No Solution Concerning the Mystery of Sea Lion Pups Washing Ashore

This past weekend I was able to spend some time with my mother and sister attempting to plan out our future family vacation after my twin brother graduates from college. We went from going to Fiesta Texas in San Antonio to visiting the Carlsbad Caverns and finally ended with a goal to go to South Padre Island. I was very excited because the last time I saw the ocean off a Texas Coast was when I was super little. We made plans to go scuba diving and spear fishing on our trip. So as to continue with the ocean excitement with planning the family vacation, I decided to try and find and environmental issue concerning the ocean. I went to the National Geographic website, clicked on the habitat tab under the Environment label and the article that caught my attention the most had a picture of 3 baby sea lions with the word "Mystery" in the title article. As I am a fan of mystery novels and problem solving, my curiosity was peaked as I clicked on the article and began to read about the mystery surrounding the starving sea lion pups.

 

Off the coast of Sausalito, California, for the third year in a row, there are sea lion pups washing up on the shore, very emaciated and starving. The arrival of these sea lion pups began occurring three years ago but has since worsened the quantity of sea lion pups washing up barely alive or dead. Scientists look at this event and the increasing severity of it and are worried about the ocean’s health. Scientists feared that there could possibly be a new disease or environmental toxin, but ruled those possibilities out as no other forms of sea life seem to be effected. Scientists believe that one of three options could possibly the reason why the sea lion cubs are washing ashore. The first option is that the population of fish that the mother sea lions feed on to then feed the pups is diminishing which results in the mother having to go further out into the sea to find them. As a result, the pups waiting for the mother to return starve to death or leave the sanctity of their home to look for food for themselves. The second option is that the population of sea lions has grown too large, resulting in a battle of the fittest among sea lions. The third option is a result of massive, persistent patch of warm ocean water that has begun to mess with the ecosystems. Scientists are continuing to look into the cause of the but have yet to pin point the exact cause of the mysterious ecosystem disturbance.

As I read this article, I was thinking in my mind what they could possibly do to find a solution but all the issues I thought it could be were mentioned and upon further study require further investigation. Only time will tell what exactly is causing the sea lion pups to come to shore but until then, I am glad that they have marine care centers to help nurse the pup back to health as they teach it how to fish before returning it to the wild.

Article Link:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/02/150211-sea-lions-pups-stranding-starving-california/

No Gambling Over Corral Reefs

As I was searching through YouTube for some popular videos to watch as I waited to go into work. An annoying paid advertising popped up that as everyone knows, I was forced to watch. As the advertising began, it showed various pictures of marine life and beautiful underwater vegetation with all variety of fish one can imagine. About half way through the video, the music went from happy music to slow and abrupt music. The video began to show pictures of dead marine life and dead marine vegetation. It didn't say the cause of the horrific pictures but at the end of the video, a message popped up on the screen inviting me to learn more. I'll admit that I did not go to the website but instead decided to look up an article related to the video. So I went to the National geographic website and typed in marine life and found an interesting article about Miami's marine life and how it was going to be destoyed. I clicked on the article title Miami's Choice: Bigger Ships or Corral Reefs?, and was surprised to see that beneath the title, was a video. On all the previous articles I've read concerning environmental issues, it's always been pictures. The video really helped to make the message from the article make a greater impact. The video only lasts a little more than two minutes but presents you with their argument concerning the sedimentation and loss of coral reef life due to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dredging.

The article goes on to describe how as a result of possibly bigger cargo ships passing through the widening Panama Canal, the city of Miami is widening it's shipping channel through dredging. The dredging or widening of the canal will cost the city around $210 million and result in the death of many sea algae, coral and marine life that feed of the coral and algae. The very reef that the city of Miami is ruining has served as a habitat for diverse marine life, a natural buffer against rising seas and a $6 billion economic engine. Just based on the money value as presented, it doesn't make since to spend $210 million to destroy something that is worth $6 billion as is. However, the city of Miami States that the new enlarged shipping channel will result in 30,000 new jobs and make Miami the first post-panamax port South of Virginia. To make the situation all the more nonsensical, there is a great possibility that big cargo ships they're preparing to recieve will not even use their port. The ships could easily the bypass the Miami port due to the less profitable cost of having to ship the goods over land instead of over water. Its a very bad gamble what they are doing to the corral reef that will most likely not turn out in their favor in the end. However, they continue to dredge along, excitingly awaiting it's completion and possible revenue. It appears that potential for revenue outweighs the damage to the corral reef and the possibility of losing marine life.  The Corp along with various organizations have begun to relocate parts of the coral reef so as to preserve them but with little success. The reefs are either just not taking to their new relocated area or they are covered in sediments as a result of the nearby dredging and are suffocating to death. It is a very sad situation that even after being shown all the consequences of their actions, that they continue to pursue it. Scientists know that it is almost impossible to halt dredging activities like the one in Miami or underwater oil drilling that help to build America's economy but only hope to recieve more time to be able to save more marine life from the mankind's economic construction. I feel that If we are willing to sacrifice the corral reef on a possibility of future economic growth, we can then sacrifice the immediate implementation of said plans in order to allow for scientists to find a way to save as much of the habitat and it's inhabitant's as possible.

Original Article:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/02/150226-miami-biscayne-bay-florida-coral-dredging-channels-environment/