ECOWATCH: The North Atlantic Right Whale extinction bound
“Most whales and dolphins will be subjected to 3.5 million instances of temporary and/or permanent hearing loss. For species that depend on hearing for survival, to find food, migrate and communicate, any hearing loss could be catastrophic. As, one scientist noted, a deaf whale is a dead whale.” -Pierce Bronson, actor and environmentalist
Many readers may recall the popularity of the era of 1969 when the “Age of Aquarius” exploded and expanded consciousness, when people would take control and protect the earth, and became more mindful of human and animal rights. The song “Let the Sun Shine In” was the most popular tune with a message that was ever recorded. What happened to dim the sun shine?
Now sadly, we can look at 2023, shake our heads and know the sun is not shining in. Somewhere along the line we have not protected the earth nor the humans nor the animals that attempt to live in peace and harmony with nature.
Right now, there are a total of 41,415 species on the IURN red list, and 16,306 of them are endangered species threatened with extinction. During the past issues of Eco Watch, articles were written of different species heading for extinction, that include, bees, butterflies, manatees, panthers and so many more. This article will now look at the endangered North Atlantic Right Whale, that more than likely will be gone, erased from the earth due to the lack of government protection and the greed of the shipping and fishing industry that have run roughshod over the ocean’s inhabitants for years without any serious consequences. And the question has been asked, who is next on the extinction chopping block?
Reports have serviced that the North Atlantic right whale may be next. There are fewer than 350 remaining individuals. The major threats: are ship strikes, fishing gear entanglements, off shore energy explorations and development and ocean noise pollution.
Noise pollution has a disastrous effect on the chances of survival for not only the North Atlantic right whale but for other species of whales and dolphins. There are reports that off shore wind corporations have been sonic blasting up and down the coast in order to find the most suitable and (economic) ocean bottom. There have been 11 recent deaths of whales in the northeast.
Ocean noise according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, ‘NOAA’ from human activities such as shipping, boating, construction and energy explorations and development, has increased in the Northwest Atlantic. Noise from these activities can interrupt the normal behavior of right whales and interfere with their communication. It will also reduce their ability to detect and avoid predators and human hazards, navigations and identify physical surroundings, find food and find mates.
According to NOAA, the North Atlantic Right Whale, is one of the World’s most endangered large whale species; the largest preliminary estimate suggests there are fewer than 350 remaining. It was in the early 1890s whalers had hunted the North Atlantic Right Whale to the brink of extinction (they got the name from being the right whale to hunt because they floated when they were killed). Whaling is no longer a threat, but they have never recovered to pre-whaling numbers, and human interactions still present the greatest danger to this species. Entanglement in fishing gear and vessel strikes are some of the leading causes of the North Atlantic Right Whale mortality along with noise pollution.
This whale has been listed as endangered since 1970. The latest preliminary estimate suggests that there are fewer than 350 remaining with less than 70 breeding females. The number of new calves born in recent years has been below average.
And according to NOAA, the North Atlantic Right whale has experienced an ongoing unusual mortality event since 2017, which included, injured or ill and dead right whales. The whales impacted, represent more than 20 percent of the population, which is a significant impact on an endangered species where deaths out pace the births. Additionally research demonstrates that only about 1/3 of the whales deaths are documented.
Due to these alarming figures, a federal court last year ordered NOAA to craft new rules protecting the right whales from fishing entanglement by blocking off roped fishing, where these whales are present. However, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, with support of senators Angus King and Chuck Schumer attached a rider within the Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus spending bill, overruling the court order and delaying the Federal Government from enacting these rope fishing restrictions until Dec. 31, 2028.
Experts are saying the last-minute policy changes, if left in place, is the death-blow that will cause the rights whale to go extinct. Their numbers are to few and they are reproducing too slowly to survive another six years of mothers dying while trying to rear calves.
“Ongoing delays in improving protections are the reason we are losing right whales,” said Regina Asmutis-Silvia, executive director of Whales and Dolphins Conservation. “Just like the promise of food isn’t going to keep you from starving, these whales can’t survive on the hope of future actions. They need protection now.”
So, there you have it, as the U.S. refuses calls for crucial actions for protection of the right whales, their death warrant has been signed in favor of major corporations to keep their current activities, status quo. Even though scientist believe North Atlantic Right Whale deaths in the past 50 years are from human activities.
What will be the consequences of the demise of this special creature that is found in scientific studies? These whales help keep the marine ecosystems healthy, their converted nutrients serving as the base of the marine food web.
The web will again be broken and become more silent when the demise of the right whale occurs. The Age of Aquarius did not reach 2023.
Sources: NOAA-http://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/north-atlantic-right-whale
