Are Sharks Running Out of Space to Avoid Conflicts with People Fishing?

A shark being pulled up from a boat for sale in Chennai.

A recent study published in the journal Nature has shown that sharks often like to hang around areas that get visited regularly by industrial fishing ships, putting them in serious danger of being caught either as food or as bycatch. As part of the study, researchers outlined the activity of 23 shark species and fishing vessels around the world. They tracked more than 1,500 sharks with satellite tags and linked that data with information on ship movements obtained from safety technology that vessels use to prevent collisions at sea. According to Dr. David Sims, a marine ecologist at the Marine Biological Association in Plymouth and University of Southampton, industrialized fisheries are catching tens of millions of sharks in areas where there is little or no management resulting in some population declines. He further added that sharks have been targeted intentionally in recent decades because the value of their meat, especially their fins, has increased. In addition, sharks are also caught accidentally due to long lines of fishing vessels that can stretch for miles and have more than 1,000 hooks. Researchers did not have a sense of sharks' favorite haunts, where they might be most at risk from the pressure of industrial since the animals travel vast distances across the ocean. Dr. Sims stated that in order to understand where the sharks were hanging out, a global team was established over three years ago. The team comprised of over 150 shark experts who have all worked jointly and cooperated to combine their data into a vast database. The database contains satellite tracks of large species like whale sharks, great whites, and shortfin makos. The experts discovered that sharks usually like swimming along boundaries of different types of water masses, such as one spot in the North Atlantic where warm waters of the Gulf Stream concentrate with colder waters in the Labrador Current. The team then looked at data from Global Fishing Watch, which contained information on tens of thousands of vessels anti-collision technology known as automatic identification system, which allows ships to basically announce their location, course and speed. In general, about 24% of the space used by sharks in a typical month overlapped with long-line fisheries. Of the sharks, blue sharks in the North Atlantic were found to use 76% of space in an average month which overlapped with long-line fishing, while shortfin mako sharks used 62% of space. Dr. Sims pointed out that based on the findings, there are very few safe refuges for sharks and noted that currently, "fishing for sharks on the high seas generally has little or no management for the majority of species." Dr. Elliot Hazen, a research ecologist with NOAA's Southwest Fisheries Science Center in Monterey, California, stated that the overlaps present a possible opportunity and a possible difficulty for conservation efforts. That is, when it comes to managing highly migratory species, there would be a settlement where decision-makers have to decide what is more important: conservation efforts or the economic benefits of the fishing opportunity.

I think based on the findings of this study, it is highly crucial to take concerted measurements in preventing sharks from being caught either accidentally or intentionally. These animals are running out of space which they occupy to stay safe from industrialized fishing and this is seen when the space they occupy overlaps with long-line fisheries. I strongly believe that awareness programs should be established and implemented about using harmless alternatives to long-line fishing, which puts sharks in grave danger of being accidentally caught. Furthermore, fisheries and their personnel should be given monthly updates about where sharks are frequenting so that they don't accidentally catch them while fishing. It is very important to identify and make note of fisheries that purposefully catch sharks for food, especially when those fisheries happen to be from China or any country where the demand of shark fin soup is high. These are the fisheries that need to be targeted and its personnel should be prosecuted under full extent of the law. Sharks normally avoid conflicts with people, but when people venture into their habitats, that is when conflicts arise resulting in serious injuries or death on both sides. This is why it is highly essential to conduct efforts in mitigating human-shark conflicts both on beaches and in the open sea, in order to save lives of sharks and people.

View article here                   

Can Nitrogen Have a Devastating Effect on Coral Reefs?

