Meet the World’s 10 Most Endangered Whales
Hunted to near extinction, these giant marine mammals are making a comeback—but they still face threats from marine pollution, ships, and abandoned fishing gear.
Just how endangered are some of the world’s whales?
Others, including sperm, right, and blue whales, are still trying to recover from being hunted to near oblivion during the last two centuries. Fin and sei whales are still hunted by some nations.
Pacific Coast killer whales can’t find enough chinook salmon to eat because inland river dams as well as overfishing have nearly wiped out many fish runs, while climate change is melting the Arctic habitat of the bowhead whale.
Below are the 10 most endangered whales.
Most of these whales are subject to the same modern risks, such as entanglement in abandoned fishing gear or “ghost nets,” being injured or killed in collisions with large ships, coping with noise pollution, and enduring rising levels of marine pollution.
To save these whales, nations and communities worldwide must answer difficult questions about limits on development, energy drilling, shipping, and fishing, even as billions of people around the globe try to escape poverty. Can humanity figure out how to share space and resources with these whales, some of Earth’s most mysterious and intelligent creatures, in time to save them?
In the meantime, there are personal choices people can make to help the oceans and whales, such as buying sustainably harvested seafood, using renewable energy, and opting for reusable bags and cups that won’t end up as part of the marine plastic pollution crisis.
Target: Canadian Liberal Senator Wilfred Moore
Goal: Urge lawmakers to ban the practice of keeping cetaceans in captivity unless they are injured or need help.
Petition: Click Here To Sign.
Whales, dolphins, porpoises, and other cetaceans are still allowed to be held in captivity where it they live shorter lives and are often used for entertainment purposes, but this may end with new legislation that Canada is introducing to the Senate.
Canadian Liberal Senator Wilfred Moore has introduced The Ending of Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act, which would build upon Canada’s animal abuse laws and extend these provisions to cetaceans. Holding these animals in captivity would only be allowed if they were injured or clearly in need of help.
Senator Moore has recognized the importance of keeping these creatures out of captivity for the purpose of entertainment. Moore said that “treating cetaceans as the highly intelligent species that they are, and ensuring the freedom they enjoy in their natural habitat, is paramount for our own morality.”
According to Moore, there are more than 50 beluga whales and dolphins currently being held captive at the Vancouver Aquarium and Marineland. While the aquarium only captures cetaceans when they need help, breeding still continues there and needs to be stopped. In the province of Ontario, capturing and breeding orcas has been made illegal and those caught breaking this law can serve up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $60,000.
All of Canada needs to follow in the footsteps of Ontario and ban the captivity and breeding of cetaceans. Please sign the petition below and tell Senator Wilfred Moore how crucial it is for Canada to stop treating cetaceans with cruelty and let them be free.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Hon. Wilfred Moore,
You have recently introduced legislation called The Ending of Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act that would ban the practice of acquiring and breeding cetaceans in Canada. This legislation is needed and I fully support your decision to back this bill.
Keeping cetaceans in captivity for any reason other than helping injured creatures is wrong. For far too long, we have let this practice go on because there is a profit to be made in the animal entertainment industry. It is time we stop this cruel practice and allow cetaceans such as orcas and dolphins be free in their natural habitat.
Thank you for introducing legislation that will hopefully work to achieve this goal. We need continued support for this bill and I hope that you will do everything in your power to stop the captivity and breeding of cetaceans.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Christopher Michel
Save Whales and Dolphins from Drowning in Nets. Target: Chair Lowman and Council Members, Pacific Fishery Management Council; Ms. Sobeck and Mr. Stelle, National Marine Fisheries Service
Goal: Remove drift gillnets that kill endangered and non-targeted marine animals from the waters off California.
Petition: Click Here To Sign.
Huge nets are entangling and killing many marine animals that are not targeted by the fishermen who use them, including dolphins and whales. Oceana recently released a public service announcement spreading awareness about the use of drift gillnets. The announcement featured Kate Mara, who was urging the public to give her and Oceana a hand in ensuring swordfish drift gillnets are removed from the waters. To protect whales and other marine wildlife off the United States’ West Coast, Kate Mara wants these nets removed and replaced with cleaner gears.
Striking ocean wildlife including sea lions, dolphins, sea turtles and whales all rely on waters off the US west coast. These creatures use the water to migrate, feed and breed. Sadly, some these species are endangered, and they face a high risk of entrapment due to the use of these unselective fishing gears.
Drift gillnets are set up during the night in the waters off California with the intention of capturing swordfish and thresher sharks. However, the nets create risky traps for other marine life. It has been documented that around 60 different marine species have been severely injured or drowned because of these nets. Though the nets target swordfish, in the morning when they are pulled, they contain a high number of other marine animals. The nets entrap whales, sea turtles, seals, dolphins, some shark species and other economically important marine animals as bycatch.
Due to bycatch concerns, some states have prohibited the use of these nets, leaving California as the only state that permits their usage. To make sure whales, sea turtles, seals and other marine animals get maximum protection, please sign this petition to demand the removal of drift gillnets.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Chair Lowman and Council Members, Ms. Sobeck and Mr. Stelle,
Kate is working alongside Oceana to ensure drift gillnets are removed from the waters. These nets are meant for swordfish and thresher sharks but have a high bycatch rate and injure a high number of other marine animals, including whales. The nets entangle and kill several marine creatures every year, endangering sperm whales and sea turtles in addition to killing other non-targeted species.
To maintain the health and biodiversity of California’s marine ecosystem, drift gillnets should be banned and replaced with cleaner and better fishing gears. These nets are invisible, are a mile-wide and a hundred feet deep, therefore, able to catch marine animals indiscriminately. Due to the awe-inspiring nature of whales and their unnecessary suffering, Kate Mara is dedicated to ensuring these creatures are protected. Removing these nets should go a long way in protecting whales and other marine life. Do the right thing,and ban drift gillnets.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Tomorrow at midnight is the hard deadline for our summer stop seismic membership drive, and we still haven’t met our $70,000 goal.
Can you help fund our proven campaign to prevent seismic blasting by joining Oceana now? Give $50 or more and we’ll send you an Oceana beach towel as our thank you!
We’ve told you how seismic airgun blasting could harm or even kill dolphins and critically endangered North Atlantic right whales; how the dynamite-like blasts could leave dolphins incapable of finding food; how if a single whale calf dies the entire species could possibly go extinct.
But these aren’t only marine animals that could be harmed – not hardly. Seismic airgun blasting could hurt or even kill other at risk whales, including humpbacks and sperm whales, as well as endangered sea turtles and important fish stocks.
We have to stop seismic airgun blasting – and together, I believe we can do it. Because of the dedication of thousands of Wavemakers like you, we’ve brought this issue to the forefront of public consciousness and prevented deadly blasting from sneaking by unnoticed.
Every donation – even $10 – makes a difference. From something as simple as paying for a banner at a stop seismic rally to funding Oceana’s dedicated scientists and their work, your gift matters.
