Whales // Current

Ocean Pollutants May Be Cause of Increasing Cancers of Ocean Mammals

At a recent sea life gala in Anchorage, Alaska, Jean Michel-Cousteau, the ocean conservationist and son of well-known ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau, reignited the issue of ocean pollutants causing cancer among beluga whales. The problem was first reported on in the 1980s when scientists discovered that the beluga whale population in the St. Lawrence rivers and runoffs in Canada were declining at an alarming rate due to what scientists speculated to be caused by pollution.

According to a 1988 article from The New York Times, “pollution from industrial activity along the St. Lawrence River and its tributaries, including the Great Lakes, is causing disease, premature death and a declining birth rate among the white beluga whales.”

Scientists had thoroughly investigated the beluga whale population in the St. Lawrence area, but today, the beluga whale population is at an all time low again and they still suffer from toxins and the onset of cancers. A New York Times national briefing reported in January that “the number of beluga whales in Cook Inlet is again declining.” According to the article, the beluga whales were put on the Endangered Species Act in 2009 because of the possibility of extinction, but that “the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration report shows the numbers have slipped again to 321 animals, down from an estimated 375 in 2007 and 2008.”

Similar pollutions among other various ocean mammals have been discovered in recent years as well. In Norway, for example, whale meat was found to contain dangerously high levels of toxins. CNN reported that a “study by the International Whaling Commission determined levels of contamination among some marine mammals are so high that the animals would be classified as hazardous waste sites if they were on land.”

Science Daily also reported that orcas and killer whales around the world, especially in Canada, where a recent study was conducted, may face major health issues and endangerment over the next several years due to contamination with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

Scientists have speculated that due to chemical and other pollution runoffs, there is a list of at least ten ocean mammals that are at an increasing risk for developing pollution-related illnesses including cancers. The list includes the following:

Sea Lions
Polar Bears
Bottlenose dolphins
Beluga Whales
Orca
Risso’s dolphins
Harbor Seals
Common dolphins
Gray Seal
Mediterranean monk seals

While there are several grassroots organizations working on a small scale to reduce the number of pollutants in the ocean, the issue remains that a large-scale movement must be initiated. Some, including Cousteau, are attempting to bring attention to the issue in hopes that by highlighting the problem, a solution can be found. “The message is the fact that we are using the ocean as a garbage can by dumping things we don’t see — such as chemicals and heavy metals — into the environment,” reported Cousteau in a recent Q&A with Time magazine.At a recent sea life gala in Anchorage, Alaska, Jean Michel-Cousteau, the ocean... more

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Paradise Lost: Deep Ocean Exploration and Whale Hunting

The opening night of the San Francisco Ocean Film Festival left me with two favorite finds: The first was KQED's profile (produced by Amy Miller and Joan Johnson) of Sylvia Earle.

Sylvia's enthusiasm and adoration for ocean exploration is contagious. The stories about Earle's experience of being the first female explorer as well as one of the first deep water explorers were equally entertaining and fascinating. (Earle and 5 other female scientists lived at the bottom of the ocean for two weeks; when they set out, the main questions asked by reporters were about how they were planning to do their nails.) Earle has a unique perspective, and leaves us was with the stark awareness that the next ten years are possibly some of the most crucial years on the planet in regards to determining the future health of the oceans.

Another film not to be missed is To Save The Whales, by award winning filmmaker Gavin Newman. Ok, so you can get from the title that this is not a fun film to watch. But it was utterly informative and fascinating as it delved into the complexity of understanding cultural political play involved with stopping Japan's whaling practice. Equally interesting was the story of how Greenpeace became involved with whale protection and what motivates the activists involved with the direct actions. Truth be told, I wouldn't have complained if the film was twenty minutes shorter, but footage was incredible, and if nothing else you should go see it for the aerial shots of the arctic. But as I write this, I am haunted by the hunting scenes of the whales being shot, drown, and dragged onto the Japanese ships.

As with any good documentary I left the theater with the illusion that I had somehow participated with the issue and am now part of the mission to spread awareness and information about the process of whaling. (A clever if not obvious and purposeful section of the film was dedicated to hitting the audience over the head with the distinct power of media to bring stories to the world that might not otherwise get exposed).

