Dead Whale in Washington State Had Golf Ball in Stomach

It's just another sign of the garbage we throw into the oceans. There was also some plastic and pieces of rope, but there's no determination of what may have actually killed it. It was not emaciated so it's still a mystery as to whether what it consumed played a factor in its death. Full story here in Washington Post.

Ugh! North Sea Birds with Plastic in Them

Pretty gross and sad. Read the full story here.

Data from studies monitoring the amount of consumer plastic eaten by sea birds suggest that levels in the North Sea are well above targets... and the figures are rising.

For the most recent monitoring period, the target amount was exceeded in well over half the birds studied, with the English Channel being the worst affected region with 74% of birds over the threshold.

Oil Spill in China

China is currently experiencing its biggest oil spill ever too.

From Today Online...

China's largest oil spill has spread to 430 square kilometers (166 square miles) hundreds of clean up workers struggle to cope.

The official news agency Xinhua says 40 oil-skimming boats and about 800 fishing boats are being used to clean up the spill, and a 15 kilometers (9 miles) oil barrier has been set up to try to stop the slick spreading.

Huang Yong, deputy bureau chief for Dalian, China Maritime Safety Administration, told Dragon TV on Wednesday, "The oil spill will pose a severe threat to marine animals, and water quality, and the sea birds."

The oil slick started spreading five days ago when a pipeline at a busy northeastern port exploded.

China Central Television earlier reported an estimate of 1,500 tons of oil has spilled.

Another Depressing Oil Spill Story!

It's the "gift" that keeps on giving.

From the Khaleej Times Online/AFP...

Scientists studying the massive BP oil spill fear a decades-long, “cascading” effect on marine life that could lead to a shift in the overall biological network in the Gulf of Mexico.

With some 400 species estimated to be at risk — from the tiniest oil-eating bacteria to shrimp and crabs, endangered sea turtles, brown pelicans and sperm whales — experts say the impact of oil and chemical dispersants on the food chain has already begun, and could grow exponentially.

“A major environmental experiment is underway,” Ron Kendall, director of the Institute of Environmental and Human Health at Texas Tech University, told AFP.

More Bad Press for BP

In this article, they admit they underestimated the scope of the oil slick.

This article talks about how BP skipped some testing of cement linings hours before the explosion occured. These cement linings were basically the well's seal. How did this decision contribute to the disaster?

Oil Spill Visuals Finally Arriving

Yep, the spill is reaching land and you can go here for a slide show of the impacts.

Funny how Governor Bobby Jindal is one of those Republicans who wants less government, but then holds out his hands for federal government help on the cleanup.

Canada Fears Oil Spills in its Own Waters

They should fear oil spills because, I'm sorry, Canada is not the best in terms of environmental safeguards, laws or requirements.

They've had oil spills before, but nowhere near the scale of the one in the Gulf of Mexico. The industry is not as developed, but it's heading in that direction. It would therefore benefit the Canadians to prepare. As long as they allow offshore oil drilling, a massive spill is a definite possibility.

More Disturbing Information on BP Emerges

Here's a good article in the Seattle Times about BP corporate misbehavior.

I had no idea. You really have to hand it to their PR people.

And Obama STILL Wants Offshore Oil Driling?

What a mess.

And it looks like BP has some answering to do.

By the way, this mess is threatening the Breton National Wildlife Refuge at crucial breeding time.

Garbage Found in Dead Whale

It looks like the garbage didn't kill it, but still....just plain gross and unacceptable.

From the Seattle Times....

A gray whale that died after stranding on a West Seattle beach had a large amount of trash in its stomach, ranging from a pair of sweatpants to a golf ball, said biologists who examined the animal.

Scientists with the Cascadia Research Collective said the examination did not immediately determine why the 37-foot near-adult male died, but it was found to be in better nutritional condition than other gray whales that died recently. Starvation was not considered a major contributor to its death.

Pollution Leads to Cancer in Marine Animals

Humans are already responsible for marine animal habitat loss and overhunting. We are now responsible for another problem...disease. Marine animals are getting cancer as an indirect result of our pollution of the oceans.

Marine Litter is Devastating Oceans

Abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear in the oceans makes up around 10 percent of all marine litter. And the problem is getting worse as we continue overfishing the oceans.

(It's easy to overlook ocean issues when there are so many other things to think about. But the oceans are also an ecosystem with living beings.)