Most Penguin Populations Continue to Decline -- What can YOU do?

You can help rescue penguins, everyday.

[One hundred and eighty] penguin biologists from [22 nations] around the world...warn that ten of the planet's eighteen penguin species have experienced further serious population declines. The effects of climate change, overfishing, chronic oil pollution, and predation by introduced mammals are among the major factors cited repeatedly by penguin scientists as contributing to these population drops. ...Thirteen penguin species are already classified as endangered or threatened. Some penguin species may face extinction in this century.

Penguins are found exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere with a single species on the Galapagos Islands at the Equator to four Antarctic penguin species that are most well known to the public, yet 13 other species also live in South America, southern Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and on the many sub-Antarctic islands. Throughout their ranges, nearly all of penguin species are in significant decline or under duress due to a host of common factors.

Climate Change

The effects of climate change on different penguin species has been the topic of many of the scientists's papers and presentations. Many penguin species are highly dependent on small schooling fish for food. These masses of anchovies, sardines and other small finfish are seasonally brought to many penguin habitats by cold water currents. In years with El Nino events in the Pacific, there has been a dramatic warming of sea surface temperatures which effectively blocked cold water currents coming up the western coast of South America. Consequently, Galapagos penguins and Humboldt penguins, which are found on the coasts of Peru and Chile, have suffered due to reduced food availability, which principally affects the survival of the young. Galapagos penguins stand a 30% probability of becoming extinct in this century and Humboldt penguins have been classified by the Peruvian government as endangered.

Earlier this year, African penguins, found in Namibia and South Africa, were reclassified internationally as endangered as many breeding colonies in the western part of their range have disappeared. Important food bearing cold water currents have shifted and are now routinely found much further offshore. The increased round-trip commuting distance for African penguins to obtain food has been devastating to their population.

Scientists are closely watching the potential effects on several Antarctic penguin species that are highly dependent on the presence of sea ice for breeding, foraging and molting. Emperor penguins, which were the subject of "March of the Penguins," could see major population declines by 2100, if they do not adapt, migrate and change the timing of their growth stages.

Adelie penguin colonies in the Antarctic's Ross Sea have coped for several years with two super-sized icebergs that have grounded there and created an enormous physical barrier. It has resulted in lower breeding rates and the migration of many animals out of the area.

Sea ice also creates an important nursey cover for juvenile krill which feed on ice algae. Krill is the primary fuel at the base the Antarctic food chain. Reduced sea ice cover has led to a dramtic decline in krill and will likely lead to a decline in many wildlife populations further up the food chain that relies on krill as its foundation food source.

The effects of climate change on penguins are very real. Many environmental conditions are changing and much less predictable. For penguins living in harsh conditions, the ability to properly time when to migrate, nest, mate and seek food are critical decisions often with a very small margin for error, both for both individual animals and entire species.

Overfishing and By-catch

As fishing efforts around the globe have multiplied several fold over the last few decades, penguins are now competing with people for enough food. The large scale harvesting of anchovy and sardine stocks have directly reduced the prey available to many penguin species including Macaroni and Chinstrap penguins in the South Atlantic. Combined with the effects of climate change on the locations of fish stocks, reduced food availability leads to higher starvation rates, increased vulnerability to disease and lower breeding success.

Thousands of penguins are also killed annually when caught in fixed fishing nets.

Chronic Oiling

Large scale oil spills make worldwide headlines, but chronic petroleum pollution has killed thousands of penguins particularly off the coasts of South America and South Africa. The most common sources are illegal operational dumping from ships, long term leaks from sunken ships and some land-based discharges. Better legislation and law enforcement efforts can yield positive results. The incidence of oiling of Magellanic penguins off the coast of Argentina has decline significantly in recent years due to increased public awareness and enforcement.

Introduced Mammalian Predators

Many penguin species evolved in extremely remote settings devoid of any mammal predators. Prior to the arrival of humans, New Zealand's only mammals were bats. Now, introduced weasels have had a large impact on the the small populations of Yellow-Eyed and Fiordland penguins. In Australia and Argentina, the arrival of foxes have had impacts while feral cats in the Galapagos have reduced penguin populations there.

What Can YOU do?

