I was watching Dolphin Tale for the first time with my sister when she decided she wanted to be a marine biologist, thought I was crazy because I wanted to change the way it was done. In the movie, a dolphin gets sick due to having its tail caught in a fishing net and being out in the sun too long. What if you had a way to find and help animals like this before they accidentally get themselves beached and even the extinction of a whole species? The ocean and any ecosystem, in fact, depends on such balance for surviving and this balance relies on the food chain and alliances among other species so, we wouldn’t just lose a species but an entire ecosystem! Situations such as these are why while I’m in college I am going to study to become an
In the movie – The Squid and the Whale, the movie is about two boys that live in Brooklyn, NY who are dealing with their parents’ divorce in the late 1980’s.
I will say that as much as the expression “Canary in the coal mine” implies an early warning of danger in mines so does it in water too. In this case the fish directly helps us know the extent to which our ecological sphere is damaged, and helps humans to take the necessary precautions to save the environment.
Overfishing is a death sentence to the world’s oceans. As technology continues to improve a great deal of fish can be caught quicker; but at what cost? The effects of overfishing can lead to the extinction of not just the animals being fished, but also the predators that rely on fish to eat. Ninety percent of the ocean’s largest animals have been wiped out due to overfishing (“Overfishing- A Global Disaster”, 2011). National Geographic cites the academic journal Science (2006) that predicts by 2048, all fisheries will collapse due to lack of ocean wildlife. Fish are not the only animal caught in the nets used by fishing vessels. Often animals such as dolphins, sharks, turtles, and seabirds are
I’ve always had a keen interest in science. When I was younger, I viewed a dolphin show online. I was instantly fanisnated and later I was informed that the trainers were special marine biologists. The idea of becoming a marine biologist is still a dominate career choice for me. Last year, I was incredibly curious with the aspects that a marine biologist has to undertake that I researched the career path as part of my PLP. This only ignited my interest even further and when I was invited to attend the Flinders University I particularly focused on the marine biology and biology lectures.
Ever since I was a little girl, I dreamed of becoming a marine biologist. I was raised on a small farm in Americus, Georgia. Instead of dolls and makeup, I asked for play dinosaurs and pet lizards for Christmas. I grew up caring for every type of animal.
Sea Shepherd Conservation Society’s article “The Brutal Business of Shark Finning” reminds us that sharks play a key role in the ocean as both predators and scavengers.
Imagine one day waking up and realizing that the sea animals in the entire ocean are no more. It’s estimated that about one-third of the earth love’s to eat sea food; therefore, most of the ocean contain sea animals, and with the smaller amount of the animals, there will be no sea food. Paul Watson dedicated his life to save the marine animals no matter what the cost, even his own arrest. Paul Watson is currently the founder of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society after he was kicked out of the Greenpeace in 1977. He had a fitting life experience with sea animals his entire life
In 2009, Dr. Sylvia Earle wrote The World is Blue to educate and alert the reader about human impacts on marine ecosystems. Through this book she conveys her passion and methodical arguments concerning the importance of the conservation of the ocean, which encompasses approximately 80 percent of the earth’s surface. Dr. Earle states “the ocean touches you with every breath you take, every drop of water you drink, every bite you consume” (17). This statement emphasizes the significance of the ocean, not only for marine life, but all life forms on earth. The book implies that currently in today’s world, the conservation of the ocean requires a global effort to reduce human damage from the past generations. Using facts gleaned from credible scientific resources, she defines the problems of overfishing, bycatch, and pollution. By analyzing human impacts on marine ecosystems, Dr. Earle determines successful and unsuccessful solutions to these problems and suggests various ways individuals can change their lifestyles to reduce impact on the environment as a whole.
