The Animals of the Ocean

The Animals of the Ocean Our oceans team with life yet we know little about the behavior of even the most obvious creatures. This is a whale shark, it feeds on plankton like many of the great whales but it’s a member of the shark family. Unlike the whale it breathes through gills. It’s the world’s biggest fish and large specimens can measure up to 20 meters. Normally, they live depths of the world oceans but each September many migrate to an area north of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula between the islands of Holbox and Contoy where they feed at the surface. In early September 2007, more than 600 whale sharks were counted. Marine researches are now using satellites tracking devices to learn more about the fish. The new tags allowed them to discover more about the fishes’ movements and daily routine. Mexican authorities will use this information to protect the sharks more effectively in the Yum Balam National Park. Tourist activities including snorkeling with whale sharks automated in the confines of the park where it is strictly regulated. Their plans to extend the nature reserve and increase protection category to bio-sphere reserve. The whale sharks come here because of mixture of cold and warm water in the region means there’s a lot of plankton for them to feed on. Reel whales are also being closely studied. In the water south of Australia scientists have been using acoustic recording equipment to learn more about the inbreeding patterns and even the type of water they prefer. Marine biologist Jason Gedamke has been studying well sounds for a decade. By placing recorder on the ocean floor, scientists have discovered whales in the Antarctic during winter, a season where they’re not usually expected in the area. On a recent visit to the southern ocean the researchers found that blue whales were some of the most vocal even that researches believe only a few of the mammals should be in the area at that period of the year. The marine biologists said despite several sightings of Minke whales their sounds were not recorded. Two other groups with interesting whales have been busy in the southern ocean recently. After 10 days search, the environmental organization Greenpeace announced the ship, the Esperanza had confronted Japan’s whaling fleet in the southern ocean whale sanctuary Greenpeace that the whaling fleet immediately took flight from the Esperanza leading to a high speed pursuit. The Japanese whaling ship the Nisshin Maru passed by the Greenpeace vessel called the factory ship, Nisshin Maru sped away. In an appeal radioed to the Japanese whaling fleet, Greenpeace expedition leader Karli Thomas said that they represented millions of people around the world who want to see an end to whaling in the southern ocean whale sanctuary. Greenpeace said its mission was to prevent the Japanese government slaughter have nearly 1,000 whales including 50 endangered Fin whales. The Japanese said the mission was part of the science and research program but many environmental activist fear the Japanese government is attempting to bring about to return to commercial whaling. Osprey Reef in the coral sea of the northeastern shores of Australia is a popular destination for scuba diving. But recently the area has been planted but plundered by illegal fishing activity focused on shark fin. Now, the world wild life fund Australia has started calling for the protection of the entire Coral Sea when it’s predatory inhabitants from illegal fishing activity. The area is home to many shark species. The Grey nurse, Hammerhead, and Great Whites all feed in this region. The environmental organization called on the Australian government to declare the entire Coral Sea region a marine protected area because of concerns about illegal fishing in the area, the shark fin. Shark fin is very popular in Asian markets. The Coral Sea, a close neighbor to the Great Barrier Reef is one of only four predator diversity hot spots. And in Baja California a different coalition of conservationist known as the group of 100 is calling for the protection the sea turtle. The Sea Turtle has always been a traditional food source but increased human population means they’re being hunted unsustainably. The turtle is now on the endangered list. The group is asked for increased protection and enforcement of environmental laws which designate the Baja area as feeding reserve for the sea turtles. Through the south on Mexico’s Pacific Coast in the state of Oaxaca, the sea turtles make themselves particularly vulnerable. During the night, in the months from August to January at La Escobilla beach they come to shore to lay their eggs. It is thought that the turtle will return to the beach would hatch to make its own nest. The mother turtles swim thousands of kilometers to arrive at La Escobilla coming from this far away as Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica and Ecuador. Each turtle lays about 100 eggs in depth nests. The eggs take about one and a half months to hatch and produce turtles to take about a decade to grow to adult that survival rate alone. Possibly only one in 100 will reach matured. The Mexican Turtle Center one of the largest centers of marine turtle protection in North America helps the babies dodge land abound apparels. Unhatched eggs that move to the guarded areas and hatchlings are nurtured before being returned to the sea where they’ll be left to famed for them. The situation in Mexico affects five species that endangered sea turtle threatening populations as far away as Hawaii and Japan. Long line fishing purposes are endangering the world albatrosses. Conservationists have released report that identifies parts of the world where long line fishing trawlers and albatrosses cross path often with fetal results for the birds. More than 300,000 seabirds including 100,000 albatrosses I believe to drown each year because they are lured by baited hooks and then pulled under the water. The reports with satellite tracking the other on 16 species of albatross and three petrel species all endangered by commercial and pirate long line fishing fleets which used lines up to 130 kilometers long carrying thousands of baited hooks. Fishermen don’t want to get albatrosses. Every baits that is lost to an albatross is a hook that can catch a fish so the fishermen loose out economically they want to do everything in their power to avoid catching albatrosses and increase their fish catch. Of the 21 species of albatross 19 are threatened with extinction. The bird that threatened by introduced species such as rats and feral cats which raid their nests. A serious declining fish stocks is also affecting albatross members that their greatest dangers comes as they come the unwanted by catch of the long line fishing industry. Some fishing boats have started setting streamer lines that scare the albatrosses away from the baited hooks. Global numbers of the elephant seal population are in declined as well. Until recently, researchers could only guess as to the reason behind this. But now scientists in Australia are using state of the art satellite tracking census to follow the mammals in their habitat across the seven oceans. The new trackers transmit the water temperature and salinity levels every two hours. And technology has revolutionized the work of oceanographers looking at the same region. Scientists are now able to map out strong currents known as Ocean Rivers with the seals are choosing to forage. The census, are glued of the elephant seal before they leave on long foraging journeys. The tags are retrieved when the animals returned to the same beach to molt 10 months later.