No one has any ideas why? [Archive]

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24th July 2014, 07:39 PM

Gov’t reports “big, big decline” in Alaska caribou — “Mortality very high” after Fukushima releases began — “Low survival rate” for calves also in 2011 and 2012 — Official: “Worrisome” how quickly this happened… In truth, we don’t have an answer why

Alaska Department of Fish and Game, July 2014: Alaska‘s largest caribou herd, the Western Arctic Herd, numbered about 235,000 animals as of July 2013 [...] That’s down from 325,000 caribou estimated in the 2011 census [...] The recent census indicates a decline of about 27 percent [actually 27.7%] since 2011. Mortality was very high during 2011-2012 [...] In addition to high adult cow mortality during 2011-2012, survival of calves born during 2011 and 2012 was relatively low.

Jim Dau, ADF&G biologist who has worked with the herd for more than 25 years: “The herd size right now, as of 2013, was 235,000 caribou, and that’s down about 27% since 2011 — so, a big, big decline in the last two years.”

Alaska News Miner, May 12, 2014: During 2011-12, there was a high mortality rate for adult cows and a low survival rate for calves [...] “I’m often asked, ‘Why the decline?’ In truth, we don’t have data to completely answer that question” [said Dau.]

2011 census data from the ADF&G: [The Western Arctic caribou] numbered about 325,000 animals [...] a five percent decline [actually 6.4% -- roughly 3% per year] since the last census was completed in July 2009 [348,000 animals], and a continuation of the four to six percent annual decline.

The Arctic Sounder, Dec. 12, 2013: [Dau] added that it’s “worrisome” how quickly mortality rates are changing from year to year. While calf production is up, the calf survival rate is going down, he said. And mortality rates for adults, especially cows, has increased.
http://enenews.com/govt-expert-big-big-decline-alaska-caribou-last-years-high-mortality-rate-adults-low-survival-rate-calves-2011-12-worrisome-quickly-mortality-rates-changing-truth-dont-happened-audio

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28th July 2014, 04:52 PM

AP: Marine birds disappearing in Pacific Northwest — Significant ecological shift, crashes in many species — “Something’s happening on a big level, but what is it” — Herring problem may be far worse than revealed… result of contamination? Mexico suddenly bans bluefin tuna fishing, US may be next

Published: July 28th, 2014 at 10:05 am ET
By ENENews
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Seattle Times (AP), Craig Welch, July 24, 2014: Once-common marine birds disappearing from our coast [...] a significant ecological shift in our region — a major decline in once-abundant marine birds. [...] the number of everyday marine birds here has plummeted dramatically in recent decades. [...] several new studies now also link many dwindling marine bird populations to what they eat — especially herring, anchovies, sand lance [...] Some forage-fish species, such as herring, are a fraction of what they once were. [...] There’s certainly no shortage of crashes [...] “It’s one thing to have a rare species decline,” said Joe Gaydos, with the SeaDoc Society. “[...] We’re talking about big, common species, and a lot of them.” [...] it wasn’t clear whether this was a local or continental- scale problem, said Scott Wilson, a biologist with Environment Canada. It’s both: Up and down the West Coast, the winter breeding population [of Western grebes] is half what it was in 1975. [...] since 1970 [Puget Sound's biggest] herring stock has crashed, with more than 90 percent of the population all but gone. [...] some scientists believe the herring problem itself may be far worse than others acknowledge. [...] Wayne Landis, at Western Washington University [...] found that while Puget Sound herring used to live eight to 10 years, they now survive only to age 3 or 4. [...] “They don’t get old anymore,” he said. That could be the result of disease or toxic contamination or other changes [...] Usually after a bust, herring eventually recolonize, Landis said. The question now: Is this bust different [...] “Something’s happening on a big level,” [Gaydos] said. “But what is it?”

See also: Professor: 1% of usual number of baby Calif. pelicans; Near complete failure to breed; 20 newborns in area where 10,000 expected — Expert: Flabbergasted by what’s happening in Malibu, “I’ve never seen anything like that”
And: Gov’t Investigator: Acute hemorrhaging found in dead owls along west coast — “In very poor condition… badly emaciated” when arriving in Pacific NW from Arctic

KCET, July 23, 2014: Feds to Consider Ban on Bluefin Tuna Fishing — [NOAA] is opening a formal rulemaking process to determine whether it should add Pacific bluefin tuna to its list of fish species that must be released immediately if caught. [...] Pacific bluefin spawn in the western Pacific off the coast of Japan [...] Mexico closed its Pacific bluefin fishery for 2014 [...]