A diver swimming over elkhorn coral in the Florida Keys

When most people think of climate change devastating the world's coral reefs, the first thing that comes to their mind is the increase in water temperature that contributes to coral bleaching. However, there are other factors that affect coral reefs as well. One of those factors is nitrogen. This was recently discovered in the research of Brian Lapointe, a professor at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute in Florida Atlantic University, who had been studying corals at the Looe Key Reef in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary since the 1980s. Dr. Lapointe initially thought that his study would show that rising temperatures were decimating the corals, but instead, his data indicated that nitrogen is the source of destruction. It has been found that increase in nitrogen from crudely treated sewage, along with fertilizer and topsoil from farms and yards, is messing up the quality of water in the coral habitat. Excessive nitrogen feeds algae blooms that obstruct light and throws off nutrient balance in the water in ways that disturbs the coral's life cycle. According to Dr. Lapointe, since the nitrogen has gone up, it has not been balanced by a similar increase in phosphorus which the corals need to grow. This imbalance is refraining the corals of phosphorus. He further added that the imbalance makes the corals unhealthy, and more prone to disease and coral bleaching. According to James W. Porter, emeritus ecology professor at the University of Georgia and co-author of a recently published paper by Dr. Lapointe, the new study indicates that water quality and not just temperature are essential for coral survival. This is seen as coral die-offs occurred long before high water temperatures reach the reef. Dr. Porter further added that the research shows that coral reefs can be protected by taking care of nutrients on the reef and runoff from the land. Furthermore, the findings not only apply to the corals of the Florida Keys, but around the world, including the Great Barrier Reef, which is known to receive runoff from Queensland's sugarcane fields. The authors of the study stated that improved sewage and storm-water management can mitigate nitrogen pollution.

A dying brain coral in Looe Key

I think it is very important to take note of this latest research, which shows that there are several factors that contribute to the devastation of coral reefs around the world. One of those factors is nitrogen, which affects the reefs when entering the waters in large quantities from sewage, fertilizers, and topsoil from farms and yards. In the process, the nitrogen fuels algae blooms that block light from reaching the corals thus resulting in nutrient imbalance that disturbs the corals' life cycle making them susceptible to disease and coral bleaching. I strongly believe that concerted efforts need to be made on a global scale to prevent any further devastation of the world's coral reefs. This includes properly managing sewage and fertilizers to minimize nitrogen pollution. In addition, emphasis need to be put on mitigating runoffs from mainland and into the seas. One example of a coral reef success story was seen in 2011 when the coral reefs of Bonaire in the Caribbean began to recover after a new sewage treatment plant opened that year. I really think that people should look at such examples and learn from them, in order help save the world's coral reefs. Many of these reefs provide food, shelter, and other amenities to the marine life and without them, marine life would be decimated.

View article here 

Regular People Should Join Forces with Interpol and Other Organizations in Combating Wildlife Trafficking

This white tiger cub is one of many endangered species rescued during a joint international operation known as Operation Thunderball. 

Last month, a concerted international operation has resulted in the confiscation of large amounts of protected plants and animals across every continent. The operation, known as Operation Thunderball, was carried out by the Interpol and World Customs Organization (WCO) with customs and police administrations leading combined enforcement efforts against wildlife and timber crimes across 109 countries. The operation pinpointed trafficking routes and crime hotspots ahead of time, allowing border, police and environmental officers to confiscate protected wildlife products varying from live primates and big cats to timber, marine wildlife and derived materials such as clothing, beauty products, traditional medicines, food items, and handicrafts. A team of customs and police officers together conducted worldwide enforcement activities from an Operations Coordination Center at Interpol's Global Complex for Innovation in Singapore. The first results led to recognition of nearly 600 suspects, sparking arrests all around the world. Further arrests and prosecutions are expected as continuous worldwide investigations progress. The operation's seizures reported to date include:

• 23 live primates
• 30 big cats and large amounts of animal parts
• 440 pieces of elephant tusks and an extra 545 kilograms of ivory
• Five rhino horns
• More than 4,300 birds
• Just under 1,500 live reptiles and almost 10,000 live turtles and tortoises
• Nearly 7,700 wildlife parts from all species, including more than 30 kilograms of game meat
• 2,550 cubic meters of timber
• More than 2,600 plants
• Nearly 10,000 marine wildlife items, such as seahorses, sharks, dolphins, and corals

The operation even saw a seizure of a half a tonne of Asia-bound pangolin parts in Nigeria, and the arrest of three suspects in Uruguay trying to smuggle more than 400 protected species. It also underlined the ongoing trend for online wildlife trade, with 21 arrests in Spain and a confiscation in Italy of 1,850 birds stemming from two online inspections.