In the article “Hunted For Fun, Left to Die” the author, Lauren Tarshis, stated that Hardy Jones and the World Society for the Protection of Animals or the WSPA took important steps to save the two dolphins Nica and Blue Fields. When Hardy Jones and the WSPA first found the dolphins they were in a pool filled with their own excrement, starving, terrified, and weak. They quickly reacted by making an attempt to stabilize the dolphins. In the introduction the author claims that with nutrient filled fish and soothing words, the team calmed the dolphins and could begin the journey that would save their lives. Hardy Jones and the team put the dolphins in slings and hoisted them up from the toxic pool. It took eight men to carry the dolphins
Cetacean bycatch is an ongoing problem in the oceans of the world. Cetaceans are defined as whales, dolphins and porpoises(CBRC 1). Bycatch is “marine mammals that are “captured” but discarded”(Read 2). This happens when fishing industries are fishing for a certain type of marine animal and other marine animals are caught accidentally along with the intended catch. Many times, this leads to the death of the animal that was not meant to be caught, and the animal is tossed back into the ocean. This happens with all kinds of marine life, and it has caused the depletion of many different species. However, this is specifically bad for cetaceans, such as dolphins and whales, because they have such a long lifespan(Brown 2). They also take a very long time to mature(Brown 2). These factors make catching these animals very detrimental to the species as a whole because it takes longer for them to reach an age where they can reproduce(Brown 2). The population of many cetaceans have decreased exponentially. When there is someone watching the nets that cetaceans are accidentally caught in, many times they can be saved. However, there are only select few types of fishing methods that do this, and they are not of the prevalent fishing methods that produce cetacean bycatch. This is a problem because there is a connection between most living animals. If a certain part of the connection is eliminated, it will all fall apart. For example, the relationship between
Jay Griffiths, an award winning british writer, wrote an article speaking out about the assault on the riches of nature, in which she speaks of the damage we’ve done to marine life. From the time the first humans evolved, we have utilised whales to sustain ourselves. We used their blubber, meat and bones to survive. Even today, we still use them. But differently. Today, we stick them in tanks like a human in a bathtub and call it an amusement park. Marine parks, like SeaWorld, and the people who support them have committed injustices to these beautiful animals that needs to stop now.
Dolphin tale is a PG family-drama film by Charles Martin Smith. It is a true story inspired by Winter, a bottlenose dolphin, Sawyer, Clay, Dr. McCarthy and some more compassionate strangers,who manage to work together to save her life. Winter’s true story has become an inspiration to children and adults with medical conditions and disabilities. Today she serves as a symbol of courage, determination and hope for millions of people that are disabled. Personally, I have been touched by this remarkable story.
How often do we stop and think about the people that fish to provide the rest of the world with the supply of fish that is in demand. With many fisheries closing down due to poor managing and depletion, anglers are turning to the deep sea to fill their “fish orders”. Large fishing vessels also known as Super Trawlers are dragging fishing nets up to a mile deep. Doing this allows them to catch as many fish as possible, but it is also destroying natural habitat such as coral reefs that have been part of the sea for thousands of years. The effect of this is devastating to sea life.
Majestic animals that live in the ocean are rapidly dying and subsequently washing up on numerous shorelines that touch the Pacific Ocean’s waters. Disposal of a variety of toxins and damaging waste finding a path into our oceans are to blame for the deaths, which are largely preventable. Sharks, sea turtles, whales, dolphins and birds are just fraction of the marine life that are suffering because they are becoming sick or are dying of starvation. Their food sources are diminishing or disappearing as the cycle of destruction continues on down to the tiny, minute plankton that are the core of the food chain in the ocean. Contamination is causing the sudden increase of marine life deaths in the Pacific Ocean. The most recent reports of dead sea animals found washed up on shorelines don’t state scientific evidence of the cause of the mysterious deaths.
Marine biologist play a key role in understanding climate change and identifying sustainable and profitable ways humans can use the sea and its resources. Marine biologist understand marine organisms needs in their habitats, ultimately helping protect species and reduce human threats. As experts in understanding marine habitats, marine biologist often form essential parts of relief teams. They respond to oil spills and chemical leaks, helping other scientist restore normalcy to local habitats. Sometimes, marine biologists influence other spheres, such as economics and law. They might analyze the effect of sonar on whales and seals, for instance, recommending best practices for reducing harm on those sensitive populations. Marine biologists understand how the ocean supports basic needs, and in turn relay that information to lawmakers, who establish protocols regarding human use of ocean waters and marine organisms. Marine biologist help develop ocean technology too, improving waste elimination, energy sourcing and extraction of key sources. A brief review of components of the marine environment, world food resources, climate control, air and water quality, transportation, and the ecosystem balance are important features that are studied by marine biology. So, understanding why marine biology is important is foundational to integrating a balanced approach toward management of the sea and proper stewardship of organisms,