Thriving Oceans

“In 2004, visual estimates of mortality and algal overgrowth of Montipora capi¬tata and M. cf. turgescens at back reef sites at the three northern atolls conservatively exceeded 50%, with nearly complete mortality of surface-facing portions of colonies at numerous sites. The shallow crest of a large central patch reef system at Kure Atoll, previously referred to as “the coral gardens” due to its luxuriant growth of montiporids and pocilloporids, was heavily bleached in 2002. In 2004, only a few branches of Porites com¬pressa remained alive and the dead coral skeletons were thickly covered in turf and macroalgae.”

Reference:

Friedlander, A., K. Keller, L. Wedding, A. Clarke, M. Monaco (eds.). 2009. A Marine Biogeographic Assessment of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS NCCOS 84. Prepared by NCCOS’s Biogeography Branch in cooperation with the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. Silver Spring, MD. 363 pp.

Photos: J. Kenyon.

Oyster abstinence, how ABSURD!  We can’t even practice safe-seafood.  But that may very well be our future as the list of overexploited fishes continues to grow.  This time it is not the usual suspects that populate the overfished lists such as tuna, Atlantic cod, salmon, shrimp and sharks, but a bivalve that even as far back as 1864 had been consumed in the amount of 700 million in London alone.  The details of the oyster reef demise has just been released in a Nature Conservancy report that has found 85% have been lost primarily to overharvesting and coastal development.

What I found even more astonishing, but not surprising given our history of the exploitation of fisheries and other natural resources, is the practice of shellfisheries to continue harvesting oysters to a point where only 10% of a habitat remains.  This is nothing more than a clearcutting of the oyster reef.

However, overfishing and coastal development are not the only culprits in the decline, but a systematic attack triggered by actions on land as well as sea.  The report singles out specific incidents such as transferring oysters between bays enabling  the spread of parasites and diseases, the dredging of waterways to be used for shipping lanes, the filling of bays, mangrove deforestation prompting an influx of sediment on the reefs, altering water flow from rivers, and polluted agricultural and urban runoff. But the report indicates the most pervasive problem is “…simply perception among managers that there is not a problem.”

• Oyster reefs in most ecoregions where they historically occurred are in poor condition and at risk of extirpation as functional ecosystems.
• In most individual bays and ecoregions there has been a >90% loss in oyster reef habitat. In some bays, losses are >99%.
• Globally, 85% of oyster reefs have been lost, making oyster reefs one of the most severely impacted marine ecosystem on the planet. (Shellfish Reefs at Risk, Nature Conservancy)

So unless a fundamental change is instituted for oysters, tuna, shrimp and all other targeted species, we will continue to see report after report signaling the decline of yet another item filling our seafood  counters and restaurant menus. 

And for those of you in search of aphrodisiacs, don’t worry as you can turn your attention to the plenty of other available species like rhinos, bears, tigers, sea turtles…Oh yeah, those species are facing poachers and incredible population declines as well.

www.nature.org/shellfish

Well here’s my spin on the formulaic fair and balanced, point counterpoint, cheers and jeers, and so on in regards to some recent happenings at the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). Since listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 2006, there has been another positive move in the protection of Elkhorn and Staghorn corals. These corals once dominated reef building in the Caribbean, but over the years have succumbed to the negative implications of encroaching human activities. NOAA estimates a population loss of 90%, while other organizations like the Center for Biological Diversity reports a 97% decline since the 1970s.

However, these two coral species can count their blessings just in time for Thanksgiving as the new rule on Nov. 21 will…

Prohibit the import, export, take, and all commercial activities involving elkhorn and staghorn corals, including:

• collection or any activities that result in the corals’ mortality or injury;
• anchoring, grounding a vessel, or dragging any other gear on the species;
• damaging the species’ habitat;
• discharging any pollutant or contaminant that harms the species.

Just to throw in some information I keep in my back pocket and regurgitate every now and then is that The U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy’s Preliminary Draft Report in 2004 advised as much as 60% of the coral reefs may be gone by 2035.

As a perfectly ironic segue to my next thoughts (Take a little…),  let’s keep protections moving in the right direction.

Well who knew that the first thoughts I’d transcribe under Thriving Oceans would be so politically charged. I guess it is perfect timing considering the upcoming elections as anti-this and pro-that rallies drift from state to state solely for the opportunity to discharge their nematocysts and hook passersby with talking points.

Additionally, environmentalists, conservationists, legislators, representatives, and citizens continue to spar over the safety and expansion of nuclear power plants. Even a few years back, Patrick Moore, co-founder of Greenpeace, declared in The Washington Post, “Nuclear energy is the only large-scale, cost-effective energy source that can reduce these emissions while continuing to satisfy a growing demand for power. And these days it can do so safely.” Such comments exploded like Chernobyl, setting off a chain of events that resulted simultaneously in condemnation and praise.

While our society still continues to swim amongst the fall out, a bloom of jellyfish managed to exercise their innate marine right to congregate and protest yesterday. The target of these activist cnidarians was the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant in California. Although they did not manage to shut down the plant completely, they were effective enough to force a reduction in operating power.

Now that we know the stance of jellyfish on nuclear power, it will be interesting to see how this floating “block” influences our future alternative energy decisions.