Dyan deNapoli, "the Penguin Lady", author of The Great Penguin Rescue and member of Oceanic Defense's Aquatic Army says, "Some of the primary threats to penguin populations are global warming, overfishing, fishing net entrapment, and chronic oiling. To save penguins, our oceans, and all of nature, we each need to take a good, hard look at our lifestyle and change any of our habits that contribute to these ongoing problems. It all begins in our own back yards. And it's also true that one person truly CAN make a difference. It all begins with one person with one idea who then shares it with others and brings them on board. Others, still, are then inspired by their shared passion and drive, and before you know it, you have a movement!" At Oceanic Defense we know that saving the ocean starts with each of US and the choices we make everyday in our lives -- in the grocery store, in our homes, and most importantly in our decision to be an activist or an in-activist for the oceans.

Together we can help penguin populations wherever we live. You can start by understanding your carbon footprint and working to lower it because that directly addresses the growing threat of global warming; you can start with simple travel and transportation calculations. Next, always know what you are eating, from land or sea, and what its environmental, ecological, and sociological impacts are. If you choose to eat seafood, use a reputable source to determine how sustainable it is so you can make good decisions. Most importantly, stay informed and share your knowledge with your friends, family, schools, and communities and social networks. Educate. Activate.

Source: ScienceDaily (Sept. 9, 2010) — http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2010/09/100906145115.htm

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About Oceanic Defense
We are an international non-profit organization with members in over 60 countries, spanning 6 continents with 1 mission; healthy aquatic ecosystems free from human abuse and neglect. Oceanic Defense educates people to protect our oceans by acting responsibly as consumers and by making smart decisions in our daily lives. Whether we are buying groceries, commuting to work, planning a vacation or advocating within our own communities and internationally; each action we take or decision we make either helps or hurts our oceans. We activate people to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem and work together to protect our blue planet. Educate. Activate.

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Shark attack survivors don't forget but do forgive...

Shark attack survivors outside the United Nations, NY/Photo: Diane Bondareff /AP

UNITED NATIONS – They have the scars and missing limbs that make it hard to forgive, but these victims are tougher than most. And now they want to save their attackers. They are shark attack survivors, a band of nine thrown together in an unlikely and ironic mission to conserve the very creatures that ripped their flesh, tore off their limbs and nearly took their lives.

They want nations to adopt a resolution that would require them to greatly improve how fish are managed, including shark species of which nearly a third are threatened with extinction or on the verge of being threatened.

"We do not have scientific management plans for how many sharks can be caught," Matt Rand, director of Global Shark Conservation for the Pew Environment Group told reporters at the United Nations on Monday. "There are no limits."

Speaking with the attack survivors at a news conference held to draw attention to the world's dwindling shark population, Rand said the U.N. and its member nations must do more to resolve the problem.

"If a group like us can see the value in saving sharks, can't everyone?" asked Florida shark bite victim Debbie Salamone, 44, whose Achilles tendon was severed in a 2004 attack.

Salamone, a former journalist, joined the Washington-based nonprofit Pew Environment Group and recruited like-minded shark attack survivors to work for shark conversation.

The group gathered at U.N. headquarters Monday hoping to win new protections globally for the ocean's top predators.

"We do not have scientific management plans for how many sharks can be caught," Matt Rand, director of Global Shark Conservation for the Pew Environment Group told reporters at the United Nations. "There are no limits."

Speaking with the attack survivors at a news conference held to draw attention to the world's dwindling shark population, Rand said the U.N. and its member nations must do more to resolve the problem.

Among the group's goals is to end the practice of shark finning, which kills an estimated 73 million sharks a year. Fishermen slice off shark fins, which sell for hundreds of dollars a pound for use in soup mostly in Asian markets, but dump the animal back in the water where it drowns or bleeds to death.

Because sharks are slow growing, late to mature and produce few young, they are unable to replenish their populations as quickly as they are caught, Rand said in an earlier interview. Shark attack survivors also have sought U.S. legislation to close what they view as loopholes in the country's shark finning ban.

The survivors, ages 21 to 55, say being in the wrong place at the wrong time needn't diminish their love for the ocean, where they enjoyed surfing, swimming and diving and knew the risks.

They now see greater risks to the sharks and are asking the U.N. to halt fishing of threatened and near-threatened shark species and adopt shark conservation plans to study and impose scientific limits on shark catches.

Former lifeguard Achmat Hassiem, 29, of Cape Town, South Africa, lost his foot when a shark attacked him during rescue practice four years ago and said he now believes certain things happen for a reason.

"My dream was to one day become a marine biologist and focus on helping and protecting Earth's aquatic life. To participate in this event is an honor," he said.

More than a decade ago, nations agreed to voluntarily produce shark management plans, but only about 40 of some 130 nations followed through. International trade restrictions are in place for only three shark species: basking, whale and white sharks.