How Creating Marine Sanctuaries is Helping Endangered Sharks, Whales and Dolphins in the Wild. This post was originally published on Conservation International’s blog, Human Nature.
The final day of our survey somehow encapsulated everything that is wonderful about Timor and Atauro.
We woke early, packed our field gear onto the boat and went for one last snorkeling trip. Once again, it was magnificent! In the bright sunlight and crystal-clear water, we saw stunning corals and a vast variety of reef fish. Out from the fringing reef, the seafloor drops more than three kilometers (1.9 miles) below the surface, creating habitat for big species such as sharks, whales, and dolphins. This is where CI is proposing a shark sanctuary that would cover a combination of reefs and deep water, allowing for a range of species and ecosystems.
After snorkeling, we said goodbye to the people of Atauro and began the journey back to Dili, the capital of Timor-Leste. The boat driver told us that earlier that day, he had seen a pod of melon-headed whales, which like deep water and are rarely seen by people. We eagerly scanned the horizon, but all we saw was a vast rain cloud heading our way. Within minutes, we were drenched by an epic downpour.
But as we neared Dili, the cloud drifted away. The sun came out, an obligatory rainbow appeared … and we saw a large pod of spinner dolphins! There must have been more than a hundred. They swam away from us, some of them leaping and — true to their name — spinning through the air. Two broke away from the group and raced back toward our boat. They overtook us, leapt from the water several times, then turned and swam back to the pod. On the boat, we stood and applauded — this place was amazing!
Flickr
Flickr
A Search for Biodiversity
On the mainland, as I packed up and prepared to fly home to Singapore, our team discussed our plans for further research on the island.
To fully understand the diversity of the area, we will have to conduct a marine survey there in November, during “whale time.” In October and November, blue and humpback whales migrate through the straits between the Timor mainland and Atauro. They can be seen just a few hundred meters from the shore, and yet there is no whale-watching tourism here. With more than a dozen other cetacean species in the area, the potential for non-invasive whale and dolphin watching could be huge — if, that is, they are found in sufficient numbers.
When it comes to terrestrial species, our work this week has turned up as many questions as answers. Where do the shrews occur, and how many species are there? Are there any amphibians here? Is the spitting cobra a species new to science? Do the rocky cliffs along the south of the island harbor species that are not found elsewhere? What is the northern tip of the island like? Do other bat species live on the island?
With these questions comes the realization that we still have so much to learn — so we’ve decided to continue our terrestrial research during our November survey as well.
Flickr
FlickrUsing Data to Preserve Animals and Their Environment
We have already, however, gathered sufficient information to support the Timorese government’s plans for a protected area on the island — and help the country figure out which areas are most important to protect. Our report will highlight the importance of the area, both for people and for wildlife. We will also discuss options to expand the proposed boundary to include the beautiful stream that the team found, which is a rare source of fresh water on the parched island.
We will also include recommendations for ecotourism that, if pursued in a sustainable manner, could support the local and national economy without harming nature.
In a way, Atauro is a small-scale example of the sort of conservation decisions governments make around the world: managing the trade-offs between development and conservation, controlling the balance between people and nature, preserving the flow of ecosystem services (such as water) to people downstream and ensuring that development doesn’t lead to species extinctions.
Ultimately, I hope we can help create an entire island ridge-to-reef protected area that will have incredible benefits for all life — human or otherwise — that inhabits this remarkable place.
Lead image source: Rob Shenk/Flickr
Team Blackfish Races To #FreeMorgan From 5 Years In Captivity. Team Blackfish dynamic duo Samantha Berg and Kevin Meddleton joined Blackfish Racing member Margaret Adsit to complete a half marathon today in Anchorage Alaska while raising the issue of captivity to the general public. June 23 will make it 5 years since her "rescue".
With every step they shared #Blackfish with everyone.
This is what we call a winner:
Following the race, Samantha and Kevin had a moment to reflect on the purpose of this race and what it means to them:
"Today was a particular poignant day to be running not only for Morgan but for the welfare of all captive Blackfish. As Kevin and I were getting ready for the 1/2 Marathon this morning, we learned that Freya, a wild caught orca "living" (actually "existing" would be a better word) at Marineland Antibes had died at less than 40 years old. Less than half of the potential lifespan for wild killer whales. Freya had 4 stillborn calves in her short/tragic life with only one calf who survived into adulthood - Valentin 19-yrs-old, still incarcerated at Marineland Antibes.
If Morgan is not released from Loro Parque she will most likely experience the same fate: a shortened lifespan, forced insemination/breeding and the high likelihood that any calf she does produce will either die prematurely (as Vicky recently did at Loro Parque) or the calf will be shipped to another park. There is no moral justification for this treatment of animals we know to possess great intelligence, close family bonds and near human lifespans. Time to #EmptytheTanks.
Blackish Racing is multi-sport activist team dedicated to getting the word out that #CaptivityKills. Any athlete is welcome to join and help to promote the message. Visitwww.blackfishracing.com for more information."
About the race, Blackfish Racing team member Margaret Adsit says:
"It is such a delicious freedom to be able to run a half-marathon. A freedom of movement and the thrill of the run, we all need space to run and roam free. It was why I ran for Morgan, because she doesn't have her freedom. I'll run long and run hard until she does."-Margaret AdsitDr. Ingrid Visser of Orca Research Trust and world renown orca expert, has made it her mission since Morgan's June 2010 capture, to fulfill the original permit to rescue and release, not hold for entertainment or breeding purposes. Dr. Visser wrote a comprehensive report on the physical condition of Morgan in 2012. Please support Orca Research Trust and FreeMorgan.org. Freemorgan.org writes about Seaworld's involvement in her captive state during a letter in supper of AB-2140:
"SeaWorld currently lists Morgan as an asset in its filings to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, a result that could have only come through secret negotiations with the Dolfinarium Harderwijk in the Netherlands. This, despite SeaWorld's recent claims that they no longer acquire orca from the wild.
Morgan is now held at Loro Parque, SeaWorld's offshore killer whale storage and breeding facility in Tenerife, Spain which is used to circumvent the restrictions of the MMPA and CITES and allows SeaWorld to launder and import any progeny of Morgan into the United States; thereby establishing a new wild/captive orca bloodline and further perpetuating this travesty. Without intervention, orca Morgan will suffer a life of forced daily performances for her food and constant impregnation."
Read the rest of the letter in support of the California Assembly Bill AB-2140, the Orca Welfare and Safety Acthere.
Read about Morgan's case here and here and use #FreeMorgan in social media and follow Voice Of The Orcas,
Icelandic Captive Orca Freya, 32, Dies At Marineland Antibes Decades Earlier Than Her Wild Pod. In a month that has seen a few captive deaths already, comes this heart-breaking news release via Orca Aware:
Sad news has been released today from Marineland Antibes in France: Captive orca Freya has died following "a long illness".
