While the good news out of the Gulf is that the oil has stopped flowing, the long road to recovery is only just beginning. Even now hundreds of sea turtles, shore birds and other wildlife are turning up slathered with oil from the spill, and the area these animals call home is polluted with tar balls, slicks and puddles of oily mousse. Despite our geographic distance, the South Carolina Aquarium continues to answer the call. The Gulf oil spill is a reminder of how small and how vulnerable our planet is — and how we all share a responsibility for its care. As I write, our staff veterinarian, Dr. Shane Boylan, is assisting with sea turtle rescues at the Gulfworld aquatic facility in Panama City, Florida. This is Dr. Boylan´s third stint in the Gulf since the spill, and he was sought out because of his expertise in rehabilitating sea turtles at our own Sea Turtle Hospital. The rescue work is long and arduous, and involves thoroughly scrubbing and flushing oil from the turtles, followed by physical exams, blood and fecal work, radiographs, and therapy. As horrifying as the images of these turtles are upon arrival, they are the lucky ones. Unknown numbers remain stranded at sea in the vast oil slicks. Many of these turtles are Kemp´s ridleys, the most critically endangered species of sea turtle in the world. It is nesting season on the shores of Mexico and southeastern Texas, and the turtles that hatch this summer will set out to sea in search of food and safe harbor. What they may find is alarming. Of course, no animal is safe from the oil´s effects. Shelley Dearhart, an Aquarium educator and biologist, recently participated in two Gulf expeditions with a team of NOAA experts to assess the impact of the spill on bottlenose dolphins. Using sophisticated imagery, they catalogued the distinctive dorsal fins of several dolphins — like taking a human fingerprint — so that the long-term effects on individuals can be documented. They also took biopsies from several specimens to learn whether the dolphins were in immediate jeopardy. Shelley´s firsthand experiences are documented in a blog on these pages. The spill has also created what the U.S. Commerce Department calls a “fishery disaster,” and more than 50,000 square miles of the Gulf remain closed to commercial fishing. Megan Westmeyer, our Sustainable Seafood Initiative Coordinator, has been advising chefs around the country about the status of seafood originating from the Gulf. Oyster, shrimp and crab are of immediate concern, as is the fate of several species of fish like Atlantic bluefin, snapper and grouper that are now in spawning season. This year the Aquarium celebrates its 10th birthday, and we find we are increasingly called upon to serve on a national and international stage. Both our Sea Turtle Rescue program and Sustainable Seafood Initiative stand as vivid examples of what an Aquarium can do for its community and beyond. Sincerely, Kevin Mills |
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Dear Friend,
Lend a hand in the Gulf, as well as here locally:
If you encounter a dead or injured sea turtle, please call the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources at |
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