Sea•thos Foundation

Last week, a 7-foot dolphin was discovered in the Bolsa Chica wetlands in Huntington Beach and appears to be lost and “very confused”.  

The dolphin, which spectators have nicknamed Fred, is said to have entered the wetlands with a pod of 5 to 6 other dolphins which were probably chasing a school of fish. While the rest of the pod swam back out to sea, Fred stayed behind. 

Peter Wallerstein, a marine biologist with the Marine Animal Rescue service and five State Department of Fish and Game officers managed to lure the dolphin closer to sea. But before reaching freedom, Fred swam back into the wetland after noticing a group of dolphins circling nearby, which were likely his own pod. 

Shortly after, the pod left the Bolsa Chica lagoon and swam back to sea, once again leaving Fred behind. Rescuers are surprised and unsure why Fred is afraid of his own pod.

Noting that Fred appears to be healthy and “capable of going many days without eating”, rescuers have decided to let Fred find his own way out to sea when he is ready. “He proved he can get out if he wants to. There are no red flags. I’m not concerned,” said Wallerstein. Rescuers say they will reattempt to help Fred to freedom if he is still in the wetland on Saturday.

Wallerstein as well as Fish and Game officials say that the crowd of spectators are likely causing stress for the dolphin. They have advised the crowd to keep away from the area so the dolphin can leave the wetland.

Although the crowd may be unintentionally causing harm, on looker David Gonzalez says the community’s concern is inspiring. “It shows community support and community service for the environment,” said Gonzalez.

We hope Fred will find his way to to freedom soon.

Click here for a picture slideshow from LA Times
Photo credit: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times / April 27, 2012

In 2007, Greenpeace took a deep sea expedition to the Zhemchug and Pribilof canyons in Alaska’s Bering Sea. The expedition brought to surface the first ever footage of deep sea life in the canyons! 

According to Greenpeace, the Zhemchug and Pribilof canyons support some of the ocean’s largest and most productive ecosystems. Despite the depths of the two canyons (both are larger than Arizona’s Grand Canyon), the lush ecosystems they support are threatened by overfishing.  

A recent study conducted by the University of California Santa Barbara, Greenpeace, and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Agency’s Alaska Fisheries Science Center, found that there is evidence of disturbance caused by industrial fishing activity in the remote canyons of the Bering Sea.

In response to the study, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) has initiated a process to assess their current fishery management and habitat-protection measures in the canyons.

Check out footage from Greenpeace’s expedition! The videos offer a unique chance to explore colorful ocean life at depths of the sea!!

The Environmental Protection Agency has released newly proposed beach pollution regulations that should leave any beachgoer feeling a little queasy.

Under the new guidelines, the proposal allows for a startling 1 in 28 swimmers to experience some form of gastrointestinal illness. This number is down from 8 in 1,000 from previous regulations, according to the National Resource Defense Council (NRDC).

To make matters worse, the EPA has also limited water quality testing to once per 90-day period. Given that many coastal communities average around 90-day swimming seasons, these parameters make it possible for weeks of heightened bacteria levels to go unnoticed. The new measure also allows for one in every four samples to exceed safe levels.

The NRDC has been the EPA’s most vocal opponent on this issue, even going as far as suing the government agency when they failed to meet a 2005 deadline to update the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act of 2000. The NRDC was successful in gaining a court order to update the measure and establish new guidelines, but the resulting 1-in-28 standard leaves much to be desired.

On the heels of the release of these lackluster regulations, the EPA came out with a study warning that beach sand may contain more bacteria than the water itself, yet another example of why the EPA should be doing more to protect beachgoers rather than finding it okay for 1 in 28 people to become sick from the ocean.

Let the EPA know that these proposed regulations are unacceptable and that they should be increasing beach safety and pollution standards rather than loosening them. You can comment on the proposal until Feb. 21st on the EPA’s website or contact EPA administrator Lisa Jackson directly to voice your concerns.

