorld Entertainment CFO to resign
- SeaWorld Entertainment (NYSE:SEAS) appoints Marc Swanson to be its interim CFO to replace James Heaney who is moving to a different company.
- Swanson is currently the Chief Accounting Officer at SeaWorld.
Could anyone explain why Seaworld would show wild orcas to the captive killer whales during their shows? AIt shows yet another level of cruelty and lack of understanding for these sentient beings. Then remember this? SeaWorld ousts CEO
Details on SeaWorld's management changes, with CNBC's Courtney Reagan.
Perhaps Mr. Heaney is simply feeling the pull of the massive global paradigm shift and joining in...
LATEST NEWS IS MR, HEANY IS JOINING THE CRUISE INDUSTRY.
SeaWorld CFO resigning to take job in cruise industry
SeaWorld Entertainment 's chief financial officer, James Heaney, is resigning to take a job in the cruise industry. Heaney will stay with SeaWorld until June 19.
7th Whale Washes Ashore in California
Seventh Dead Whale Found In Sonoma County
The body of a gray whale was washed ashore on a Portuguese beach in Sonoma County. This is the seventh dead body of a whale to be found ashore in the Bay Area of California.
The body of a gray whale was washed ashore on a Portuguese beach in Sonoma County. This is the seventh dead body of a whale to be found ashore in the Bay Area of California.The body of a gray whale was washed ashore on a Portuguese beach in Sonoma County. This is the seventh dead body of a whale to be found ashore in the Bay Area of California.
The newest dead whale found, measures only 28 feet long, meaning that the whale had not yet reached adulthood. The cause of its death is still unknown.
The last month of spring signifies the end of the migration period for the grey whales who come to Mexico, the place where they breed, from the north and scientists reckon that these mammals travel for about 5,000 miles to be able to mate in the Mexico Bay.
However, for the California Bay, May has been just a month in which the locals have found many dead whales bodies on the beach. Just last week, another body of a gray whale was found in Half Moon Bay and state officials have said that the whale measured nearly 30 feet long.
At first, the authorities believed that the tide will clear the whales from the beach, but this has not happened and because of the growing heat, the smell of decomposing bodies has started to become a nuisance for the residents of the area, therefore it was decided that whales will be burried.
On April 14, a 48 foot sperm whale was found dead on the beach of Mori Point and just a few weeks later, on May 4, another dead whale was washed ashore in Pacifica. Researchers are pretty much convinced of the fact, that the two deaths are not related, but they are still taken aback as to what caused the two whales to die on the same beach one after the other.
However, the most bizarre whale death that took place recently, was that of the 25 foot long killer whale, found in Fort Bragg and researchers are puzzled by what caused the animal to become stranded on the beach.
April 24 was also a very bad day for whales in the California Bay area, as two gray whales were found dead, one on the beach of Santa Cruz, the other on Waddell Beach.
The first whale, which was found on Santa Cruz beach, measured 40 feet and scientists concluded that it must have been dead for days before being washed ashore. The second whale measured 23 feet and it had marks of an orca attack which ultimately resulted into the demise of the gray whale.
Image Source: kron4
Image Source: kron4
Let's Throw Shamu A Retirement Party!
Washington, DC— In a TEDx Talk released today entitled “Let's Throw Shamu a Retirement Party!," Animal Welfare Institute marine mammal scientist Dr. Naomi Rose advocates for the gradual phasing out of exhibits and shows featuring orcas, highlighting the species' complex family structure in nature as a primary reason why orcas cannot thrive in captivity.
Washington, DC— In a TEDx Talk released today entitled “Let's Throw Shamu a Retirement Party!," Animal Welfare Institute marine mammal scientist Dr. Naomi Rose advocates for the gradual phasing out of exhibits and shows featuring orcas, highlighting the species' complex family structure in nature as a primary reason why orcas cannot thrive in captivity.TEDx Talk Highlights Why SeaWorld Should Retire Shamu
AWI Scientist Dr. Naomi Rose Highlights How Captivity Destroys Orca Family Structure
Tuesday, May 26, 2015 Washington, DC
In a TEDx Talk released today entitled " Let's Throw Shamu a Retirement Party!," Animal Welfare Institute marine mammal scientist Dr. Naomi Rose advocates for the gradual phasing out of exhibits and shows featuring orcas, highlighting the species' complex family structure in nature as a primary reason why orcas cannot thrive in captivity.
Dr. Rose presented her talk at TedxBend, an independent TED event held in Bend, Oregon, in April 2015.
Dr. Rose presented her talk at TedxBend, an independent TED event held in Bend, Oregon, in April 2015.