The post announced (translated using Google Translate) that "After more than 32 years with [her] trainers and [her] group of orcas, the matriarch leaves today Wikie,Inouk, Valentin, Moana and Keijo all born the Park. The team [of] trainers,veterinarians and experts have devoted their efforts for several months to [help her] heal. They made sure she had no pain and in that time, Freyastayed with [her] social group. Analyses will be performed by a veterinaryexpert team, to know the cause of death. The findings will be published."
Freya is finally home.
Freya was captured from Icelandic waters in 1982 at around 1 year of age and has been held in captivity ever since. Scientific research has estimated that, in the wild, female orca have an average lifespan of 50.2years and can live as long as 80-90 years, possibly even longer. In captivity, orca life-expectancy is greatly reduced, with an overall median survival estimate of just 6.1 years. Freya died at the age of 32.
Freya's dorsal fin was partially collapsed and she had a white, round scar on her left-hand side that was a result of human action. During her time in captivity, Freya had four stillbirths. Her only surviving calf is a male named Valentin, born 1996, who still resides at Marineland Antibes. In the wild, male orca survival has been linked with the survival of their mothers.
Freya's dorsal fin was partially collapsed and she had a white, round scar on her left-hand side that was a result of human action. During her time in captivity, Freya had four stillbirths. Her only surviving calf is a male named Valentin, born 1996, who still resides at Marineland Antibes. In the wild, male orca survival has been linked with the survival of their mothers.
Freya was the oldest member and matriarch of the Marineland Antibes orca. Freya was one of seven wild-caught Icelandic orcastill alive in captivity, leaving only six remaining.
She is now one of 48 wild-caught Icelandic individuals who have died in captivity.
Read the rest of the Orca Aware report here as well as the video of Former SeaWorld & Marineland Antibes trainer John Hargrove talking about his time working with Freya in France.
So, what do we know about Icelandic orcas?
(Via OrcaAware)Icelandic Orca
Studies on Icelandic orca began in the 1980s in east Iceland, where the orca could be found following the Icelandic summer-spawning herring winter migration. A total of 123 orca have been recorded off Vestmannaeyjar, although actual numbers are likely to be higher. It has been suggested that the Icelandic orca have a similar group structure to other fish-eating populations found around the world: highly complex, matrilinial, family groups. Using ultrasonic frequencies, like the Shetland herring-eating orca, Icelandic orca also produce whistles which are out of the range of human hearing.
Currently Alive (via Orca Aware)
Stella Stella was around the age of one when she was captured in 1987 and is being displayed at the Port of Nagoya Aquarium in Japan. Up until recently, Stella resided with another wild-caught Icelandic orca, Bingo (also known as Thor). Bingo was two-years old in 1984 when he was captured just a few years before Stella and his death was reported on 02 August 2014. Bingo and Stella produced two calves, Ran 2 (born 2006) and Rin (also known as Lynn; born 2012). Kiska Kiska was captured in 1979 at the age of three and is currently the only orca kept at Marineland Ontario in Canada. Kiska has produced five calves, all of which are dead. The longest-living calf died at age six and the shortest-living calf only survived for 62 days.
Kasatka & Ulises Kasatka and Ulises were around one and three-years old respectively when captured from Icelandic waters. Kasatka was captured in 1978 and Ulises in 1980; both are now held at SeaWorld in California. Kasatka has had four calves by four different males, two of which were via artificial insemination. In fact, Kasatka was the first orca to be artificially inseminated in the year 2000. Three of her calves reside in California with her, the other one is at SeaWorld in Texas. Ulises dorsal fin has completely collapsed.
Katina & Tilikum Katina (also known as Kandu 6) and Tilikum are both contained at SeaWorld in Florida. Katina was captured in 1978 at the age of two. Tilikum was also two-years old at capture in 1983. Tilikum is thought to be the largest orca currently in captivity and he has killed three people (two trainers and one civilian). Katina has four surviving calves, of which only two are at SeaWorld Florida with her. Three more of her captive-born offspring have died.
Stella Stella was around the age of one when she was captured in 1987 and is being displayed at the Port of Nagoya Aquarium in Japan. Up until recently, Stella resided with another wild-caught Icelandic orca, Bingo (also known as Thor). Bingo was two-years old in 1984 when he was captured just a few years before Stella and his death was reported on 02 August 2014. Bingo and Stella produced two calves, Ran 2 (born 2006) and Rin (also known as Lynn; born 2012). Kiska Kiska was captured in 1979 at the age of three and is currently the only orca kept at Marineland Ontario in Canada. Kiska has produced five calves, all of which are dead. The longest-living calf died at age six and the shortest-living calf only survived for 62 days.
Kasatka & Ulises Kasatka and Ulises were around one and three-years old respectively when captured from Icelandic waters. Kasatka was captured in 1978 and Ulises in 1980; both are now held at SeaWorld in California. Kasatka has had four calves by four different males, two of which were via artificial insemination. In fact, Kasatka was the first orca to be artificially inseminated in the year 2000. Three of her calves reside in California with her, the other one is at SeaWorld in Texas. Ulises dorsal fin has completely collapsed.
Katina & Tilikum Katina (also known as Kandu 6) and Tilikum are both contained at SeaWorld in Florida. Katina was captured in 1978 at the age of two. Tilikum was also two-years old at capture in 1983. Tilikum is thought to be the largest orca currently in captivity and he has killed three people (two trainers and one civilian). Katina has four surviving calves, of which only two are at SeaWorld Florida with her. Three more of her captive-born offspring have died.
Deceased
A further 49 orca were captured from Icelandic waters (that we know of). Of these, 48 individuals have died in captivity, with only one female surviving past the age of 30 in the captive environment. The majority of these Icelandic orca have survived in captivity for considerably less time, with several having died after only a few months.
A further 49 orca were captured from Icelandic waters (that we know of). Of these, 48 individuals have died in captivity, with only one female surviving past the age of 30 in the captive environment. The majority of these Icelandic orca have survived in captivity for considerably less time, with several having died after only a few months.
Name, Age at Capture, Time in Captivity:
Kim, 5 years, 1976 - 1982
Kenau, 1 year, 1976 - 1991
Gudrun, <1 year, 1976 - 1996: FIND OUT MORE ABOUT GUDRUN & her calves NYAR & TAIMA
Magnus, 1 year, 10/1977 - 12/1977
Canuck 2, 2 years, 1977 - 1981
Koana 2, 2 years, 1977 - 1987
Kandu 5, 3 years, 1977 - 1989: FIND OUT MORE ABOUT KANDU 5
Suzie Wong, <1 year, 1977 - 1997
Winnie, <1 year, 1977 - 2002
No name, 1 year, 10/1978 - 02/1979
Shawn, 1 year, 1978 - 1979
Betty, 3 years, 1978 - 1987
Kahana, 1 year, 1978 - 1991
Kotar, <1 year, 1978 - 1995: FIND OUT MORE ABOUT KOTAR
No name, 1 year, 11/1978 - 02/1979
Shamu, 1 year, 1979 - 1983
No name, 3 years, 11/1979 - 01/1980
King, <1 year, 1979 - 1983
Caren, 2 years, 1979 - 1987
Benkei 2, <1 year, 1980 - 1983
Finna, 3 years, 1980 - 1997
Vigga, 1 year, 1980 - 2000
Bjossa, 3 years, 1980 - 2001
No name, 4 years, 10/1981 - 1982?
