Thriving Oceans

Should we be surprised that the polar oceans are not vast stretches of the non-living?  Personally I was not under that assumption and have always been amazed at the places that become critical habitats for biological diversity.  This especially became the case when ocean vents were found to support a host of thermophiles.  Thus, I have held that the Arctic and Southern oceans are no different in such respects for supporting an array of life.

Even though the Arctic Ocean is the smallest and shallowest of our world (covering ~4.6 million square miles), it provides the sustenance to support tiny planktonic organisms to large polar bears and megafauna like whales.  It is the unique Arctic conditions of cold oxygen rich waters complement the nutrient rich seabed , and the summer month permanent daylight that energizes the region with a vast supply of algae, and ice covered winter layers that enables success for foraging land mammals.

The Southern Ocean has been held as one of the most biologically productive seas in the world.  Krill often forming swarms estimated to weigh more than 10 million tons (and can be seen by satellites), are fueled by continual daylight in the summer.

With perfect conditions such as these it was just a matter of time before researchers had the hard evidence needed to proclaim the polar oceans are, if I may steal from the Blue Planet series, “Seas of Life.”

According to the AP, “A marine census released Monday documented 7,500 species in the Antarctic and 5,500 in the Arctic, including several hundred that researchers believe could be new to science.”

Check out the article here-  Study: ‘Astonishing richness’ in polar sea species

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.