So since you can't readily get your hands on the film, a few facts: Japan's whale hunt is allowed under international rules as a scientific program, despite a 1986 ban on commercial whaling. The Japanese started Whale hunting when other meats were scarce after World War II. It is no longer a common food in the country, although meat is sold in Japanese supermarkets and upscale restaurants. I wish I could send you a link to this informative and fascinating film, but atlas, I believe the only way to get access to it is to contact the Gavin Newman directly.

As an aside, two days ago I caught up with under water photographer Bryant Austin, who photographs whales, it is interesting to note the consistent theme in which media is being used with purpose, and is being taken directly to the countries who are involved with killing these creatures so they can...put a face to the meat they are eating. In Bryant's case he is taking the photos to Norway, and as you can see in Newman's film, he takes the facts and information to Japan to talk to tell the people the influence of their government (The film states that billions of tax dollars spent of whaling a meat that is a surplus).

Head over to the blog to catch Sylvia Earle's talk at the TED conference in 2009.The opening night of the San Francisco Ocean Film Festival left me with two favorite... more

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Whales, dolphins and porpoises suffer dramatic declines from by-catch in fishing nets

Toothed whales are currently suffering from a major threat which is unsustainable loss... more

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Raw interview with Bryant Austin about photographing and swimming with whales

We caught up with Bryant Austin to talk about the film, "In the Eye of... more

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Whales get Support on Sonar Ban

Whales and the U.S. Navy have tangled repeatedly over the past years over charges that... more

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Taiwan to use DNA to protect whales, dolphins

Taiwan plans to use DNA from whales and dolphins as evidence to convict poachers and... more

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The Final Fate of the Ady Gil

New Video: "Ady Gil: The Last Moments" The world's attention was... more

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Pacific Northwest's endangered orca population rose in 2009

The Pacific Northwest's endangered southern resident killer whale population... more

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4 comments

Whale Wars Multimillion-Dollar Vessel in Clash With Japanese Raw Video

If you’ve seen the TV series “Whale Wars,” you know all about the... more

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1 month ago
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Japanese Ship Rams Anti-Whalers' Boat- Video Here

Apparently the ocean isn't big enough for two vessels.

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Feds considering endangered listing for false killer whales in waters near Hawaii

The federal government said Tuesday it's considering placing on the endangered species list a small population of dolphins that live near Hawaii and look similar to killer whales.

Depending on the outcome, the review could affect the Hawaii-based longline fishing fleet because its boats have accidentally snagged the dolphins — called false killer whales — in the past.

The Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental group, filed a petition with the federal government last year asking that the Hawaii's near shore population of false killer whales be listed.

The group cited evidence showing the dolphins may be injured and killed after getting caught in fishing gear. The animals also have less to eat because stocks of the fish they prey on — including tuna and mahimahi — have been declining due to overfishing by humans, the group said.

The National Marine Fisheries Service responded with a Federal Register filing Tuesday saying that the petition included substantial information indicating a listing may be warranted.

The dolphins can grow as long as 16 feet and weigh more than 1 ton. They resemble killer whales but are almost completely black instead of black and white.

They're found in tropical and temperate waters worldwide, including Maryland, Japan, Australia and Scotland. But scientists estimate only about 120 live in waters up to 60 miles off Hawaii's coasts.

A few hundred more false killer whales live close to Hawaii in waters further out. These are considered the Pelagic population of Hawaii false killer whales.

Lance Smith, an endangered species biologist with the Pacific Islands Regional Office of the agency, said scientists would examine whether the "insular" stock of Hawaii false killer whales would be considered a distinct population of animals under the endangered species act.

If they conclude it is, the scientists would evaluate whether this population meets the criteria for a threatened or endangered species.

"It's a very detailed, scientific analysis," Smith said.

