Marine

Another Whale Washes Ashore On Oregon Coast

April 10, 2009
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For the second time in a month, a dead whale has washed ashore on along the Central Coast of Oregon.

Courtesy Kenneth D. Crouse, Carl Washburne State Park

Courtesy Kenneth D. Crouse, Carl Washburne State Park

The 43-foot, female, gray whale was found Thursday morning near the Hobbit Trail north of Florence.  A necropsy shows it was suffering from an infected or cancerous ovary.  Jim Rice with the Marine Mammal Stranding Network says tissues were sent to a laboratory at OSU but, “It looks like the whale succumbed to emaciation after a chronic disease.”

In early March, a 55-foot Fin whale was spotted floundering in surf near Florence and was found dead a few days later on the beach near Heceta Head Lighthouse at Devil’s Elbow State Park.  Researchers didn’t have the opportunity to find what caused the death.

“It is unlikely the two are related,” says Rice.  “Whales die for a variety of reasons – often of emaciation – but the root cause can be injury, disease or parasites.”

PBDEs A Growing Concern For Coastal Ecosystems

April 1, 2009
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While legislators in Salem are considering a ban on a flame retardant known as deca-PBDE, there’s a new report on how levels of these chemicals are growing in coastal waters.

The report comes from NOAA, which has been studying coastal water quality for more than 20 years. The latest information shows that as levels rise, PBDEs are now being detected just about everywhere along the coasts and Great Lakes.

Oyster harvesting in Yaquina Bay. Courtesy NOAA.

Oyster harvesting in Yaquina Bay. Courtesy NOAA.

In Oregon, that includes two sites near Coos Bay, two sites in Yaquina Bay, plus Tillamook Bay and a site near the mouth of the Columbia River. NOAA says high levels of PBDEs were found in oysters and mussels at one of the Coos Bay sites.

The concern about PBDEs is that they break down very slowly in the environment and can accumulate in fish and wildlife in ways that are similar to PCBs and DDT. They’ve been known to cause liver, thyroid and neurological problems in animals and interfere with their ability to reproduce. The effects on people are not well known, but PBDE has been found in breast milk.

The timing of this report is important because the Oregon House has yet to vote on a bill banning deca-PBDE. The bill passed the Senate 22-8, but so far the House hasn’t taken action. If S.B. 596 passes, it would ban PBDEs starting in January of 2011. A similar ban in Washington state takes effect at the same time. Both states have already banned two other types known as penta and octa PBDEs.

For more information please see:

Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment PBDE Report

Earlier Story:

Flame Retardant Ban Passes Oregon Senate

Gov K Says “Yes” To Marine Reserves

February 13, 2009
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Governor Kulongoski has given his official blessing to marine reserves off the coast of Oregon.

He says he’ll ask the legislature for money to create two pilot reserves, one at Otter Rock near Depoe Bay, the other at Redfish Rocks by Port Orford. He also wants the money to study four other potential sites.

So what’s a marine reserve? It’s an area of the ocean where marine life is not to be disturbed. Sort of like an underwater wildlife refuge.

This may rule out fishing, crabbing and oyster harvesting. So it’s easy to see why even the concept of a marine reserve has been controversial along the coast. Fisherman worry that too much of the ocean will be off limits to them to make way for marine reserves and wave energy farms. Supporters hope the reserves will support scientific study of the ocean, and help boost fishing stocks.

News of the Governor’s decision came today in a letter sent to the Ocean Policy Advisory Council (OPAC). OPAC has been working on this project for years. The council proposed the two pilot reserves and four study areas back in November. What Gov K did today was to endorse the OPAC proposal and say he try to find the money to make it happen.

Navy Extends Public Comment On Offshore Training

February 9, 2009
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Updated: 4:40 pm

The Oregonian is reporting that all the state’s congressional Democrats are asking the Navy to extend the public comment period until April 11, and add two more public meetings in Oregon. Only one meeting has been held in the state, so far.


By Dennis Newman

The uproar over the Navy’s plan to expand training operations off the Northwest coast may be buying some time for opponents.

The public comment period was supposed to run out on Wednesday, but today we learned it’s been extended another week until February 18.

The Oregonian covered the controversy last week. According to the O, the Navy wants to add a minefield avoidance training course, add hundreds of training flights, and increase its use of sonar.

That last part is especially controversial. Environmental groups say the Navy’s use of mid-frequency sonar harms marine mammals and interrupts their communications. The Navy disputes those claims.

You can read more about the Navy’s plans here:
Northwest Training Range Complex Environmental Impact Statement

And public comments can be submitted on the web here:
United States Navy Public Scoping Comment Form

Salmon Killers and New Ocean Reserves

November 18, 2008
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SALMON KILLING PESTICIDES

NOAA is calling for some pretty tough restrictions on three commonly used pesticides, diazonin, malathion, and chlorpyrifos.

The report, officially known as a Biological Opinion, says these three chemicals can damage or even kill salmon. It describes them a threat to 27 species of threatened and endangered salmon on the west coast.

So what can be done about this?

NOAA says farmers who use these pesticides shouldn’t be allowed to apply them near salmon streams. The report calls for buffer zones of 1000 feet for aerial spraying and 500 feet when these pesticides are applied on the ground. Other restrictions include not applying them during windy conditions, or when a storm is in the forecast. The rain could wash the freshly applied pesticides into the streams.

The report says the chemicals hurt salmon by impairing their sense of smell, making it harder for them to catch prey. It says the pesticides also reduce populations of small fish and insects that salmon eat. And if concentrations are high enough, the three pesticides are outright salmon killers.

For now, these are only recommendations. The Environmental Protection Agency asked for NOAA’s advice as it looks at new restrictions on the use of these pesticides. NOAA says this is only the first in a series of Biological Opinions it will forward to the EPA in the next three years.

No word on when the EPA will issue its final ruling.

2 OCEAN RESERVES FOR OREGON?

A state panel is calling on Governor Kulongoski to establish two ocean reserves, one near Depoe Bay and the other near Port Orford.

Ocean reserves are “fishing free” zones that are set aside as refuges for marine life and areas for scientific research.

The Ocean Policy Advisory Council (OPAC) received about 20 proposals for these marine parks, but after a series of public hearings whittled them down to just two. Four other sites were forwarded to the Governor as worthy of further study.

This has been one of the most controversial issues along the coast since Governor K proposed establishing the zones back in 2000. Fishermen are worried that they’ll be kept out from some of their best fishing spots. The pressure was made more intense because they may also be losing other fishing areas to wave and wind energy farms.

Supporters argue that marine reserves can actually boost fishing stocks and note that Washington and California already have similar zones. Our Ocean, a group that has advocated for the ocean reserves, says these recommendations are a “strong first step.” But it adds that a system of nine reserves is what’s really needed.

No word yet on what the Governor will do with these proposals. The Oregon legislature has the final word.