No name, <1 year, 10/1981 - 12/1981
Neptune, 4 years, 1981 - 1983
Nemo, <1 year, 1981 - 1986
Ruka, 2 years, 1981 - 2000
Nootka 5, 2 years, 1981 - 2008: FIND OUT ABOUT NOOTKA 5's CALF, SPLASH
No name, 1 year, 10/1982 - 05/1983
Nootka 4, 3 years, 1982 - 1994
Haida 2, <1 year, 1982 - 2001
Kim 2, <1 year, 1982 - 2005
Freya, 1 year, 1982 - 2015
Nandu, 2 years, 1983 - 1988: FIND OUT MORE ABOUT NANDU & SAMOA
Samoa, 3 years, 1983 - 1992: FIND OUT MORE ABOUT SAMOA & NANDU
No name, 4 years, 11/1984 - 01/1985
Bingo, 2 years, 1984 - 2014
Freyja, 2 years, 1984 - 1987
Junior, 2 years, 1984 - 1994: FIND OUT MORE ABOUT JUNIOR
Kandu 7, 6 years, 1984 - 2005
Prince, 3 years, 1987 - 1991
Maggie, 3 years, 1987 - 1997
Oscar, 1 year, 1987 - 2012
Ai, 1-2 years, 1989 - 1995
Tanouk, 3 years, 1989 - 2000
Ran, 1-2 years, 1989 - 2004
Sharkan, 4 years, 1989, 1989 - 2009
Keiko, 2 years, 1979 - 2003 FIND OUT MORE ABOUT KEIKO
Yaka, 1-2 years, 1969-1997 FIND OUT MORE ABOUT YAKA
For more information, visit: ORCA HOME (www.orcahome.de)
The Impact Of Ocean Debris On Whales. National Aquarium present marine debris dangers and entanglement procedures in partnership with the Marine Sanctuary program in Hawaii and Ed Lyman of the Humpback Whale Rescue. Here a video of the presentation that is very educational.
Biggest age group effected by marine debris are the juveniles of the whale population.
The length of travel that whales can carry 700+ pound traps (pots) before they were rescued in Hawaii.
Ed recounts the rescue of this whale who was later seen on Christmas day a few months later. alive and well.
I don't mind watching women's soccer and women's tennis — I'm secure in my masculinity like that. But I draw the line at being interrupted during the Serena Williams match by that SeaWorld orca commercial. You know the one.
"And government research shows that they live just as long as whales in the wild!"
But … as the wise Daffy Duck once said, "Do ya call that livin'?"
The SeaWorld PR blitz is no doubt a counter-offensive, arriving at about the same time as the backlash from the expose documentary "Blackfish," and ex-orca trainer John Hargrove's book chronicling the alleged abuses at SeaWorld, "Diving Beneath the Surface."
Folks are obviously asking themselves the question: 'Shouldn't these animals be in the ocean, instead of a large bathtub?'
If you haven't figured out by now that what you've just seen above is pretty much total bullshit, here are some facts:
1. "We don't collect Killer Whales from the wild, and haven't for 35 years."
Truth: Well yeah, because it's been illegal to do so since 1980. SeaWorld now has its own breeding program, which causes other problems — among which are inbreeding, and inseminating female orcas at 8 or 9 years of age. The usual age for orcas to breed in the wild is 15 or 16. And SeaWorld still snatches other animals — such as baby penguins from their colonies in Antarctica for their exhibits.
Editor's note: Let's not forget Morgan, the wild killer whale "rescued" then kept for breeding and listed as Seaworld's "asset" on their legal documents during their Initial Public Offering (IPO).
More about Loro Parque by Tim Zimmerman.As former SeaWorld trainer Jeffrey Ventre notes: "it DOES appear (although no audio confirmation) that a trainer is using a whistle to bridge Morgan at about the 54 second mark. This is contrary to claims that she is deaf."
Loro Parque trainer Claudia Volhardt also mentions that Morgan is being taught how to pee into a cup, so her hormonal cycles can be monitored. That is a key procedure when it comes to trying to breed Morgan, and Morgan offers SeaWorld (which listed Morgan as a SeaWorld asset when it filed the papers for its recent IPO) extremely valuable wild DNA for its captive breeding program.
Finally, Volhardt takes the opportunity to mention the stranded orca that was shot in the head in Norway in April, contrasting its fate to that of Morgan. On the one hand, it is a fair point since Morgan was "rescued" rather than "euthanized." On the other hand, topping a standard in which stranded orcas are shot in the head is setting the bar pretty low. And I am pretty sure that none of the release plans proposed for Morgan include a rifle.
From WDC:
Claim #1: 'SeaWorld does not capture killer whales in the wild.' Unfortunately, killer whales, also known as orcas, continue to be captured from the wild in the Russian Far East, and the market demand from countries like Russia and China that supports these captures is instigated and encouraged by the very existence of SeaWorld and other captive facilities. Taking a page from the playbook of SeaWorld who has pursued years of litigation in hoping to eventually overturn the original citation from the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), the Georgia Aquarium launched its own legal challenge against the US regulatory agency that denied it a permit to import wild captured belugas from Russia, including belugas that were also destined for SeaWorld parks. The US government noted this was the first time such an application had been denied to a marine mammal facility and SeaWorld and other captive facilities are now on their heels fighting to maintain the status quo.
Live captures of whales and dolphins continue around the world in regions where very little is known about the status of populations targeted. The long-term effects of wild captures can be significant. Captures and associated mortality also affect the dynamics and cohesion of the dolphin societies left behind. Some populations of orcas, the Southern Residents, have not rebounded from captures for public display that occurred as far back as the 1960s and are actually listed as 'endangered' as a partial result of these historic captures. We do not know the impact of recent captures on orca populations in the Russian Far East.
Orcas that were taken from the wild are currently part of SeaWorld's collection, or could be in the future. Orcas are transferred between facilities frequently and the recent orcas captured in the Russian Far East could eventually become assets to be traded among facilities, including SeaWorld. An example is Morgan, the wild orca held at Loro Parque in the Canary Islands, who is now technically owned by SeaWorld. Although not directly captured by SeaWorld, she was acquired from the wild and may now become part of the breeding program that, as the number of orca facilities expands across the globe, must ultimately rely upon orcas captured from the wild.
2. "With the highest standard of animal care in the world. All of our whales are healthy."
