All along the west coast, marine animals are washing onshore in mass numbers, mostly dead. In California, 367 sea lions have washed ashore this year. This number mainly consists of baby sea lions that have been abandoned by their mothers when they can't find enough food. Last year, a total of 1600 washed ashore. "Sea lions are living and feeding on the same resource[s] as humans are," stated Shawn Johnson, director of veterinary science at the Marine Mammal Center, to WSJ. "If they are starting to have problems, that shows there could be a problem with the ocean." A little further north, orca and beluga whales are having the same issue. Along the Alaskan coast line, Alaskan ice seals are developing a strange disease which often results in death. "In all, the federal government has declared 38 'unusual mortality events' involving marine mammal species since 2003," wrote Jim Carlton for WSJ. "That is nearly twice the number of events recorded from 1991--when the animals were put under greater federal protection--to 2002."
As of right now, the problem hasn't been identified, we only know of the results of the problem. Researchers also haven't laid down a plan of action beyond caring for the animals that wash ashore still alive. I suggest expanding marine hospitals in the areas most affected, because this article also stated that many were running out of room. Beyond this, all I can see as a solution with the information acquired is to keep researching and find out why these animals are having such a hard time.
http://www.naturalnews.com/046374_West_Coast_marine_animals_global_extinction.html?utm_content=buffer954c2&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Good post. I was really surprised that so many sea lions were washing up on the shore, especially last year. I agree that more research should be done, especially in the areas most heavily populated by sea lions... Maybe there is a large accumulation of pollution/oil/harmful sea water/ elimination of a major food source? It will be interesting to follow this case as time goes on.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea that this many different marine animals were having similar problems all at the same time. I definitely agree with you that more research needs to be done, and I think you make a really good point when you say that we need to expand the number of marine life hospitals we have in order to help take care of these animals. Since you said that sea lions feed on some of the same resources that we do, the only explanation I can come up with as to why their numbers are declining may be partly due to the competition for food between sea lions and people. However, that still doesn’t explain the weird diseases affecting the Alaskan ice seals.
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