Sea Turtle Egg Poaching Legalized in Costa Rica: The Debate
An unusual project installed in 1990, to stabilize the population of Olive Ridley sea turtles in the coastal town of Ostional on Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula, that led the government of Costa Rica to legally permit an exemption to the 1966 nationwide ban on harvesting sea turtle eggs, remains controversial.
Death by Plastic: Is Ocean Plastic Garbage Killing Whales?
From the coasts of California to Adriatic, Tasmania or Normandy, millions of tonnes of plastic debris dumped each year in the world’s oceans, could pose a lethal threat to whales, according to a scientific assessment to be presented at the International Whaling Commission this week. Ingestion of plastic refuse is emerging as a serious cause of disability and death for the large ocean-dwelling mammals.
Sea turtle Nesting Season On Gulf of Mexico Beaches: Worries Remain
Sea turtle nesting season is underway on Gulf of Mexico beaches, and observers say activity seems normal. But these aren’t the same animals that nested during last year’s Gulf oil spill, and scientists are concerned about a continued rise in turtle deaths.
Red Knots Shorebirds and Horseshoe Crabs Knotted Together
A shorebird species whose population has plummeted over the last 15 years, has been directly tied to the number of egg-laying horseshoe crabs. This is one of the first studies to scientifically support the ecological links between these two species.
BP oil spill partly blamed for Gulf dolphin deaths
The deaths of over 150 dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico so far this year is due in part to the devastating 2010 BP oil spill and the chemical dispersants used to contain it, a report said Thursday.
Marine Lab Research Tracks Pollutants in Dolphins and Beluga Whales
Bottlenose dolphins and beluga whales, accumulate more chemical pollutants in their bodies when they live and feed in waters near urbanized areas.
16 pilot whales stranded off the Florida Keys
Marine mammal rescuers are tending to six of about 16 pilot whales that are stranded in shallow waters off the lower Florida Keys.
BP oil linked to Dolphins’ Death
“It is significant that even a year after the oil spill we are finding oil (linked to the April 2010 BP oil ) on the dolphins, the latest just two weeks ago.”
Sea turtle deaths up along Gulf Shores, joining dolphin trend
The discovery of more than 100 dead dolphins on Gulf of Mexico shores likely reflects only a small fraction of the total killed by the BP oil spill last year, a study suggested on Wednesday. And Federal scientists are trying to figure out why dolphin deaths along the Gulf of Mexico are up this year now have a second challenge: a sharp jump in sea turtle deaths in some Gulf areas.