When seen from below the water, surfers and swimmers are mistaken for sea turtles by sharks, and the splashing of water entices them to attack. A new 3d device known as the Electronic Shark Defense System (ESDS) may enable surfers and other ocean goers to enjoy the ocean without fearing sharks.

Attached to a surfer’s ankle, the device sends electonic pulses through the water which are detected by a shark’s sensory system. The electronic pulses interefere with the gel in a shark’s nose and keeps them out of the signal area.

The device  turns on automatically when in water, lasts up to 9 hours before recharging, and weighs only 7 pounds.

ESDS was envisioned by the owner of Z to A Innovation,Wilson Vinano, Jr.- a long time Honolulu surfer who wants to ensure that waters are safe. The product was given a 3D system and made ready for the market by 3D innovations.

Viano said, “From the extreme testing that was conducted, we know this device works and keeps sharks away from the user.”

ESDS has entered the market and is selling in the United States for $299 without a leash and $335 with a leash. A similar device in Australia is selling for over $700.

So far, there is no information suggesting that the device is harmful to sharks.

To learn more about ESDS, visit 3D Innovations.com

On Monday, the National Park Service announced that single-use plastic bottles will no longer be sold within the Grand Canyon National Park. The ban will go into effect within the next 30 days as the park’s vendors use up their remaining supply.

A similar effort was thwarted in late 2010, when park officials balked at a potential ban due to pressure from Coca-Cola. Coca-Cola, who owns the Dasani water brand and has donated over $13 million dollars to the parks, expressed concerns over the implementation of a straight ban rather than increased recycling programs.

The park has already begun the construction of additional water filling stations for reusable bottles.

Plastic bottles are said to make up 20% of the waste within the Grand Canyon National Park, as well as 30% of it’s recyclables. In addition to waste within the parks, plastic bottles often end up in the ocean by way of the Colorado River. Another example of how plastic, even when sourced from hundreds of miles inland, is a major contributor to marine pollution.

Check out the Seathos store to purchase a reusable bottle for your next trip to the Grand Canyon!

Over the course of the last three weeks, 129 common and Atlantic white sided dolphins have stranded themselves in the shallow waters of Massachusetts’ Cape Cod Bay.

Beachings are common this time of year, yet the volume of dolphins stranded this past month is staggering. On average, between December and March, roughly 230 marine mammals (dolphins, whales, seals, etc.) strand themselves over a 700 mile stretch between Cape Cod and Rhode Island. In just a month’s time, this particular event has led to over 100 dolphin beachings along 20 miles of coastline.

While no clear explanation has been offered, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) has hinted that stress caused by human impact may be partly to blame for incidents such as this. Other factors such as changes in tidal activity and weather play a significant role in the beachings.

Backed by the IFAW, a huge rescue effort is underway to save these dolphins. Over 300 volunteers have made their way to Cape Cod Bay, working tirelessly to safely transport the animals back to the ocean. However, the IFAW is already running out of the allocated budget it has for funding such efforts. This past Friday, Katie Moore, the manager of marine animal rescue and research for the IFAW and head of the organization’s Cape Cod Stranding Network, stood before Congress and made a case for federal assistance.

“We’ve already depleted about half of our budget for the year and we still have 11 months left in 2012,” said Moore, “We’ve seen half as many animals strand themselves this month as we usually do in an entire year.”

Moore’s meeting with Congress was hosted by congressman Edward Markey (D-MA) who released a statement urging congress to act on this marine tragedy.

“Dolphins are recognized as intelligent creatures and something troubling and tragic is occurring in Massachusetts’ waters and on her beaches,” said the congressman. “That’s why we need to give our best scientists and rescuers all the resources they need so they can apply their intelligence to discovering the cause of these deaths and save as many dolphins as is possible.”

While scientists scramble to find an answer to why such an elevated number of dolphins are stranding themselves, volunteers continue to work around the clock. Despite their efforts, 75 animals have died already, with 37 being successfully released back into deeper waters.

To keep up to date and for ways to get involved, check out the IFAW’s website.