I came across another great site the other day that I really want to mention as I received an update from them in my inbox this morning.  Surfing the Internet can sometimes be such a joy, especially when you discover more organizations and people working hard to make the ocean a more hospitable place  for our vulnerable marine species to live.

This organization is Ocean Conservation Research or OCR.  What makes OCR different is their unique mission which, “is focused on understanding the scope of, and exploring solutions to the growing problem of human generated noise pollution and its impact on marine animals.”

Although the ocean can naturally be a noise place due to volcanic eruptions, violent ocean storms, polar ice shifting and earthquakes, it has also unnaturally become a much louder environment thanks to human interference.  Our growing industrial travel, commercial fishing, military and oil industries are increasingly producing intrusive noise pollution which marine species are having to adapt too.  This adaptation can possibly be threatening the well-being of all marine life as most species use sound to communicate, find food and navigate our vast oceans.

It was once thought that the enormity of our oceans could not be affected by our human dependency on the ocean and the exponential increase of noise as a result, but according to OCR, “we are seeing dramatic evidence that our ocean antics are compromising habitat, depleting life, poisoning the water – and deafening sea life with our “acoustic smog.”

There is obviously a need for more research and thus new solutions to what will be an increasing problem over time.  Unfortunately there is a shortage in conservation marine biologists and environmental scientists that are also acousticians.  It is apparent that this is a very new science that needs to be made specific to the ocean requiring many more brilliant minds and determined hearts.

In their newsletter today OCR announced that, “The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries department has launched a third in a series of four fisheries research vessels designed around new, quiet technologies.” They went on to say that the boat (Piscies) “…is so advanced and quiet that it is likely fish and other marine animals will never know it’s there.  And that’s the whole idea.”

Ocean Conservation Research has a fantastic website full of information on the subject of marine biology acoustics including research papers and various letters to support its cause.  Another great feature of their website is their sounds page which allows visitors to hear how our fish and mammals communicate while sharing our negative human contribution to noise pollution as well.

I personally think that marine noise pollution is an incredibly valid and important issue that needs to be addressed in our enormous effort to bring our oceans back to life again.  I plan on keeping up with this organization to see what advances come of this new and vital marine science.

The David Suzuki Foundation has launched a new campaign through their marine and freshwater conservation team called “I am Fish”.  This campaign is totally up my ally as it involves educating the public about the ancient connection between humans and our oceans and why we must do what we can to protect these vital ecosystems. (see video below)

As we live on land, it is easy to forget that over 70% of the Earth’s surface is in fact occupied by our vast oceans, providing the planet with over 50% of our oxygen.  I tend to stress this statistic a lot because I find it often goes unheard.  Without healthy oceans our planet’s oxygen supply will be greatly diminished.

As Canadian’s we are blessed to have the diverse marine ecosystems that we have and it is up to us to protect them.  The “I am Fish” campaign is featuring one of those spectacular ecosystems which is located here in British Columbia.  It was named PNCIMA (Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area) in 2002 and is one of the relatively healthy marine ecosystems left today.

PNCIMA (pronounced pen-SEEM-a) is located on the west coast of Canada from northern Vancouver Island to the southeast coast of Alaska.  This 88,000 square kilometer incredible span of ocean life includes the infamous Queen Charlotte Basin, Hecate Strait, Central B.C. Coast and North Vancouver Island and is very similar to the size of the Great Bear Rainforest.

This area is home to hundred’s of seabirds, the planet’s largest animals, beautiful beaches and microscopic creatures.  This ecosystem is vital to the survival of many marine species and land animals!  It is also home to a 9,000 year old reef made of glass!  This particularly unique reef is now 1,000 square kilometers wide and over five storey’s tall!  However PNCIMA is also home to over 25 communities that depend on the health and wellbeing of this area that is currently being threatened by over-fishing, poor fishing practices, pollution,  growing traffic and industrial pressure.

That is why TODAY we must act and support marine ecosystems such as PNCIMA to ensure that they are protected.

In 2002 the Canadian Government recognized a need for an integrated management program for not only British Columbia’s coast line, but for 5 unique and vulnerable ocean regions around our nation.  According to the David Suzuki Foundation, “These areas are being prioritized to undergo a planning process that would aim to improve management, develop conservation strategies and ensure long-term ecosystem health.”

Although the majority of British Columbian’s alone would like to see more than 50% of these unique ecosystems protected, only 1% actually are!  A terrible reality really.  So today the citizens of Canada have a huge opportunity to actually have a say about this matter and make a difference.

Currently we are ahead of the game, PNCIMA is still relatively healthy, but for how long.  Can we afford to wait?

To make a difference, please visit www.healthyoceans.ca and sign their already prepared letter to Canada’s Minister of Fisheries to ensure that our Government makes ocean conservation a priority.

This is important…it is our future.

I found another site today that can help all of us at home make a difference on our personal computers!  I did some searching this morning for shark finning conservation programs and stumbled across a site called care2 .

This site is all about making a difference and actually allows individuals to create their own petitions for their personal causes and market them on their site!  Care2 covers everything from the environment, ocean conservation, women’s rights to politics and animal rights.

This site is fantastic as it offers viewers so many opportunities to have their say about causes that are important to them so that change can actually occur.

Care2 also goes beyond causes and news to additionally focus on green living and personal health.  The objective of Care2 is to encourage people to make a difference in all aspects of life with great lifestyle tips and even recipes for making your own earth friendly dish detergent!

Currently there are several petitions available for ocean supporters to sign including subjects such as shark finning, over fishing,  sea turtle protection, Japanese dolphin protection and much more.

Visit www.care2.com,  find your voice and make a difference at home!

I feel terribly that I have neglected this blog for a month but for great reason!  I recently found out that I am pregnant!  The news has completely taken my attention away from the ocean as I started another blog to document my pregnancy journey called www.after-30.com .

Until last night…my husband and I met up with some friends for dinner at the Keg here in Whistler.  They had arrived early and had already ordered appetizers, escargot and cheese bread.  As we declined the offer of escargot, our quest to not eat seafood came up again.  At first my friend was confused as to why we weren’t eating seafood and said “but you’re pregnant…fish is the best thing for you right now!”  I responded by saying that my choosing not to eat seafood is more about advocating sustainability and less about not eating all seafood.

I believe that my giving up seafood for a year is an example that it is possible to refrain from the foods you love for the sake of the health and wellbeing of that species.  At some point as a society we are going to have to make a choice, and my choice is to save our oceans so that the generations below us can enjoy the same pleasures we have today.

However for that to happen, drastic changes MUST occur NOW!  Without change soon, we are destined to destroy this fragile ecosystem within a short few decades.  The only way we can successfully save our oceans is to eat sustainably.  There is no way we can convince the world to stop eating seafood…people will never understand and choose to look the other way as they do when they only hear what they want to hear.

What we can do is promote sustainable fisheries.  Choose your seafood product wisely and stop eating endangered species.  For more information on sustainable fish, please see my article on the Greenpeace Redlist under the sustainable seafood archive.