Truth: SeaWorld drugs their whales, sometimes using benzodiazepines like Valium and Xanax. The use of psychoactive drugs, say some animal welfare experts, is the result of stress from captivity. In the wild, orcas have a range of hundreds of miles. In captivity they are confined to a concrete pen their entire lives.
Ex -Seaworld trainer tells all about it on dodo.
Many SeaWorld orcas were on daily drugs to treat chronic stress, several of the park's former trainers have told The Dodo.
"We had whales who were on medication every single day of their life," said John Hargrove, who was a trainer at SeaWorld San Diego and SeaWorld San Antonio for a combined 14 years. Hargrove recently wrote a book about his experience at the park.
The Dodo spoke to Hargrove and former trainers Samantha Berg, John Jett, Carol Ray and Jeffrey Ventre about the medications they administered to captive orcas at SeaWorld's three parks. From antipsychotics (to decrease testosterone) to benzodiazepines (to calm the animals), the orcas needed a wealth of drugs to survive in a tank, and some of the drugs were so powerful they even put humans administering them at risk, the trainers allege.
3. "They're thriving."
Truth: SeaWorld has had a total of 66 live killer whales over the years. Of those, 29 are still alive. The first Shamu, possibly the park's most famous whale, died after six years in captivity. Of the 32 wild-born orcas in their collection, only six remain alive. The average age of death among wild-born whales at SeaWorld is 14.5 years.
Editor's note: Let's check how many didn't survive the show. For every Seaworld commercial, this is what I see.
And from WDC:
At least 148 orcas have been taken into captivity from the wild since 1961 (including Pascuala andMorgan).
127 of these orcas are now dead.
In the wild, male orcas live to an average of 30 years (maximum 50-60 years) and 46 years for females (maximum 80-90 years).
At least 161 orcas have died in captivity, not including 30 miscarried or still-born calves.
SeaWorld holds 24 orcas in its three parks in the United States and owns (at least) a further four atLoro Parque in Spain (ownership of Adan and Morgan not verified). At least forty-four orcas have died at SeaWorld.
One of the most infamous capture incidents saw over 80 whales from the Southern Resident population of orcas in Washington State rounded-up at Penn Cove in 1970. Seven were taken into captivity while as many as five whales died. Today this population is recognised as endangered. Only one captured whale, Lolita, is still alive, held at Miami Seaquarium.
The longest surviving orca in captivity is Corky, captured in 1969 from the Northern Resident population that inhabits the waters around Vancouver Island, Canada. She is held at SeaWorld in San Diego. None of her seven offspring in captivity have survived. Her family (known as the A5 pod) continue to thrive in the wild, including Corky's brother, Fife, who you can adopt to help support our work.
At least 15 orcas have been taken from the wild into captivity since 2002, most recently in Russia.
4. "Government research shows they live just as long as whales in the wild."
Truth: How exactly does "the government" know this? Orcas in the wild can often reach the age of 80, or even beyond — particularly the females. SeaWorld has been in existence for 50 years. Only two of their original whales still survive. They are both 47 years old.
Editor's note: Read this from CrooksandLiars.com ""As long as you use data from 2005 to 2013."
"5. "Because we love them."
Possibly, although you have a vested interest in saying that. The question is, does SeaWorld love you? SeaWorld supports legislation that would allow its parks to deny workers health coverage.
6. "And we know you love them too."
Truth: Orcas are jerks. In the wild they beach themselves to eat penguins, which are the animal kingdom's Charlie Chaplins. In captivity, they have been known to injure and kill their trainers. They even managed to make Richard Harris look sympathetic in the film Orca.
One of the featured SeaWorld employees in the commercial, Pedro Ramos-Navarrete, is described as an "Animal Rescue Technician", despite the fact that there have been no recorded examples of an orca ever being rescued in a SeaWorld park.
Like elephants at the circus, the concept of large, captive animals being paraded for our amusement is pretty much over. See Jurassic World for further details.
Imprisoned for Life: Marine Mammals in Captivity.
http://SupremeMasterTV.com • AW1279; Aired on 16 Mar 2010 •
Since the release of the critically acclaimed documentary Blackfish in 2013, SeaWorld's sordid history of animal abuse, inhumane marine-mammal shows, and trainer attacks has been exposed to the public—and SeaWorld has been under a lot of scrutiny. Its attendance has tanked, and corporate partners, including Virgin America, STA Travel, Taco Bell, Southwest Airlines, and Mattel, have severed ties with the company. With business failing in the United States, SeaWorld wants to take its abusement park to Dubai, a tourist destination known for innovative and exciting architecture, luxury shopping, and beautiful beaches, not animal abuse.
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Petition: Save Sea Life, Regulate CO2 as a Toxic
Substance
The world's sea life faces an unprecedented
crisis from ocean acidification. Left unchecked, acidification will drive a mass
extinction in our oceans, with corals and shellfish hit hard first and the
effects rippling through the food web to harm all marine life, from fish to
whales to otters.But there's still time to change course. That's why this week the Center for Biological Diversity and former Environmental Protection Agency scientist Dr. Donn Viviani petitioned the Obama administration to regulate carbon dioxide under the federal Toxic Substances Control Act. This first-of-its-kind petition seeks widespread reduction of CO2 by classifying it as a toxic substance -- just as has been done for asbestos and PCBs. The measure would complement other efforts to reduce CO2.
Some 22 million tons of CO2 are absorbed by our oceans every day. That has to change.
"Future generations will look back and wonder why we didn't do everything we could to save the world's oceans," said the Center's Miyoko Sakashita. "Failure to act is a decision to let our sea life die off and disappear. We can't let that happen."
Read a Huffington Post op-ed by Miyoko on this issue.
Japan has declared its intent to continue hunting whales in the Southern Ocean regardless. At a press conference in Tokyo on June 19 following the release of the IWC report, Japan’s IWC Commissioner, Joji Morishita, said that Japan’s plans remain unchanged.
“We of course intend to resume whaling again this year,” Morishita told a news conference.
Despite its determination that Japan had failed to demonstrate the need for lethal research, the Scientific Committee noted they could not make definitive findings on NEWREP-A, because the plan contained “insufficient information.” The IWC had been expected to decide whether NEWREP-A addressed the issues that led to Japanese whaling being ruled illegal by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) last year.
Captain Paul Watson, Sea Shepherd founder and senior strategic advisor for Sea Shepherd USA, is confident that the IWC will continue to reject Japan’s attempts to illegally renew commercial whaling under the NEWREP-A plan.
“Japan insists they are a nation that adheres to the rule of law, yet the International Court of Justice has ruled and their verdict was that Japan’s whaling is not ‘scientific research.’ Not only is Japan now spitting in the eye of the ICJ, they are impudently rejecting the decisions of the IWC. They are acting like a rogue nation when it comes to international conservation law,” said Captain Paul Watson. “Japan cannot demonstrate any new science to the IWC to justify their illegal activities for the simple reason that the science does not exist; it never has and no matter how much they dress it up, the plan is flawed scientifically.”
