SAVE THE WHALES NEWSLETTER

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Winter 2003

Want To Learn A Dirty Word™?
Urban Runoff

Sea otters in Monterey, California, are dying from diseases believed to be caused by urban runoff. Storm water pollution (urban runoff) is one of the largest sources of water pollution nationwide. Pollutants, including used motor oil, litter, antifreeze, detergents, paint, pesticides, pet waste, and copper, are flushed off streets and into storm drains (grates under the curbs) which lead straight to rivers, creeks and the oceans. The leading cause of oil spills in the ocean is NOT from tanker spills, it’s from citizens. Nationwide every year 350 million gallons of oil is discarded in storm drains, waterways, and soil. One quart of motor oil dumped into a storm drain can pollute 250,000 gallons of water. Save The Whales is working with local, state, and federal agencies to reduce urban runoff through educational outreach.

Educating the public about this serious water quality issue is a priority for Save The Whales.
You Can Make A Difference Everyday!

√ Recycle used motor oil.
√ Pick up pet waste.
√ Keep your car maintained and leak free.
√ Use non-toxic alternatives to pesticides.
√ Support organic farming.
√ For a Household Hazardous Waste Disposal near you call 1-800-CLEAN-UP or visit CLEANUP.org
√ Participate in beach clean ups.


DNA Testing Japan’s Whale Meat

Since 1993, Dr. Steve Palumbi Professor, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard, Massachusetts and his team have made several trips to Japan to bring back DNA samples of whale meat. They converted their Tokyo hotel room into a mini detective lab. While all whale meat in cans and plastic wrap may look the same, their DNA sequencing identification research has yielded startling results. From 1993-2000 they DNA tested 339 samples of whale meat and are now tabulating the net findings of their research. They have found that the sale of the legal species of whale meat is a cover for the illegal whale meat and other mammals including dolphins, killer whales (orcas), horsemeat, sheep, and goat. Under the International Whaling Commission (IWC) whales are loosely protected but not dolphins. The DNA testing revealed that one half of the whale meat in the Japanese market is comprised of dolphins which are known to have high levels of mercury in their flesh due to feeding on coastal fishes. Dr. Palumbi has appealed to the IWC on the health level issue and asked for proper labeling of whale meat to inform consumers as to the actual contents. The DNA techniques developed by these inventive scientists are now being used all over the world to help endangered species.


Sea Otter Deaths Increase Winter 2003

The survey of endangered California sea otters from Half Moon Bay to Santa Barbara, has decreased for the second year in a row leaving scientists concerned. The results show a one percent drop from last years count and a total population count of 2,139 otters. Although one percent may not seem significant it is critical due to the increase in deaths of younger otters in the face of a struggling population. Of the 92 carcasses washed up on shore, many otters were between the ages of 3 and 10 years old. About forty percent of the otters appeared to have died from infectious diseases, including a form of encephalitis. It is believed that the disease may be caused by cat feces that storm drain runoff carries straight to the ocean. Scientists are concerned about the young otters dying because these are the animals with the reproductive potential for the species. The U.S. Geological Survey started making otter counts in 1982. Spring surveys of the otter showed an annual growth rate of five percent until 1995. Since then, the rate has declined one to two percent per year. Several organizations in the Monterey Bay area are working with scientists in an effort to uncover the cause of the declining otter population.


Blue Whales and Wind

Every summer blue whales congregate in the Monterey Bay, one of the most fertile marine ecosystems in the world. Monterey Bay is also the nation’s largest marine sanctuary, located along the Central California Coast. Researchers have found a direct correlation between wind, currents, and areas along coastal shelves to have high food productivity which attract many species of marine animals and birds, including the magnificent blue whale.

Blue whales are the largest creature to ever live on earth, larger than the biggest dinosaur yet they eat something as small as krill. The blow from this mighty animal can reach 27 feet in height. Blue whales have no teeth and instead have rows of baleen which act as a filter feeding device for them to feed on krill. An average blue whale is about 80 feet long and weighs about 110 tons. From an estimated population of 200,000 blue whales in the 19th century today only 10,000 remain.