Agency officials are expected to use this status review to determine whether they'll recommend an endangered species listing.The federal government said Tuesday it's considering placing on the endangered... more

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Japanese Ship Sinks Whale Protest Boat Ady Gil

ship sinks whale protest boat Ady Gil The high-tech stealth boat Ady Gil was cut in... more

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Sea Shepherd Reveal Secret Third Ship, The Icebreaker Bob Barker

Seems that lasers weren’t the only secret weapon the Sea Shepherd were keeping... more

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Whale song art: dolphin calls turned into kaleidoscopic patterns using wavelets

These images may look like just pretty patterns, but they are visual representations... more

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Whale Wars, Sea Shepherd and Lasers

Regardless of your feelings about whaling, you have to admit the fight just got a... more

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Sea Shepherd attacks Japanese whalers with laser

A Sankei News video shows a ship belonging to the animal rights group Sea Shepherd as... more

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Tragedy in Loro Parque as whale kills trainer

A Loro Parque trainer has been accidentally killed by one of the whales during the... more

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Over 120 whales dead in separate strandings

More than 120 whales died over 48 hours in two separate beachings, the Department of... more

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Yum! Mud! - Ancient whale sucked mud for food

Ancient whale sucked mud for food An ancient "dwarf" whale appears to... more

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Whales Still Largely Threatened

Some larger whale species have been recovering since the dark days before the whaling industry was regulated, but the majority of cetaceans—that is, the distinct order of marine mammals consisting of whales, dolphins and porpoises—are in decline, with some likely headed for extinction in the near term.

According to data collected by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which maintains a “Red List” of threatened or endangered species, two of the largest whale species, humpbacks and southern rights, have rebounded since 1982 when the International Whaling Commission (IWC) imposed a moratorium on commercial whaling. Based on IUCN’s 2008 survey of cetaceans, both species, while still threatened, were upgraded from “Vulnerable” to “Least Concern” status on the Red List. “Humpbacks and southern right whales are making a comeback in much of their range mainly because they have been protected from commercial hunting,” says Randall Reeves, IUCN’s assessment leader. “This is a great conservation success and clearly shows what needs to be done to ensure these ocean giants survive.”

But other cetaceans haven’t fared so well. Almost a third of the world’s 80-plus cetacean species had their Red List status changed based on the IUCN’s 2008 assessment, with the vast majority now considered at greater risk than before. Overall, nearly a quarter of cetacean species are considered threatened, and of those, more than 10 percent (nine species) are listed as Endangered or Critically Endangered, the highest categories of threat. Reeves says that the real situation could be much worse, as researchers could not obtain enough data on more than half of the world's cetacean species to properly classify their status.

While commercial whaling is what first put cetaceans at risk—the IWC’s 1982 moratorium greatly reduced stress on many species—other threats loom larger than ever: Whales the world over withstand ship strikes, habitat deterioration and declining prey. And the smaller cetaceans (dolphins, porpoises and small whales) often drown in huge fishing nets that trawl the ocean scooping up everything in their path.Some larger whale species have been recovering since the dark days before the whaling... more

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TAGS

tagged w/ Whales

Ocean Pollutants May Be Cause of Increasing Cancers of Ocean Mammals

Paradise Lost: Deep Ocean Exploration and Whale Hunting

Whales, dolphins and porpoises suffer dramatic declines from by-catch in fishing nets

Raw interview with Bryant Austin about photographing and swimming with whales

Whales get Support on Sonar Ban

Taiwan to use DNA to protect whales, dolphins

The Final Fate of the Ady Gil

Pacific Northwest's endangered orca population rose in 2009

Whale Wars Multimillion-Dollar Vessel in Clash With Japanese Raw Video

Japanese Ship Rams Anti-Whalers' Boat- Video Here

Feds considering endangered listing for false killer whales in waters near Hawaii

Japanese Ship Sinks Whale Protest Boat Ady Gil

Sea Shepherd Reveal Secret Third Ship, The Icebreaker Bob Barker

Whale song art: dolphin calls turned into kaleidoscopic patterns using wavelets

Whale Wars, Sea Shepherd and Lasers

Sea Shepherd attacks Japanese whalers with laser

Tragedy in Loro Parque as whale kills trainer

Over 120 whales dead in separate strandings

Yum! Mud! - Ancient whale sucked mud for food

Whales Still Largely Threatened

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