Scientific Justification for Whaling
In February, a 10-person expert panel selected by the IWC’s Scientific Committee, including four U.S. representatives, took the bold step of rejecting Japan’s latest whaling plan, finding that it lacks a legitimate scientific basis.
The full Scientific Committee’s report agreed with the expert panel on most points, finding that Japan has not substantiated the need to kill whales in order to support either of these research objectives, and recommending that Japan suspend its scientific whaling program while it tests non-lethal research methods such as satellite tagging, analysis of biopsy samples, and aerial photography and tracking.
Among the materials considered by the Scientific Committee was a letter from a group of 500 scientists from 30 countries, who voiced their strong opposition to NEWREP-A on the grounds that it is scientifically “unacceptable per se” and embodies a “serious mistake in the scientific method” by giving methodology (i.e., lethal whaling) prevalence over objectives, despite the availability of superior non-lethal techniques. The 500 scientists concluded that NEWREP-A is not scientific in nature, but rather “the result of commercial and political interests,” which “seriously undermines science.”
In March 2014, the ICJ concluded a case brought by Australia and New Zealand, finding that Japan’s previous whaling program (known as “JARPA II”) violated international law. JARPA II authorized the killing of as many as 935 minke whales, 50 endangered fin whales, and 50 humpback whales every year in the Southern Ocean. Between 2005 and 2014, Japan killed about 3,600 minke whales and 18 fin whales under JARPA II.
The ICJ ruled that Japan had failed to provide a legitimate scientific justification for its lethal whaling, and that its whaling under JARPA II was thus in violation of the international commercial whaling moratorium and the prohibition on commercial whaling in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. The ICJ held that Japan must revoke existing permits and refrain from granting any more permits under JARPA II.
In response to the ICJ decision, Japan suspended its Southern Ocean whale hunt during the 2014-2015 season. However, last fall, Japan introduced NEWREP-A, the plan that the Scientific Committee has now rejected.
“Japan is either bluffing or they have lost the plot entirely. They simply cannot go whaling in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary under the guise of scientific research without the approval of the IWC. If they do, it will invalidate the very reason that the IWC exists and it will broadcast to the world that Japan has no respect for international conservation law,” said Captain Watson. “Sea Shepherd expects the international community to strongly condemn and to censure any attempts by Japan to ignore their obligations to the rule of law.”
A New Threat to Whales: Snake-Oil Salesmen. In a bid to boost sales, a Japanese company is claiming that whale meat can fight dementia and other health problems.
A Japanese company wants to turn whale meat into the next rhino horn.
Just as unscrupulous dealers in China and Vietnam started making unsubstantiated claims a decade ago that rhino horn could cure cancer and hangovers, Japan's Kyodo Senpaku is now marketing Icelandic whale meat as a way to treat dementia and fatigue.
The move comes in response to plummeting demand for whale meat in Japan. Consumers there now eat 4,000 to 5,000 tons of whale meat a year, down from 200,000 tons in the 1960s. About half of this year’s imports by Kyodo Senpaku will come from Iceland, one of the few countries killing whales under the guise of “scientific research.”
A spokesperson for Kyodo Senpaku told The Japan Times that the attempt to market whale meat as a curative “may help not only to maintain demand for whale meat but also to lower health care costs.”
So what’s the deal with the anti-dementia claim? Kyodo Senpaku’s assertions hinge on an amino acid found in whale meat called balenine. Balenine and other flesh-based compounds (collectively known as carnosines) have indeed been linked in early research to fighting depressive orders. A paper published this year in the journal Aging and Disease concluded that the “therapeutic potential of carnosine dietary supplementation towards stress-related and depressive disorders should be examined” but did not say it was ready for marketing as a health aid for humans.
The move to sell whale meat as a curative did not surprise conservationists.
“This isn't the first time balenine has been used to market whale meat,” said Clare Perry, head of the Environmental Investigation Agency’s oceans campaign. “It's been mentioned for several years by those that are desperate to sell whale meat to a dwindling market.”
An example of that desperation: Last year the whale-meat industry introduced a cute cartoon mascot called Balenine-chan to help it market its products.
So, Why Should You Care? In addition to the medical claims, which EIA called “quack medical uses,” Kyodo Senpaku is selling meat from endangered fin whales from Iceland. This not only further threatens the whales but could jeopardize the people who try to treat their illnesses with whale meat.
“There are multiple concerns about toxins in whale meat, and of course anything that might encourage people to eat more does pose a threat,” said Perry. “As well as mercury, which is linked to developmental and cardiovascular problems and Parkinson’s disease, Icelandic fin whale products have actually been rejected by the Japanese health authorities due to high levels of pesticides, as has Norwegian minke whale meat.”
Meanwhile, even if the research into balenine pans out, there’s no need to turn to whales for the substance. “Balenine is not unique to whales,” Perry said. “It is found in several mammals, including humans and chickens.”
Kyodo Senpaku isn’t accepting that, though. Like Ahab’s single-minded quest for the white whale, it plans to continue research on balenine to find new ways to market whale meat. Just as the rhino-horn trade has proved disastrous for rhinos, that push can only be bad news for whales.
The Islands Where Watching Whales Could End Their Lives
A new Faroe Islands law forces tourists to report whale sightings—so hunters can find them too, activists say.
The Faroe Islands, a North Atlantic archipelago, have put a new twist on the phrase “If you see something, say something.” But it has nothing to do with terrorism.
Critics such as Sea Shepherd Global, which monitors and tries to interfere with the annual whale hunt in the Faroe Islands, known as thegrindadráp, say the law was created to help whalers drive the animals toward shore, where they are slaughtered for meat and blubber.
So, Why Should You Care? Whale grinds are permitted in 22 Faroese bays, where up to 120 pilot whales can be killed at a time. According to Sea Shepherd, 1,200 pilot whales are killed during the hunt season in the Faroes.
Visitors who fail to report sightings are now subject to fines of up to 25,000 Faroese króna, or about $3,550, and two years in jail. The law also increases penalties for trying to interfere with the grindadráp.
Faroese law enforcement officials called Sea Shepherd leaders into meetings and warned them about the new legislation and penalties. According to Rosie Kunneke of Sea Shepherd Global, the land team leader for the group’s summer anti-whaling campaign, Faroese officials told Sea Shepherd that any volunteer who injures a dolphin faces up to 10 years in prison. Last summer, several Sea Shepherd volunteers were arrested for allegedly trying to interfere with the hunt.
“We can go to jail if an animal is harmed as they are being driven to their death,” Kunneke said. “It doesn’t even make sense that you can send somebody to jail for trying to protect life.”
Whale watching is a tourist attraction in the Faroes, but the new law could drive visitors away, Kunneke believes, especially as any boat—including a whale-watching vessel—can be forced by grindadráp foremen to participate in driving whales to shore.
Rannva Solheim, a legal adviser at the Faroese parliament, confirmed that the law is in effect.
