Just when I start becoming very discouraged about the total
lack of interest regarding whales and ocean health in general since Covid has
reared its ugly face, I seem to receive heart-warming communications. It’s always
enough to enliven me for days if not weeks to come.
Just yesterday I received a truly nice, hand-written thank
you note from Joseph Bogaard of the Save Our Wild Salmon Coalition located in
Washington State. I do my best to help support this and other northwest groups
engaged in the fight to save wild salmon…and “wild whales”…and to restore the sad
captive ones back to freedom. Receiving Joseph’s note when I did was a terrific
boon to my flagging hopes of relocating once again to the Pacific Northwest
where I lived for over 50 years. (Yes, I know. I can hardly believe I’m that
old!) Joseph and the Save Our Wild Salmon Coalition were early joiners of our
JUST ONE THING Alliance. And then, like magic, a message from our realtor followed today
suggesting an offer for our home might soon be in the works.
There’s more: to top things off, I received communication
from the International Whaling Commission today with updates on whale related
topics of interest.
As for the wild salmon issue, since Washington State has torn down a few dams (and have more dams on the drawing board for destruction), salmon miraculously seem to be showing up, navigating the now free-flowing rivers long blocked off. And in the not too distant future, Oregon and California have agreed to tear down some dams that will also help promote salmon restoration along with Native American rites. (Photo of Elway Dam removal by Seattle Times)
Conservation Committee met (virtually) to discuss the management plan for South American river dolphins as well as a plan to mitigate measures regarding bycatch of cetaceans. Many seabirds, turtles and sharks are subject to being caught in fishing nets and traps. There is now growing awareness and concern to protect marine mammals from this fate as well. “Measures for reducing bycatch include spatial closures, the use of acoustic deterrents or alerting devices, modifications to fishing gear, and changes in fishing operations” along with “awareness-raising.” I think sometimes devastation to ecological things happen because people are simply not aware that what they are doing is deadly for the environment, whales, fish, and other creatures. (Photo of orca by John Boyd)
Finally, the best “feel good” article told about the successful response to the entanglement of an Arabian Sea humpback whale. Many groups came together (the Oman Environmental Authority, Five Oceans Environmental Services, LLC and Future Seas Global SPC) to free a humpback whale from entanglement in a gill net. (IMO net fisheries absolutely must be abolished.) This particular humpback species is in extreme danger of extinction, largely due to ship strikes, fishing bycatch, and other threats.
So, I’ve had happy, inspiring news, and I’m also still covid-free.
Who can ask for more nowadays?
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