Confiscated wildlife products at JFK Airport

Operation Thunderball is the latest move marking a new direction in the long-standing partnership between the Interpol and WCO, bringing them together as joint functional partners on the frontline to guarantee that wildlife trafficking is addressed extensively. Through this operation, police and customs officers, aided by environmental authorities, forestry and wildlife agencies, border agencies and CITES management authorities, worked together to pinpoint and intercept shipments containing plants and animals protected and regulated under the CITES convention. The operation is the third one in a series of "Thunder" operations in the past two years. The previous ones included Operations Thunderstorm in 2018 and Thunderbird in 2017. However, it is not the first operation of its kind this year. In April and May this year, another operation titled Operation Blizzard saw thousands of seizures on a global scale and nearly 200 suspects identified through concerted information sharing. Operation Blizzard included agencies from 22 countries and led to confiscations ranging from live animals to chic fashion products. The operation has already resulted in more than 4,400 seizures and recognition of more than 180 suspects, prompting arrests and inspections worldwide. Following six arrests in Italy and another six in Spain, more arrests and prosecutions are expected as investigations carry on. Operation Blizzard's confiscations reported to date include:

• About 4,400 live animals, including twenty alligators and crocodiles, 2,700 turtles and tortoises, as well as 1,500 lizards, geckos and snakes
  
• Six Kenyan sand boas discovered in air cargo in the U.S as well as two pythons in Western Australia
  
• Turtles, tortoises, boas, and geckos confiscated from a pet shop and private residence in Israel
  
• 150 products derived from reptiles, including watchstraps, wallets, handbags, medicines, and taxidermy products
  
• Live owls, parrots, swans, and falcons, along with elephant ivory and bushmeat products

Operation Blizzard was implemented together by Interpol and Europol, in close cooperation with national agencies like New Zealand's Department of Conservation, to improve global efforts in stopping the illegal trade in reptiles. Internationally coordinated police operations like Blizzard and Thunderball are now in prominence of environmental conservation. But in spite of various efforts, the threat of environmental crime stays high.

Pangolins and reptiles on display for public consumption in Burma 

I find it extraordinarily amazing that international organizations like the Interpol, Europol, and the World Customs Organization have joined forces to battle against the ongoing threat of illegal wildlife smuggling. And there is no better representation of such a partnership between these organizations than global operations like Thunderball, Blizzard, etc. which tackle various incidences of wildlife crimes by identifying trafficking routes, hotspots and suspects, intercepting the shipments, and arresting and prosecuting the suspected perpetrators involved. It is equally fantastic to see that the operations are being supported by various environmental, wildlife, forestry, and border agencies in tackling wildlife crimes around the world. I also find it interesting that various news reports documenting seizures of protected species are a result of these operations. For example, Canada recently took part in Operation Thunderball and confiscated diet pills made from pangolins and various African plants along with dozens of black bear parts. However, I also firmly believe that environmental crime can be efficiently tackled if regular people do their part by working cooperatively with Interpol, Europol, and other international organizations. I'm not saying that people should do the same work as these organizations in confiscating wildlife products and arresting those involved. Instead, they should conduct awareness programs to educate, inspire, and enlighten one another about the importance of protecting the world's endangered wildlife from poaching and illegal wildlife smuggling. This includes never purchasing items made from such animals and refrain from participating in hunting safaris in Africa, where clients pay hefty sums of money to hunt various big game animals and pose for pictures. Ever since Botswana lifted its ban on elephant hunting, the number of elephants poached has escalated. It is highly crucial that people report to various wildlife protection organizations when hearing about news of someone posing for a photo with an elephant, lion, or any other majestic wild animal. I strongly believe that people around the world should recognize that environmental crime occurs on an international scale and is a threat to national and regional security. It results in cross-border forays with organizations involved in numerous organized criminal activities such as money laundering and terrorism funding. This is why it is highly crucial to take illegal wildlife trafficking seriously and help fight it to the end.

View article here