“There is a penalty if visitors don’t tell officials about seeing whales,” Solheim said. “Not reporting it is considered gross negligence.”
This year’s hunt is already under way. On Monday, 25 to 30 pilot whales were killed on the island of Viðoy, reported the Arctic Journal, while 154 pilot whales were killed on the island of Vágar on June 6.
Sea Shepherd says that its vessel Sam Simon is heading to the islands to deploy sonic devices that may divert whales from the shore. Kunneke declined to say whether Sea Shepherd will comply with the mandatory reporting rules or the ban on interfering with the hunt.
Cop Threatens Protestors With Physical Harm During Lolita Protest. "If I was coming in here with my family, and you called me an idiot, I would get out of the car and beat your fuckin' ass!" - Miami-Dade police officer.
The protestors in front of Miami Seaquarium were protesting (as usual) when a policeman charges toward them and starts screaming out of control at the protestors. One protestor called a passing vehicle an idiot because that person flipped off the protestors.
Watch the whole video here. Was the policeman justified in his actions? At a time when videos of policemen are grappling defenseless handicapped people are grappled to the ground almost, or in one case effectively, killing them, seems there needs to be more training in dealing with the public and their rights. Watch a Miami-Dade Cop Flip Out at Lolita Protesters Outside Seaquarium
The officer stalks toward a group waving signs outside Miami Sequarium to protest the living conditions of Lolita, the park's captive killer whale. The officer gets right in front of a camera held by one man, and then goes off.
The last thing a critically endangered marine animal needs is another threat
to its existence.But that’s exactly what North Atlantic right whales will get, if we fail to prevent seismic airgun blasting. The potentially deadly blasting could begin as early as this summer.
Harming even one of the mother whales or her calf could threaten the survival of the entire species. Our campaign has kept seismic at bay for now, but we’ll need to significantly ramp up our efforts to make it through this summer blast free. Can you help us spare these whales?
Become an Oceana member now, your donation supports our efforts to stop seismic airgun blasting and save North Atlantic right whales from possible extinction. Even $10 makes a difference, and when you give $50 or more we’ll send you a limited-edition Oceana beach towel – perfect for summer >>
Right whales are the rarest of all large whale species, and only about 450 remain in the North Atlantic. Each year, pregnant North Atlantic right whales visit the waters off the southeast United States to give birth.
If we fail, blasting will promptly begin in the very waters where these critically endangered, gentle creatures raise their young.
Tens of thousands of Oceana supporters have participated in rallies and town hall meetings, petitioned state and federal governments, and given their time and money to stop seismic. Because of their dedication, we’ve kept seismic airgun blasting and offshore drilling out of the Atlantic thus far.
The Icelandic whaling fleet is about to leave port to hunt and kill 150 endangered fin whales. We've come close to shutting down this barbaric operation before and now we have a chance to end it for good.
As the whalers sharpen their harpoons for this year’s hunt, their boss is trying to ship last year's whale meat to Japan right now. Over 1,700 tonnes are about to be sent through the icy passage between Russia and the North Pole. But if the tiny Caribbean nation of St. Kitts and Nevis simply removes their flag from the vessel it can’t leave port! Tourism is the main pillar of their country's economy and we can put their reputation on the line by throwing them into our giant global spotlight.
We have just six days before the boat could set sail.
Our community already helped push European countries to shun this shameful trade. Let’s now get St. Kitts to stop helping the whalers! Sign now and share with everyone urgently -- Avaaz will deliver our voices straight to the new Prime Minister, and if he doesn’t respond quickly, Avaaz’ll target his biggest tourist market - the US - and show how St. Kitts is supporting the slaughter of these majestic beings:
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/days_to_save_whales_loc/?bIQwIeb&v=61050
Iceland’s entire fin whaling industry is run by one man, Kristjan Loftsson, but his business is barely breaking even, so if we stop the whale meat from reaching Japan we can sink his profits! Other nations have removed their flag from vessels in response to public pressure over other environmental concerns so we know this can work for the whales. All we need to do is create a scandal and get a delay to make the crossing to Japan impossible.
Japanese whalers plan to resume "scientific" whaling in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary despite widespread opposition, and St. Kitts and Nevis votes in support of Japan's "research" at the International Whaling Commission. If we take them out of the equation now we can strike a deadly blow to both Icelandic and Japanese whaling at the same time!
Pressure has been mounting globally and nationally to stop the Icelandic whalers. This could be a turning point for the whales. Together we have the power to turn the International Whaling Commission into the International Whale Conservation Commission. And we can get started by stopping this year's harpooning and this whale meat shipment! Sign the urgent petition now:
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/days_to_save_whales_loc/?bIQwIeb&v=61050
As the whalers sharpen their harpoons for this year’s hunt, their boss is trying to ship last year's whale meat to Japan right now. Over 1,700 tonnes are about to be sent through the icy passage between Russia and the North Pole. But if the tiny Caribbean nation of St. Kitts and Nevis simply removes their flag from the vessel it can’t leave port! Tourism is the main pillar of their country's economy and we can put their reputation on the line by throwing them into our giant global spotlight.
We have just six days before the boat could set sail.
Our community already helped push European countries to shun this shameful trade. Let’s now get St. Kitts to stop helping the whalers! Sign now and share with everyone urgently -- Avaaz will deliver our voices straight to the new Prime Minister, and if he doesn’t respond quickly, Avaaz’ll target his biggest tourist market - the US - and show how St. Kitts is supporting the slaughter of these majestic beings:
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/days_to_save_whales_loc/?bIQwIeb&v=61050
Iceland’s entire fin whaling industry is run by one man, Kristjan Loftsson, but his business is barely breaking even, so if we stop the whale meat from reaching Japan we can sink his profits! Other nations have removed their flag from vessels in response to public pressure over other environmental concerns so we know this can work for the whales. All we need to do is create a scandal and get a delay to make the crossing to Japan impossible.
Japanese whalers plan to resume "scientific" whaling in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary despite widespread opposition, and St. Kitts and Nevis votes in support of Japan's "research" at the International Whaling Commission. If we take them out of the equation now we can strike a deadly blow to both Icelandic and Japanese whaling at the same time!
Pressure has been mounting globally and nationally to stop the Icelandic whalers. This could be a turning point for the whales. Together we have the power to turn the International Whaling Commission into the International Whale Conservation Commission. And we can get started by stopping this year's harpooning and this whale meat shipment! Sign the urgent petition now:
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/days_to_save_whales_loc/?bIQwIeb&v=61050
We know our voices work! Following our 1 million strong petition in 2013, the Dutch government blocked Iceland’s whale meat shipments docking in the Netherlands. And together with Greenpeace, our community managed to get fin whale meat sent back to Iceland from Germany. Since then major shipping companies announced they would never ship whale meat again. We’re making it harder and harder for this industry to make a profit. Let’s shut it down for good!
