Raising awareness on marine pollution
Plastic Pollution
Plastic pollution has become a global scourge. Plastic never really breaks down in our environment, it simply gradually fractures into smaller and smaller particles - even the tiny exfioliating beads in your cleanser and bodywash, something you likely never consider, these and countless other plastics end up in the ocean where they persist and are mistaken for food by a multitude of organisms.
Not only do plastic particles and fragments persist in the environment, they act as attractants to toxic chemicals suspended unseen in the water coloumn. So when marine animals ingest the plastic they are not only clogging their digestive system, they are also ingesting a toxic cocktail of chemicals as well.
Global studies are currently being conducted that are finding plastic particles suspended in every part of the ocean and plastic ranging from large objects to minute particles can be found on every beach.
If this seems excessive, here are some photos of plastic debris picked up from Whakanewha beach and Onetangi beach on just one walk...
And this is from beaches that appear pristene to the naked eye! Marine animals can eat, choke, become entangled and be injured by this waste.
What can you do?
- pick up any rubbish you see on the beach or street.
- place your rubbish in the bin and advise anyone else you observe not doing this, to do the same.
- organise a local beach clean - up in your area.
- Buy less plastic or avoid it wherever possible! This can be a tough one - our society practically runs on plastic...
For those that are aware, the state of our planet and
oceans is rather dire, however that doesn't mean we have to be
complacent or feel hopeless.
Every little bit of positive action we take counts! The ocean will thank you for it.
White flippered penguin happy in it's nesting burrow. Canterbury
This rubbish was amongst the rocks just outside the breeding burrows. Canterbury.
Blue penguin, Whakanewha. This bird may have died from natural causes, however death can be caused by consuming plastic, dogs, oil or chemicals or being hit by a boat.
Marine Mammal Strandings
The baby dolphin pictured below has teeth marks in a half bite around it's head - these can be seen faintly in Graeme's photo. It is believed that orca may have been chasing the dolphins, possibly teaching juveniles to hunt (hence the teeth marks) leading the dolphins to beach themselves in panic. Dolphins and stingrays are a favorite food of orca, which are seen regularly around Waiheke. The most recent stranding was of a common dolphin in May 2009.
Dolphins and whales may strand becasue they are ill, old or being chased by predators (sharks or orca), they can be caught by an outgoing tide in shallow areas while feeding or socialising, they may mis-navigate due to changing geographic conditions (e.g shifting sandbanks on a headland like Farewell Spit a stranding hotspot) or especially in deep water, their sonar can be disrupted from underwater tests of naval sonar equipment or excessive noise from boat traffic.
Frequently a dolphin or whale strands as an individual and the rest of the pod follow in an atempt to assist the original creature in distress.
If you come across a stranded animal please:
- contact DOC on the stranding hotline
0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468)
OR
- Project Jonah Stranding Hotline
0800 4 WHALE (0800 4 94253)
or call the police on 111 and they will inform DOC and/or Project Jonah.
Project Jonah advises how you can assist the animals:
- Pour water gently over the body (avoiding the blowhole)
- If possible cover with wet sheets/towels or seaweed to avoid dehydration of the skin
- Dig a small channel around front fins to avoid cramping and provide some comfort
- Dig an indentation along one side of any animals that are lying on their sides and gently roll them upright
- Keep noise and disturbance to a minimum, speak calmly and gently
Common dolphin stranding Whakanewha, 2000. Photos courtesy Graeme Hooper.
Other marine mammals seen around Waiheke include:
- Pods of common dolphin
- Orca
- Southern Right whales
- Fin and Sei whales
By registering a whale or dolphin sighting on Ocean Aware, we can
keep track of whale numbers and their movements and contribute to
national and international records of marine mammal populations. This
provides an indication of overall species numbers, distribution and
diversity.
