Increased numbers of whales getting entangled are raising a red flag, with more instances of it happening. Disruptions that are caused by entropy and climate change is now causing changes like marine heatwaves. This happens when changes in the normal worldwide temperature of seas increase affecting fisheries and ocean-going species.
It was a surprise when the warming of the earth's oceans, began dire changes in the ecosystem. Yet, more serious is the changes in how humpbacks were entangled more often, even with sonar. Remarked by said Jarrod Santora, a researcher in applied mathematics at UC Santa Cruz in the study.
He is also part of NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center, making models from data as the basis for decisions to be used by concerned agencies. Working to find a solution to why whales get entangled in the first place.
Ways to prevent whale tangling is in place after three years, to avoid it from occurring. The process is done with aerial surveys and a program to mitigate it, and better risk assessment that includes an indicator to base decisions. It is a concentrated effort of different specialties to reach the goal of fewer entanglements of whales.
One of the best features of the California Current is the rich food sources that are nutrient-rich in this location. Specific bounties of the sea, include krill, anchovy, and sardines which sustain baleen whales and other predators who come here to sustain themselves. One of the negative effects of extreme warming in 2016-16 is how it affected the conditions drastically. As a result, the zone where the best conditions persist is limited to a small alley on the California Coast.
Movement of the sustenance rich location from farther the coast, to moving nearer as predators follow where the food is. Plus, krill is not as populous when it gets warmer than the norm. Although anchovies are increasing numbers instead, humpbacks are not picky when krill is in short supply. Instead, anchovies are an alternative for them. Whales that move closer to the coasts are entangled because they are following the food source.
Marine heatwave events are sure to draw in whales after food and get entangled in crab fishing equipment. Statistics are shooting up, with 10 whales in 2014, about 53 in 2015, but got higher by 2 whales (55) in 2016. Each year added a few more, as the marine heatwave occurred in that period.
If it was not getting better, the marine heatwave generated toxic algae on the west coastal areas. Examination of Dungeness crabs had an incidence of neurotoxin domoic acid, that delayed the fishing season for 2015-2016. These changes in the fishing season for crabs was the same time when whales arrived too.
Changes in the habitat affected the whales, also commercial activities of residents working and living on the California Coast. It all highlights what happens if the climate is not regular, instead of a problem-free ecosystem. All because the marine heatwave caused this massive change, that is not beneficial to either man or whales. An effort to create "ropeless" gear that does not need gear in progress, but for checking the environment and apply the right science is what can be done.
Read: Study connects marine heatwave with a spike in whale entanglements