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/days_to_save_whales_loc/?bIQwIeb&v=61050
Iceland sends shipment of 1,700 tonnes of whale meat to Japan (The Guardian)
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jun/05/iceland-sends-shipment-of-1700-tonnes-of-whale-meat-to-japan.
Desperate whalers go north (Greenpeace)
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/news/Blogs/makingwaves/whale-meat-iceland/blog/53241/
The Winter Bay (Vessel Fider - shows where the ship carrying the whale meat is and which country is registering it)
https://www.vesselfinder.com/vessels/WINTER-BAY-IMO-8601680-MMSI-341433000
Japan to resume whaling hunt despite IWC warning (AFP)
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/japan-resume-whaling-hunt-despite-iwc-warning-105354478.html#ohHmAJ1
Iceland sends shipment of 1,700 tonnes of whale meat to Japan (The Guardian)
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jun/05/iceland-sends-shipment-of-1700-tonnes-of-whale-meat-to-japan.
Desperate whalers go north (Greenpeace)
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/news/Blogs/makingwaves/whale-meat-iceland/blog/53241/
The Winter Bay (Vessel Fider - shows where the ship carrying the whale meat is and which country is registering it)
https://www.vesselfinder.com/vessels/WINTER-BAY-IMO-8601680-MMSI-341433000
Japan to resume whaling hunt despite IWC warning (AFP)
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/japan-resume-whaling-hunt-despite-iwc-warning-105354478.html#ohHmAJ1
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Posted:
24 Jun 2015 06:00 AM PDT
The Gulf of Mexico’s only Baleen Whale Faces a Multitude of Threats as Drilling Continues
When the Deepwater Horizon drilling platform exploded and sank in April 2010,
hemorrhaging 200 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, I was finishing
up my first year of environmental policy and science courses. There could not
have been a more depressing send-off to final exams for an ardent
environmentalist than witnessing the largest oil spill in U.S. history. Five years
later, more than emotional scars remain as oil exposure continues to
affect marine mammals in the Gulf of Mexico.
The Gulf of Mexico is home to just one species of baleen whale: the Bryde’s whale
(pronounced BREW-duhs). It lives in tropical waters in the Atlantic, Pacific,
and Indian Oceans, but one unique and isolated population makes its home in a
small area of the Gulf of Mexico, just off the Florida Panhandle. In the wake of
the Deepwater Horizon disaster, when these whales skimmed the ocean surface to
filter-feed, they risked ingesting oil that would stick to their baleen plates.
The Deepwater Horizon blowout was bad enough, and scientists are still
determining the full scope of how exposure to so much oil from this well has
affected Bryde’s whales and other marine mammals. But that was neither the first
nor the last threat to the Bryde’s whale. Today this small population is in
danger of extinction as it faces the impacts of years of oil and gas-caused
pollution in the Gulf as well as the threats of further oil and gas exploration
and development.
(story continues below)
In April, the National Marine Fisheries Service
(NMFS) began the process to determine
whether or not the Gulf of Mexico population of Bryde’s should be protected
under the Endangered Species
Act (ESA). Defenders and our conservation allies all support an ESA
listing for this species. We recently provided the agency with additional
information on the many threats the Bryde’s whale faces to reinforce the case
for listing the whale as endangered. NMFS will have to make its decision on
whether to propose listing the species later this year. The agency estimates
that there are 33 individual Bryde’s whales in the Gulf, but given the
difficulty in tracking such a small population, there could be as few as just 16
whales. With such a frighteningly small population, losing even a single whale
can mean almost certain extinction.
A variety of threats puts the Bryde’s whale in clear and present danger. Like
most large whales, Bryde’s can become entangled in fishing gear. This can be an
especially serious concern if fishing vessels fail to report an incident, which
means no official response to help free the whale. Ships can also run directly
into whales, often with deadly consequences. The Gulf of Mexico has some of the
busiest ports in the world, and vessel traffic will only increase in the area,
making collisions with Bryde’s whales even more likely. Increasing ship traffic,
paired with expanding oil and gas exploration and development, also make for a
very noisy backyard. Because the pitch of the Bryde’s whale’s call falls within
these disruptions, all this noise could drown out their calls to one another,
affecting mother-calf communication, causing stress, and even changing vital
behaviors like breeding and foraging for food. Climate change
also threatens these whales, as rising sea temperatures and levels could affect
their food and habitat, while increasingly severe weather events like hurricanes
could lead to more oil spills as storms damage drilling platforms.
Although the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill left lasting impacts on marine
mammals in the Gulf, apparently it did not teach lasting lessons. Oil and gas
exploration and development continues around the Gulf. The Bureau of Ocean and Energy
Management has opened up more areas in the Gulf for oil and gas
drilling, including in one area next to Desoto Canyon, a habitat the Gulf of
Mexico population of Bryde’s whales needs to survive. Desoto Canyon lies very
near where the 2010 blow-out occurred, and where oil exposure and contamination
in Bryde’s whales is already highly likely. As drilling in and around the
whales’ habitat increases, so does the risk of future devastating spills.
By providing NMFS with additional analysis and research on Bryde’s whales and
the myriad threats they face, we have urged the agency to take the next steps to
protect this unique and vulnerable population. NMFS will now conduct a
comprehensive review of the species’ status and decide whether to propose the
Gulf of Mexico population of Bryde’s whale for ESA listing. This decision cannot
come soon enough for these imperiled whales. The post We Can’t Abandon the Gulf’s Bryde’s Whales appeared first on Defenders of Wildlife Blog.
Morishita’s statements came just a few days after the IWC’s scientific advisory committee ended its annual meeting in California without offering a unified opinion on Japan’s proposal to hunt 330 minke whales a year in the Southern Ocean between 2015 and 2027.
Japan is a member of the committee.
Japan insisted that killing the whales would be the only way it could gather certain scientific data on the minke population and diet.
However, an expert panel advised the committee last week that Japan had failed to justify killing the whales on scientific grounds.
The committee deferred a potential decision until its next meeting, in 2016, but 44 committee members from 13 countries signed a statement agreeing that there was no scientific reason to kill whales for research. They released it as an attachment to the committee’s final report.
Japan submitted the reworked plan because in 2014, the United Nations’ International Court of Justice ruled that its earlier whale hunts were harvests of whale meat for commercial sale, not efforts to collect scientific data, despite the country’s claims to the contrary.
“The ICJ ruling applied to Japan’s previous whaling program, not this new proposal. So technically it would not be a violation of the letter of the ruling but could be argued to violate the spirit of it,” said Molly Herrmann, a spokesperson for the World Wildlife Fund, which opposes all hunting of whales in the Southern Ocean.
So, Why Should You Care? Many nations and conservation groups oppose whale hunting on ethical grounds and say the treaty loophole that allows hunting to be justified for “scientific research” should be closed. While the minke whale is not considered endangered globally, it’s unclear how many of the species live in the Southern Ocean, which is one of its primary feeding grounds.
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