San Diego Union Tribune, July 16, 2014: Mexico’s sudden and unforeseen banning of bluefin tuna fishing [...] shut down bluefin tuna fishing at the height of the summer season [...]

San Diego Union Tribune, July 14, 2014: [S]tatement from the Mexican government: [...] the capture of Blue Fin Tuna in Mexican waters is forbidden for the remainder of the 2014 calendar year. Any incidental catches are to be released. This measure will be strictly enforced [...]

See also: Scientists: "Absolutely every one" of bluefin tunas tested from S. California was contaminated with Fukushima radiation -- "We were definitely surprised to see it at all - and even more surprised to see it in every one we measured"
And: S. California fishermen 'skunked... haven’t seen a squid', usually 10,000+ lbs/day -- 'Complete crashes' at oyster hatcheries -- Sardines, mackerel missing in areas -- Pelican sites alarmingly deserted -- Record # of sick sea lions -- Ultra-rare whales appear after decades -- Mammals, birds, fish in odd places

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Researchers: Radioactive materials detected off California, levels spike to 400% normal — Crew then discovers ‘island’ of tsunami debris — Never seen so much garbage in ocean before — TV: “Disturbing new images from Pacific… looks like islands of plastic” 1,000 miles from coast — 7 tons and 80 ft. long, can walk on it as if land
(VIDEO & PHOTOS) http://enenews.com/researchers-radioactive-materials-detected-california-levels-spike-400-normal-crew-discovers-island-tsunami-debris-never-anything-like-tv-disturbing-new-images-pacific-looks-like-islands-plas

Published: July 28th, 2014 at 4:09 pm ET
By ENENews
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Algalita Marine Research Institute Blog, July 7, 2014: Radioactive Rope — Just after midday a piece of rope was pulled aboard. As part of our logging protocol, I brought out the Geiger counter and took a reading. The ambient reading that morning had been about 30 CPM so it was a surprise when the reader climbed, and spiked at 120 CPM – our highest reading yet.

AMRF, July 13, 2014 at 5:57a: Charlie spotted a black spot on the horizon he thought looked to be something industrial [...] By the time we were several hundred meters away, we could see a series of black buoys, maybe 70 of them, with a few orange floats mixed in as well. To be less conspicuous and not disturb whatever might be living in, on, or around it, Jesus rowed us in for final approach [...] It was amazing to see the school of more than 50 mahi mahi [...]

AMRF, July 13, 2014 at 8:12p: Alguita and Crew spent the night moored to the approximately 7 ton island [and] mapped the island this morning using [...] a tape measure to get its size [...] It would be capable of causing considerable damage to even large ships. [...] The plastic debris the island has accumulated is substantial [...] For years I have been telling people that there is no such thing as a “plastic island” in the Pacific Gyre. I now have a map of one that has aspects of permanence, a metal anchor 40 feet deep, solid rope beaches, some of which you can walk on as if you were on land.

AMRF, July 27, 2014: [The] Lantern fish or ‘myctophids’ [...] stomach contents were analyzed and no obvious plastic particles were found, which is interesting and a bit surprising. The liver size and color is significant as it indicates a response to pollutants – the lighter color liver likely suggesting more exposure to pollutants.

ABC 7, July 15, 2014: Disturbing new images from the Pacific Ocean, what looks like islands of plastic [...] “They found a lot more plastic farther away from the area that’s called the ‘Great Pacific Garbage Patch’ than they’ve ever seen. So they ran across it sooner than they expected, and it was a lot of debris,” said Algalita Executive Director Marieta Francis. [...] They’re… taking samples to determine… whether the livers of fish… are riddled with toxins [...]

89.3 KPCC, July 21 2014: Island of trash discovered in Pacific 1,000 miles off California coast [...] The mass is made up of fishing gear, nets and buoys that are believed to have come from [Japan's] 2011 tsunami [...] it has [...] become so compact and large that researchers were able to stand on it in places. “It’s 80 feet long. It’s about 30 feet across in some places. If you were looking down from above, it would look like an island floating in the middle of the ocean,” said Marita Francis [...] it’s the first time her organization has seen something like it. [...] the researchers [...] saw more instances of garbage on this trip than ever before. “On this expedition, they’ve seen more debris in the ocean than they’d ever seen before,” Francis said.