In her presentation, Dr. Rose discusses how orcas in the wild share intricate family bonds, with members serving distinct roles to help one another survive, reproduce, and flourish. In contrast, Dr. Rose explains, orcas in captivity—sometimes held alone or with orcas from different populations—are denied natural family life.
In discussing the separation of family members at different marine theme parks, Dr. Rose says, "We all have family. How can it be morally right to do to others—even when those 'others' aren't human—what we would consider devastating if it happened to us? This comparison is not anthropomorphism. It's empathy."
Dr. Rose's TEDx Talk is highly relevant, given the recent pushback that popular marine theme park SeaWorld has faced from a growing number of consumers and businesses that believe it is no longer acceptable to hold whales and dolphins in captivity for the purpose of entertainment. Despite multiple lawsuits, business partnership cancellations, dipping stock, and plummeting attendance, the park continues to keep orcas in captivity for profit and refuses to acknowledge the public's concern for the well-being of the animals.
However, with only 56 orcas in captivity in the world, Dr. Rose believes that the issue of their captive display can be solved. She encourages the public to write to marine theme parks and express support for the retirement of captive orcas to sanctuaries.
"When you're considering where to go on family trips, think about whether you want to spend your money at a marine theme park, now that you know what you know about these whales' remarkable families," says Dr. Rose. "Consumer choice is a powerful force for change—after Blackfish aired on CNN in 2013, SeaWorld's annual attendance dropped by a million visitors and its stock dropped almost 50 percent. Your choices make a difference."
To view Dr. Rose's TEDx Talk, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmMv9t_hW8k.
For more information on cetaceans in captivity, visit http://awionline.org/content/confinement-marine-life.
Media Contact:
Amey Owen, 202-446-2128, amey@awionline.org
Amey Owen, 202-446-2128, amey@awionline.org
About the Animal Welfare Institute
The Animal Welfare Institute is a nonprofit charitable organization founded in 1951 dedicated to reducing animal suffering caused by people. AWI advocates for responsibly watching cetaceans in the wild as a means to experience the thrill of seeing these creatures in action. AWI only supports cetacean captivity in exceptional circumstances, such as when an animal has live stranded and has been deemed, by responsible experts, unable to be safely returned to the wild. In these circumstances, AWI supports initiatives to ensure that the animal is truly provided an opportunity to be an ambassador for the species, is afforded proper respect and a decent life and, above all, is not trained to perform unnatural tricks or participate in shows.
The Animal Welfare Institute is a nonprofit charitable organization founded in 1951 dedicated to reducing animal suffering caused by people. AWI advocates for responsibly watching cetaceans in the wild as a means to experience the thrill of seeing these creatures in action. AWI only supports cetacean captivity in exceptional circumstances, such as when an animal has live stranded and has been deemed, by responsible experts, unable to be safely returned to the wild. In these circumstances, AWI supports initiatives to ensure that the animal is truly provided an opportunity to be an ambassador for the species, is afforded proper respect and a decent life and, above all, is not trained to perform unnatural tricks or participate in shows.
For more information about AWI, please visit and support www.awionline.org.
Festival Closes With Focus on the Environment
At the Cannes Film Festival, art, not politics, is the expressed focus. At the Cannes Film Festival, art, not politics, is the expressed focus. Cinema, festival director Thierry Fremaux always insists, is Cannes' only creed. But when the 68th Cannes Festival wraps up Sunday with the screening of Luc Jacquet's Ice and the Sky, it will be hard to avoid the political undertones. The documentary, a look at climate change scientist Claude Lorius, is advocacy cinema at its most emotional, impressive and unabashed.
At the Cannes Film Festival, art, not politics, is the expressed focus. At the Cannes Film Festival, art, not politics, is the expressed focus. Cinema, festival director Thierry Fremaux always insists, is Cannes' only creed. But when the 68th Cannes Festival wraps up Sunday with the screening of Luc Jacquet's Ice and the Sky, it will be hard to avoid the political undertones. The documentary, a look at climate change scientist Claude Lorius, is advocacy cinema at its most emotional, impressive and unabashed.
"I think having the film for the closing night sends a very strong political message," Jacquet tells THR. "The environment is very much entering the sphere of cinema, like all other contemporary topics, from poverty to politics, in contrast to the situation before where documentaries (of this type) were more confined to television. I think the Cannes selection committee made a strong statement that documentaries of this kind should not be marginalized."
