Dozens Of Dead Seals Are Washing Up Around Alaska, Scientists Unable To Find Out Exact Cause
At least 60 seals have washed up dead along Alaska's Bering and Chukchi sea coastlines and no one can pinpoint the reason behind it. The agency National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA Fisheries is investigating reports of unusually large numbers of dead ice seals in the area. The cause of the seal die-off is as yet unknown said Julie Speegle an Alaska spokeswoman for NOAA Fisheries. Record warmth in recent years has been disrupting m...Read More
The rate at which climate change is affecting the planet the oceans will probably lose about one-sixth of their fish and other marine life by the end of the century, states a disconcerting report.
And we are witnessing its slow death every single day! The potential consequences of this slow decay of marine life has direct impact on our biodiversity and the human race as a whole. However, we humans have still not learnt our lesson and continue to abuse the environment in ways more than one.
At least 60 seals¡ªincluding bearded, ringed, and spotted seals¡ªhave recently washed up dead along Alaska¡¯s Bering and Chukchi sea coastlines, and no one can pinpoint the reason behind it.
The agency National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries is investigating reports of "unusually large numbers" of dead ice seals in the area.
Ice in the Bering and Chukchi seas has been far scarcer than normal, and sea-surface temperatures have been far higher than usual, according to scientists and NOAA. The cause of the seal die-off is as yet unknown, said Julie Speegle, an Alaska spokeswoman for NOAA Fisheries.
NOAA
¡°We are mobilizing to get our marine mammal experts and our partners there to get some samples,¡± Speegle said. ¡°It could be a harmful algal bloom. It could be a number of things.¡±
Hair loss has been reported for some dead ice seals. Further examination of fresh animals will help determine if this is due to decomposition or if it could be abnormal molting, where animals shed feathers or hair to make room for new ones.
Abnormal molting symptoms were present in the 2011-2016 Unusual Mortality Event, which impacted at least 657 ice seals in northern and western Alaska, states the report.
NOAA is communicating with various local groups to figure out why it's happening, their report reads, "As ice seals are an essential resource for Alaska Native communities, food safety is a major concern."
We are working with our Alaska Marine Mammal Stranding Partners to document (photograph) and conduct necropsies on as many of these animals as possible' reads the agency's online statement.
NOAA
"Some people have expressed concerns about contamination. Others have reported the seals are unusually thin this year and are worried about prey availability."
Sea-surface temperatures along the coastlines of the Bering Sea and the southern Chukchi Sea were as much as 4.5 degrees Celsius (8.1 Fahrenheit) above normal last month and remained well above normal as of this week, according to NOAA data.
The agency estimated that 657 seals were affected over those six years. Biologists confirmed 233 dead and stranded ringed, bearded, spotted and ribbon seals and 179 killed by hunters.
Climate change is probably one of the biggest contributing factors. Record warmth in recent years has been disrupting marine life.
Last month, dozens of gray whales were found dead along the U.S. West Coast.
Reuters
¡°They¡¯re moving north from their wintering grounds in Mexico and appear to be running out of steam,¡± Michael Milstein, a spokesman for NOAA¡¯s Fisheries Service was quoted as saying.
The evidence points to a food problem in the whales¡¯ summering grounds in the Arctic Circle.
The Bering and Chukchi seas have been extraordinarily warm since 2016, with record or near-record high sea surface temperatures and an unprecedented lack of sea ice and this has a direct link to the mysterious seal deaths as well.