The force behind California’s high productivity is wind. In spring and summer winds blowing from the north combined with the earth’s rotation move warm surface waters offshore which “upwells” cold nutrient rich water to the surface. This upwelling of nutrients supports massive blooms of phytoplankton, microscopic algae that enables a rich web of marine life to survive.

Krill, a shrimp like crustacean less then an inch long, feed on phytoplankton and blue whales feed almost exclusively on krill. Because of their great size blue’s have the highest average daily energy requirements of any species. A single whale can consume more than two tons of krill a day. Blue whales travel long distances to find swarms of krill in order to replenish their large food intake requirements.

In addition to Monterey Bay blues have been found aggregating in the Northern Channel Islands, or off the coast of Mexico, all areas where krill swarm along the edges of steep underwater cliffs. Researchers have found that blue whales congregate in spots along the coast where the continental shelf drops off steeply into deep waters. One of the most dramatic examples of this is in Monterey Bay where an underwater canyon considered to be the grand canyon underwater, cuts a large wedge in the continental shelf. Along the edge of the canyon, is where the densest swarms of krill are found with blues feeding on them.

If you have never seen these magnificant creatures treat yourself this summer to a trip to the Monterey Bay and visit the magnificent blues. Save The Whales recommends www.sanctuarycruises.com as a reputable and knowledgeable whale watching operation.

Spring / Summer 2003

LFA Sonar Trial Spring/Summer 2003

This month (August 2003) lawyers from Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) go to Federal Court to stop the U.S. Navy from illegally deploying its Low Frequency Active (LFA) Sonar System. If allowed, this system could be detrimental to marine mammals and other marine species. Save The Whales has contributed funding toward the legal costs for this battle.

In 1994, NRDC lawyers represented Save The Whales to stop the U.S. Navy from “Ship Shock” testing in the Channel Island Marine Sanctuary, off the Southern California Coast. Over a period of five years, 270 underwater detonations were scheduled in order to test the hull integrity of new naval cruisers. Some of the detonations were 10,000 lb. explosives, which would cause injury, or death to the many marine species including endangered whales traversing these biologically rich waters. We won this unprecedented case against the Navy and saved the lives of 10,000 marine mammals.

Now the stakes are higher. The Bush Administration issued the Navy a permit to deploy LFA sonar over 75% of the world’s oceans and the approval to injure and harass up to 12% of every marine mammal species in the world. This would include 75 known species of cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises) and 42 species of seals, sea lions, manatees, sea otters, and polar bears for a total of 117 species. At NRDC’s request a Federal judge blocked deployment of the LFA sonar stating that they had violated numerous environmental laws when it issued the permit and blocked global deployment of the sonar system until a full trial could be held.

LFA is fairly new technology, as opposed to traditional “passive” sonar which locates submarines by listening for sound in the water this new “active’ sonar will use underwater loudspeakers which will blast the ocean with a noise level of 235 decibels and then wait for a response.

Sound travels faster in water then air. At close range, the resulting shock waves are intense enough to destroy whales eardrums. Hearing is essential for marine mammals, a deaf marine mammal will not live long as their survival depends on their ability to navigate, find food, hear the approach of enemies, and communicate over long distances with family members. In addition, the shock waves will cause hemorrhaging of the lungs, and even death.

The dangers to whales are known and documented. Three years ago, the sonar testing of sound by the Navy caused the mass stranding of whales in the Bahamas. Whales from three different species (one spotted dolphin, two minke whales, and 13 beaked whales) stranded with their inner ears damaged. Save The Whales Scientific Advisory Board Member – Ken Balcomb was instrumental in gathering the evidence from the whales shattered eardrums and getting them to the proper scientists for autopsy and CT scans of the whales bloodied ears and brains caused by hemorhage. He suspected nothing less then naval sonar experiments could have caused this mass stranding. His continued pressure on Congress, and the Navy eventually led to them admitting that their mid-frequency sonar tests caused the mass stranding. Never before had sonar been shown to cause fatal trauma in marine mammals and the Navy had never admitted responsibility before.
After the stranding in the Bahamas, the area’s entire population of rare Cuvier’s beaked whales vanished – a great loss for the scientists who had been studying them for years.