"Do we have the right to drive any animal to the brink of extinction before any action is taken?" asked Navy diver Paul de Gelder, 33, of Sydney, Australia, who lost his right hand and right lower leg in an attack last year during anti-terrorism exercises.

"Regardless of what an animal does according to its base instincts of survival, it has its place in our world," he said. "We have an obligation to protect and maintain the natural balance of our delicate ecosystems."

Source: John Heilprin, Associated Press Writer – Mon Sep 13, 2010

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About Oceanic Defense
We are an international non-profit organization with members in over 60 countries, spanning 6 continents with 1 mission; healthy aquatic ecosystems free from human abuse and neglect. Oceanic Defense teaches people to protect our oceans by acting responsibly as consumers and by making smart decisions in our daily lives. Whether we are buying groceries, commuting to work, planning a vacation or advocating within our own communities; each action we take or decision we make either helps or hurts our oceans. We empower people to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem and work together to protect our blue planet.

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Humpback nuzzled her saviors in thanks after they untangled her from crab lines diver says

One of the divers on the rescue team works on the crab pot lines that held the female humpback whale near the Farallon Islands. The weight of the crab pots was pulling the animal down. Marine Mammal Center photo via Associated Press Credit: Marine Mammal Center

A humpback whale freed by divers from a tangle of crab trap lines near the Farallon Islands nudged its rescuers and flapped around in what marine experts said was a rare and remarkable encounter.

"It felt to me like it was thanking us knowing that it was free and that we had helped it" James Moskito one of the rescue divers said Tuesday. "It stopped about a foot away from me pushed me around a little bit and had some fun."

Sunday's daring rescue was the first successful attempt on the West Coast to free an entangled humpback said Shelbi Stoudt stranding manager for the Marine Mammal Center in Marin County.

The 45- to 50-foot female humpback estimated to weigh 50 tons was on the humpbacks' usual migratory route between the Northern California coast and Baja California when it became entangled in the nylon ropes that link crab pots.

It was spotted by a crab fisherman at 8:30 a.m. Sunday in the open water east of the Farallones about 18 miles off the coast of San Francisco.

Mick Menigoz of Novato who organizes whale watching and shark diving expeditions on his boat the New Superfish got a call for help Sunday morning alerted the Marine Mammal Center and gathered a team of divers.

By 2:30 p.m. the rescuers had reached the whale and evaluated the situation. Team members realized the only way to save the endangered leviathan was to dive into the water and cut the ropes.

It was a very risky maneuver Stoudt said because the mere flip of a humpback's massive tail can kill a man.

"I was the first diver in the water and my heart sank when I saw all the lines wrapped around it" said Moskito a 40-year-old Pleasanton resident who works with "Great White Adventures" a cage-diving outfit that contracts with Menigoz. "I really didn't think we were going to be able to save it."

Moskito said about 20 crab-pot ropes which are 240 feet long with weights every 60 feet were wrapped around the animal. Rope was wrapped at least four times around the tail the back and the left front flipper and there was a line in the whale's mouth.

The crab pot lines were cinched so tight Moskito said that the rope was digging into the animal's blubber and leaving visible cuts.

At least 12 crab traps weighing 90 pounds each hung off the whale the divers said. The combined weight was pulling the whale downward forcing it to struggle mightily to keep its blow- hole out of the water.

Moskito and three other divers spent about an hour cutting the ropes with a special curved knife. The whale floated passively in the water the whole time he said giving off a strange kind of vibration.

"When I was cutting the line going through the mouth its eye was there winking at me watching me" Moskito said. "It was an epic moment of my life."

When the whale realized it was free it began swimming around in circles according to the rescuers. Moskito said it swam to each diver nuzzled him and then swam to the next one.

"It seemed kind of affectionate like a dog that's happy to see you" Moskito said. "I never felt threatened. It was an amazing unbelievable experience."

Humpback whales are known for their complex vocalizations that sound like singing and for their acrobatic breaching an apparently playful activity in which they lift almost their entire bodies out of the water and splash down.

Before 1900 an estimated 15000 humpbacks lived in the North Pacific but the population was severely reduced by commercial whaling. In the 20th century their numbers dwindled to fewer than 1000. An international ban on commercial whaling was instituted in 1964 but humpbacks are still endangered. Between 5000 and 7500 humpbacks are left in the world's oceans and many of those survivors migrate through the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary.