Since making his Oscar-winning March of the Penguins in 2005, Jacquet has taken his nature documentaries in a new direction. Not satisfied to just show the beauty of the natural world, the French filmmaker has become an overt activist, focusing on man's impact on the environment. His last feature documentary, 2013'sOnce Upon a Forest, looked at human degradation of a tropic rainforest.
"I think that people now have a moral obligation to move fast in order to reverse the environmental situation," Jacquet says. "Maybe I should have done this before. But as a cineast I feel that I absolutely need to take sides and that I need to participate and I feel that I am privileged because of my position as both a director and a scientist."
Paul Watson, founder of activist group the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, and star of Whale Wars on Animal Planet, says the movie industry has traditionally avoided overt environmentalism.
"They've slipped these environmental films in undercover," he tells THR. "Avatar was really about the Brazilian rainforest, and Interstellar was really about climate change. I think Noah was one of the most blatant ones about climate change, though they didn't mention it, the message is certainly there."
But Watson, in Cannes for special presentations of environmental advocacy documentaries Blackfish andCowspiracy, in which he appears, believes the tide may be shifting.
"I think we're breaking through right now and people are starting to see the value of these kinds of films," he says. "People are seeing the power of documentaries...These documentaries are starting to have the same kind of impact as (feature films)."
Blackfish, a look at the mistreatment of orcas and other whales at SeaWorld, certainly had an impact on the famous marine park. SeaWorld lost more than $25 million last quarter as attendance numbers, and its share price, plunged thanks to the negative publicity generated by Blackfish. Company CEO Jim Atchison, resigned in January.
The box office impact of environmental docs is less clear. Blackfish earned $2 million in U.S. release, but similar advocacy docs, including the Oscar-winning The Cove (2009), have struggled to hit seven figures. Jacquet's March of the Penguins, a splendor of nature documentary without any environmentalist message, earned $130 million worldwide, including nearly $80 million in the U.S. Once Upon a Forest closed out at just over $6.5 million stateside.
Jacquet admits that the large number of climate change deniers in the U.S. pose a challenge to the release of his films there, now that he isn't hiding his environmental leanings.
"I don't know if I can change the opinion of the climate change deniers," he says. "During a recent visit to the United States, I was shocked by the virulence and the hypocrisy of these lies (about climate change). I wonder if there aren't some hidden interests or influence behind this. But my desire (with Ice and the Sky) was to create an objective message to show that scientific data is not arrived at just be chance, but thanks to the hard work of scientists who have worked in difficult and dangerous conditions...that this data that has been emerging has not been gathered just to annoy the people of the world but rather to point at something that is going on that is actually very serious, so let's work together to try and bring about a reduced carbon society."
Also in Cannes pitching his latest nature documentary is ocean explorer Jean-Michel Cousteau, the 77-year-old son of famed, Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Jacques Cousteau. Cousteau is putting the finishing touches on Odyssey 3D, which looks at the tiniest creatures in the sea – plankton – which form the bottom of the food chain and account for more than half of all oxygen production on the planet.
Cousteau himself is an environmental activist and his films have had direct political impact in the past. His 2006 documentary Voyage to Kure inspired then U.S. President George W. Bush to create the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, one of the largest marine protected areas in the world.
In Odyssey 3D, however, Cousteau deliberately avoided, as he puts it, "preaching the environmentalist message." The beauty of nature, not mankind's impact on it, is the film's focus. "My father always said: people protect what they love. We want people to fall in love with these things they have never seen – the phytoplankton and zooplankton, the tiniest creatures of the sea, the foundation of all life on the planet. I have tested the film in various parts of the U.S. over the past two months and the reaction is always the same: that is amazing. What can I do to help?"
"It's not doom and gloom," says Pascal Borno, whose Conquistador Entertainment is selling Odyssey 3D worldwide. "We definitely won't lose (the climate change denier) audience on this one."
Cousteau plans to finish Odyssey 3D by the end of the year and hopes to premiere it in Cannes next year, exactly 50 years after his father's film, The Silent War, won the Palme d'Or, the first documentary to do so.
Box office gold or not, environmental documentaries are becoming easier to make, thanks to celebrity support – think of Leonardo Di Caprio-produced Virunga or Pharrell Williams, who backed i-D-produced environmental doc The Plastic Age. "More and more stars are becoming involved in these issues, more and more people are trying to make these kinds of films," says Watson. "That visibility is getting these films and issues in front of the public and putting additional pressure on the industries. This is the struggle of the 21st century – the resource wars. The movement to save the environment is the fastest growing movement in history. It's completely universal because it effects everybody in every country no matter what their political or religious affiliations. It's probably the only thing that has that universal impact."
