33 Stranded Whales to Be Euthanized in New Zealand- Coral Sperm and Embryos From Great Barrier Reef Frozen for Preservation
- Canadian Parliament Member Riles the Sealing Industry
33 Stranded Whales to Be Euthanized in New Zealand
Thirty-three of a pod of 99 pilot whales that became stranded Monday in New Zealand will now have to be euthanized, following two previous attempts to refloat the whales without success. Although volunteers worked over several days to redirect them out to sea, they continued to beach, each time displaying more signs of distress as well as physical deterioration. The location of the strandings, Farewell Spit, is not new to incidents such as these; large strandings are, in fact, not uncommon during the summer. Experts believe the shallow waters cause whales to become confused and unable to properly navigate the stretch back out to sea. The euthanization of these whales will bring the death toll to 82.
Coral Sperm and Embryos From Great Barrier Reef Frozen for Preservation
In a bid to preserve the biodiversity the Great Barrier Reef is renowned for, scientists have collected 70 billion sperm and 22 billion embryos of corals and stored them in a deep freeze. With the Great Barrier Reef facing threats like climate change, rising water temperatures, and ocean acidification, it is hoped the reproductive cells will be able to regenerate corals that may be lost due to these threats. In order to collect the cells, scientists cut away sections of the reef and transported them to controlled tanks to spawn. When the collection was over, the coral pieces were returned to where they were taken from and glued back into place, a common solution for reefs that have been broken into pieces. While some of the reef has already begun to show impacts from worsening conditions, the research continuing on corals will be of great importance for maintaining and improving their health as these changes take place.
Canadian Parliament Member Riles the Sealing Industry
Canadian MP Ryan Cleary is facing opposition from the sealing industry as a result of public comments he made in regard to the future of the industry, saying, “We know that the world appetite is not there for seal meat, but the world appetite for seal products — I don’t know if it’s there. And you know what? I may be shot for talking about this, and for saying this, but it’s a question we all have to ask.” His comments were met with backlash from the Fisheries Minister, the Canadian Sealers Association, and a seal fur businessman for taking a less-than-supportive stance on the issue of sealing, a livelihood that many Canadians rely on to survive. Cleary spoke again to clarify his statement as not one that doesn’t support the sealing community itself, but rather the viability of the seal fishery in the future. The sealing industry was worth about $1 million last year.
It’s ok….
What do you think of murder?
Damn, I hate this. If the wales cannot be saved then help them the best and most humane way we can and then try to better understand why this happpened and prevent it in the future.
– Sorry, but an industry worth a measly million bucks by today’s standard is one that does not make any valid contribution to anything but someone’s feeble desire to kill something. To lessen the taking of any seal for other than tribal hunts would, IMHO, be valid.
No different than people hunting birds, deer, moose ,elk, etc. 9 million seals on the ice pack, culling of the herd is a sound idea. They do it with other species, so why the problem? Cause they look cute? Or the bright red blood on the snow and ice is an awful sight? Harvesting animals is not a pretty thing but it has to be done, either we do or they starve to death when they eat all the resources.
Canadiens are all bloodthirsty, there is no stopping them.
@ Michael, I’m pretty sure mother nature take care of her own. And I can’t honestly ever remember hearing about seals running out of food and starving? They’ve existed for thousands of years and will continue so with or without this senseless slaughter. C’mon man…. really?
I am a “bloodthirsty” Canadian, straight from the Rock aka Newfoundland. The seal population has nearly tripled in the past 30 years and there is still a moratorium on the commercial fishery and limited recreational fishing with small quotas and narrow time frame. Seals have a definite impact on cod stocks. I support it
I have never been bothered by legitimate taking of nature’s resources when there is a need and market for it. Just like with deer, cattle, fish, lobsters, shrimp, etc. Everything can be and should be utilized in a responsible manner. Where I draw the line is when it is senseless slaughter of wild animals who have no means of escaping or if they suffer. I don’t mind deer being hunted but not with a spotlight on the side of the road. I don’t mind fish being caught but not by spearguns or gill nets. I don’t mind seals being taken but not if they are clubbed with no way to escape. I don’t mind wolves being killed but not from a helipcopter where the wolf doesn’t have a chance. Maybe it is a thin line but the word “sporting chance” used to have meaning.