Protection of Ocean Giants and The Fishing Industry Dilemma

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The International -billion dollar making fishing industry has already answered -though some would argue, how to manage fish stocks to avoid over-capture, environmental stress and even extinction of ocean species. Studies of fish stock, setting yearly quotas and bans are some of the tools which the sector uses on daily basis. However international trends for the protection of ocean giants, whales, large fish, turtles, whale sharks and others which live in close connection to fish stocks proves that the sector faces challenges. The Fishing Sector Dilemma? How to avoid “catching large fish when exploiting the small fish”.

On December West Coast Fisheries of NOAA reported that the biggest fish in the ocean are under international protection. In their report NOAA cited the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission IATTC legislation. Curiously enough IATTC law states “Taking into account the best available scientific information on the status of the bigeye, yellowfin and skipjack stocks” and then goes on to ban legally capture.

The initial words seem to resound, eco and call….”Taking into account the best available scientific information,” “Taking into account the best available scientific information”... How much scientific information is available that legislation on fish capture and ocean ecosystem health kick off with these words in their initial statement?

Recent studies show that fishing sector capture is affecting large fish and giants of the ocean which travell and depend on the migratory stocks. New trends to protect species and scientific studies urge for more investigation to be done and for technological innovations to provide solutions to the issue.

NOAA reveals that commercial fishermen have learned that whale sharks which are so large tend to attract naturally tuna, much like a FAD -human structure used to attract tuna.

“This (knowledge that whale sharks attract tuna) led some fishermen to deploy nets around a whale shark to capture tuna swimming beneath it. In many of the cases, the encircled whale shark was also caught in the net and injured or died,”NOAA states and cites legal international tools which ban such practices. But the issue of the connection between large fish stocks and ocean giants is not only a US issue.

El Comercio from Ecuador reported on December 31st that the country has National Plans for the protection of five Ocean Giants. Ecuador as many Pacific coast countries -extremely rich in fishing stocks is working to solve the issue and follows international trends to protect the giants.

Ecuador describes ocean giants as “massive ocean airplanes” which migrate thousands of kilometers throughout the entire world -fact which makes the issue an international one. Ecuador recognizes whales, giant Manta Rays, Moon fish Mola mola, turtles and whale sharks among these giants.

Working in the vanguard of the issue is the Foundation Megafauna Marina. The Foundation has acquired on ground data from Africa, Ecuador and other international regions. Working in Ecuador since 2010 they have identified the largest population of ocean giants. Ecuador as other countries is under the influence of the cold Humboldt current which hits the continental platform and causes water layers uprise making large amounts of nutrients usually found in lower layers available to more surface waters. Zooplankton and phytoplankton which emerge from the depths causes what is known as a “flourishment” on which both commercial fish stocks and ocean giants depend on for survival.

In October 2014 Ecuador participated in the 65th Reunion of the International Whaling Commision CBI. During the reunion Ecuador revealed its policy and management plan for the non-lethal use of ocean giants. The country has gained first hand experience and knows the value which ocean giants can provide through eco-tourism activities. Throughout the world ocean ecotourism activities generate millions of dollars directly and indirectly. Governments around the world are realizing that more needs to be done to protect ocean giants specially those which are travelling alongside massive fish stocks.

“To protect whale sharks from this harm, the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission IATTC adopted a resolution, by consensus, in 2013 prohibiting the placement of a purse seine net around whale sharks and requiring the release of whale sharks unharmed in the event that they are inadvertently encircled by a net,” NOAA sets the record straight.

NOAA Fisheries issued regulations in September prohibiting the practice by the US fleet operating in the EPO. These regulations ensure that the US is meeting its obligations under the IATTC resolution.

Chris Fanning, a fishery policy analyst with NOAA Fisheries’ West Coast Region who helped draft the regulations and has swam with whale sharks said, "These are some of the most incredible animals in the ocean, and while U.S. fishing vessels don’t engage in this practice, we are very supportive of this international resolution to help protect these amazing creatures."

New legal tools need to be sided with controls, social support, linking up with local fishermen and international fishing sector, updating and investing in new research, allocating resources for studies and the development of new technologies and transparency throughout the entire international fishing sector. From ocean waters and fish, to fishermen and fleets, to port and process, to distribution and final consumption and final consumer….much work still needs to be done to protect the Ocean Giants which contribute to the protection and conservation of a balanced and healthy Global Ocean Environment.

Ocean Life News in Brief

Ocean Level Increase Dropping Oceans Floor: International Press reported on December 5 on the findings of new research which assures that due to ocean level increase the ocean floor is sinking. The study published online in Geophysical Research Levels used mathematical equations to accurately measure the Ocean's floor impact driven by the increased of water volume weight. Using data from 1993 to 2014 researchers found that ocean level increase is causing the Ocean floor to drop globally by the milimeters. Ocean Dead Zones Up By Four: On January 8 New York Daily reported that Ocean Dead Zones have quadrupled.Researchers warned in a new study that oxygen-starved ocean dead zones, where animals and plants are struggling to survive, have increased fourfold and it may not be reversible. The new study was published in the Journal Science. The increase of Dead Zones was linked to climate change. La Niña´s Polar Wave Hitting Hard the US -Freezing Oceans: International Press reported on the Polar Wave hitting hard the US. The event is linked by experts to the influence of La Niña. “For the past couple of weeks, parts of North America have been chilling down to record temperatures, with massive snowfall and icy cold conditions putting life at a standstill for many,” media reported. The US East Coast has been particularly badly hit with the likes of Boston down to Philadelphia reaching bone-chilling lows of near 0°F , with icy winds making it feel closer to around -10°F to -20°F. Officially 18 were dead and 100 million affected. Government of Bali Declares a Garbage Emergency: On January 5 Ocean Conservancy reported on a New Waste Management Emergency in Bali. Massive amounts of ocean debri are affecting the island. The situation has reached its peak as the Government of Bali declared a “Garbage Emergency”. Clean up works have began. “Ivory Coast Village Swallowed by Ocean Increase,” Aljazeera Reports: On January 8 Al Jazeera reported that ocean increase levels are affecting infrastructure in the Ivory Coast. “Rising tides and more frequent, devastating storms are slowly destroying what is left of Lahou-Kpanda, the offshoot of what was once a major colonial town near the mouth of the Bandama River, the longest river in Ivory Coast,” Al Jazeera reported. Arctic Ocean Radioactive Levels on the Rise: IFL Science reported on January 3 on the findings of new report which assures that radioactive levels in the Arctic Ocean are on the rise. “Concentrations of radioactive radium-228 in the Arctic Ocean increased between 2007 and 2015,” the report reads. While levels have not yet reached a mark of concern the trend is worries experts. Lauren Kipp of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution addressed the issue. New World Wide Ocean Turtle Study Says 90% of Plastic Pollution Cases Result in Death: Earth Sky Org reported on January 7 that hundreds of marine turtles die every year after getting tangled in trash in oceans and on beaches. A research published in the journal Endangered Species Research took on a World-Wide Survey covering the major oceans where turtles live. They discovered that 91 % of the entangled turtles were found dead. They also suffered serious wounds from entanglement, leading to maiming, amputation or choking. Double Whirlpools Discovered for First Time: December 4 Press reported that Double Eddies have been registered for the first time in History. Tangled up Double Eddies can travel great distances affecting ecology significantly. Eddies are a natural part of the ocean environment but double whirlpools had only been theorized by mathematicians.