Whale experts say it's nice to think that the whale was thanking its rescuers but nobody really knows what was on its mind.

"You hate to anthropomorphize too much but the whale was doing little dives and the guys were rubbing shoulders with it" Menigoz said. "I don't know for sure what it was thinking but it's something that I will always remember. It was just too cool."

Humpback whales hold a special place in the hearts of Bay Area residents ever since one that came to be known as Humphrey journeyed up the Sacramento River in 1985. The wayward creature swam into a slough in Rio Vista attracting 10000 people a day as whale experts tried desperately to turn it around. Humphrey went back to sea after 25 days of near-pandemonium and worldwide media attention.

In the fall of 1990 Humphrey turned up again inside the bay in shallow water near the Bayshore Freeway finally beaching on mud flats near Double Rock just off the Candlestick parking lot. He remained stuck for 25 hours until volunteers helped by a 41-foot Coast Guard boat pulled him free and sent him back to the ocean. He has not been seen since.

Humpbacks like Humphrey do seem to relate to people more than other whales according to Stoudt.

"You do hear reports of friendly humpbacks whales approaching boaters especially in Baja California" Stoudt said "but for the most part they don't like to be interacted with."

Source: http://articles.sfgate.com/2005-12-14/news/17403910_1_humpback-crab-pots-whale

About Oceanic Defense
We are an international non-profit organization with members in over 60 countries, spanning 6 continents with 1 mission; healthy aquatic ecosystems free from human abuse and neglect. Oceanic Defense teaches people to protect our oceans by acting responsibly as consumers and by making smart decisions in our daily lives. Whether we are buying groceries, commuting to work, planning a vacation or advocating within our own communities; each action we take or decision we make either helps or hurts our oceans. We empower people to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem and work together to protect our blue planet.

Join us on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/OceanicDefense
Visit our official website:
www.oceanicdefense.org
Follow us on Twitter:
www.twitter.com/OceanicDefense

Right Whale on Right Track? 39 Births in 2009

By: Jennifer Maclellan

It was little more than 100 years since the Right Whale was nearly hunted to extinction. From as early as the 1700s these mammoth sized ocean dwellers that can reach upwards of 100 tons were the ‘right’ whale to hunt because of the ease in which whalers could harpoon the creature.

Their incredible size and buoyancy made them an easy target to spot from land and their slow speeds allowed fishermen to catch up with them quickly. By 1900 they had been hunted to extinction in Europe with only an estimated 100 surviving in the North Atlantic. Stocks had been so badly depleted that by 1937 a worldwide ban on Right whaling had been agreed upon, though they were still hunted by the thousands in the South Atlantic and continued to be processed there until into the 1970s.

To read the entire story follow this link: http://globalshift.org/2009/08/right-whale/

3 Simple and Easy Things You Can Do to Save the Ocean

People are often shocked when they find out about the health of our ocean. Whether it's The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, dead zones in the Gulf of Mexico or the depletion of fish stocks, there is one common thread throughout; you and I, the consumer.

We are a convenience based society but it is these very conveniences that is making our ocean sick. And with every takeout container, water bottle, shopping bag we use, we strip yet another layer of health away from a very fragile system in danger of collapse. Like a patient on life support who needs constant care our ocean need a major transfusion of common sense to come out of this plastic coma.

So today, we vow to change our ways, to think before we buy and to consciously make decisions for the betterment of not only our ocean but the environment as a whole and ultimately ourselves.

Three simple & easy things YOU can do starting today:

1. STOP using one use plastic grocery bags - buy reusable canvas bags, keep them in your car and use them. Did you know that each year we use 500 billion plastic bags world wide and that each bag takes upwards of 1000 years to biodegrade in landfills?
   
   
2. STOP buying bottled water - buy a reusable water container* (you'll save money!), there are many on the market. Plastic water bottles take over 700 years to biodegrade. 8/10 bottles in the USA end up in landfills - Yes ONLY 20% of people recycle their bottles!
   
   
3. START Recycling - If you do not currently recycle start today! Plastic, cans, bottles and cardboard do not belong in landfills. Try it with your family, make a game of it; put aside these items and at the end of the week see how much your trash is decreased. Besides, you are throwing money away! You can get refunds for most of what you are currently throwing out*.

Over the coming weeks Oceanic Defense will put together a step-by-step guide for consumers. It will feature different ways you can protect the ocean based on your own conservation levels.

* Did you know that if you stopped buying bottled water and started recycling you could have enough money saved at the end of the year to go away on a vacation?