They concluded that the whales either died of physical injuries or abandoned their habitat due to the noise pollution.

Even with this admission by the Navy and the known detriment of sonar to whales hearing the Navy was issued a permit to implement the LFA tests in July 2002.

LFA levels of 180 decibels, even at quite a distance from the source can cause permanent hearing loss in marine mammals after a single transmission – according to the Navy’s own study. At 40 miles from the LFA source, at a 165 decibel level this is loud enough to disrupt mating, feeding, and nursing of marine mammals.

Even 300 miles from the source, LFA can still reach an ear splitting 140 decibels. This is hundreds of times more intense then the 120 decibel level at which gray whales begin swerving from their migration route to avoid sonar noise.

The dangers of LFA sonar go beyond marine mammals. A study by the British military in the 1990’s found that a wide variety of fish exposed to LFA sound suffered internal injuries, hemorrhaging of the eyes, auditory damage and death. The most sensitive species was brown trout – with over half dying after exposure to 170 decibel levels.

LFA could harm recreational divers. In Navy tests on human divers exposed to LFA levels of 130 decibels the divers experienced vibration in the lungs, abdomen, and head. At 150-160 decibels divers suffered from numbness, pain, motion sickness and seizures. In one trial, an experienced military diver 90 miles from the LFA source was forced to surface after 45 seconds of exposure to 150 decibel level. He sensed a strong vibration in his body and felt numb for two hours.

As this story goes to press the injunction remains in effect and a decision is expected on this case by the end of August 2003.

The lesson for all of us is the constant vigil we must keep to protect the oceans and it’s inhabitants.


Whales On Wheels WOW™ Combines Science with Art!

During 2002 – 2003, Save The Whales led three workshops for children that combined Whales On Wheels WOW™ hands-on whale artifacts with drawing techniques for scientific illustration. The goal of the workshops was to educate, inspire, and teach observation skills. Workshops were led by Maris Sidenstecker, marine biologist and co-founder of Save The Whales and accomplished scientific illustrator and biologist Kirsten Carlson.

The workshops were held around the Monterey Bay area in a different location for each session and targeted children ages 8 – 13. Funding was generously provided by Camp SEA Lab to kick off this new program. The program was well received and we had to turn away students in our second and third workshops due to space limitations.

Science is based on the ability to observe details. Combining science and art helps teach the importance of seeing more then what is immediately obvious. Children are natural scientists, intuitively curious about the natural and physical world. Art is an important part of their process to understand the world around them and record information. By combining art with whale artifacts, fun facts, and drawing skills we hope to generate an interest in science and or scientific illustration. Drawing exercises emphasized observing an artifact and extrapolating how the bone would function to help the whale in their environment.

Students departed the workshop with their whale drawing, an educational whale information sheet, marine mammal posters illustrated by Kirsten Carlson and a Save The Whales t-shirt illustrated by Maris Sidenstecker.

Currently we are searching for grant funding to fund future workshops.


Battery Round-Up

Nationwide, for a few days in April, AAA collects old batteries as part of its “Great Battery Roundup” campaign in an effort to protect public health and the environment from contamination due to batteries.
Last year, AAA collected over 15,000 batteries and donated part of the proceeds to Save The Whales from the roundup. Throughout the year, batteries can be recycled at AAA battery service providers and at many automotive stores.

Used batteries are toxic if they leak sulfuric acid into the environment. The risk is magnified by the fact that AAA estimates more than 5 million used auto and boat batteries have been illegally dumped in landfills, waterways, backyards, and vacant lots. Leaking sulfuric acid from old batteries can cause injury to children or pets that come in contact with the acid. Lead from the batteries, thrown into the garbage or abandoned in yards can seep into the soil and contaminate ground water. According to an Environmental Protection Agency report increased exposure to lead can cause irreversible disabilities and neurological damage in children.

Recycling used batteries is a simple way to protect the environment. Used batteries can be recycled and the lead regenerated to produce new batteries. A list of recycling locations can be found at www.aaa-calif.com or call (800)400-4222 for more information. To drop off batteries and other hazardous waste call Earth’s 911 nationwide hotline at (800) CLEAN-UP or visit www.CLEANUP.org for the drop off location near you.

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