Palmyra Atoll Free of Rats and a Better Home for Island Wildlife

Source: USGS

     The wind blows through the palm trees as the sun warms your face.  You can hear the waves crashing on the beach.  What could ruin this perfect day?  Rats.   

 
     By 2011 Palmyra Atoll had become overrun with rats and The Nature Conservancy (TNC), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), in coordination with Island Conservation decided to do something about it.  Palmyra Atoll is a unique natural resource-a grouping of 25 islets in the Line Island archipelago that is cooperatively managed by TNC and FWS as a National Wildlife Refuge.  The atoll and the surrounding waters are also protected as part of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, for which Marine Conservation Institute successfully advocated.   Palmyra is home to 15,000 acres of beautiful pristine coral reefs, numerous species of seabirds and shorebirds, giant clams, sea turtles, reef sharks, endangered fish and whales, and dolphins, as well as a rare coastal strand forest.  

 
     The history of rats at Palmyra likely began in 1941, when the atoll was a strategic outpost for the U.S. military and housed 2,400 soldiers.  World War II forever altered Palmyra as the military brought roads, houses, waterlines, hospitals, and other infrastructure.  Since then the population of the non-native rats grew to about 30,000.  The rats threatened native birds, crab, and plant species, which experienced heavy predation. 

Source: USGS

     
      In 2000 the Nature Conservancy bought Palmyra Island from the Fullard-Leo family to make the area into a nature preserve and in 2001 it became a National Wildlife Refuge.  In 2011 the Nature Conservancy and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in coordination with Island Conservation sought to reverse the increase in the non-native rat population.  It took seven years of planning and research to ensure the proper elimination of the rats without harm to the native species. Today we can celebrate that Palmyra Atoll has been free of rats for one year!  Scientists are already seeing increases in native tree seedlings, seabirds, shorebirds, crabs, and various insects, all of which had previously been food for the voracious rodents. 

     Marine Conservation Institute supported the removal of the rats and has strengthened the protection of Palmyra Atoll by promoting its inclusion in the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument. We continue to work with FWS, the National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration, and other partners to improve the protection and management of this national treasure.  Palmyra Atoll is a National Wildlife Refuge and should be treated with respect and with the utmost care.  In order to protect Palmyra from the reintroduction of rats or any other non-native species, permits are required to visit the area and careful quarantine procedures are required.  We continue to work to reduce illegal fishing and trespass around the island monuments.  Please help us in protecting our pristine Pacific Islands! 

Obama's Call for Action on Climate Change

      President Obama's bold inaugural speech gave me hope for the future of our oceans and coasts.  The future of our oceans and coasts are at a state of influx and should continue to be a concern for the Obama Administration.  As almost half of the nation's population lives on a coast, and millions of people from all over the world visit our coasts, additional policies must be put in place to conserve and protect our oceans and coasts. 

Source: Huffington Post

     Did you know that one in six jobs is marine related and that over 1/3 of the gross domestic product (GDP) originates in coastal areas?  Nearly eighty percent of the nation's economy is supported in coastal states and coastal states together produce a GDP that is bigger than that of any single country in the world.  These are just some of the reasons why it is important to protect our oceans and coasts.  

      During his first term as President, Barack Obama established the National Ocean Policy by Executive Order.  He directed funding toward the Gulf Coast after the Deepwater Horizon Spill in order to restore communities and fisheries.  While not everyone agreed with his actions, at least it is a starting point for conservation.  

      So what is Obama doing this term?  With one term under his belt he again he has brought up the topics of climate change and sustainable energy.  He seems more serious this time, but only time will tell.    Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, mankind has been releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.  The oceans absorb some of this carbon dioxide, but when this occurs it changes the chemistry of the oceans.  The more acidic the oceans become the more impacts to fishing, tourism, and marine food webs.  The increase in carbon dioxide raises temperatures and creates a low pH environment in the oceans, called ocean acidification.  I am elated that Obama is still pursuing climate change.  We need a leader on this front because an increase in temperature not only affects weather, but it is affecting marine life.  I love to scuba dive and see the vibrant life that lives in our magnificent oceans.  I want future generations to experience the wonder and awe in the deep blue.  I believe Obama wants to not only protect our resources for their beauty, but also because if they aren't protected now food, jobs, and our livelihood will be lost.  

     Now President Obama isn’t harnessing our natural resources just for energy, but he is also advocating these topics for future generations.  Everyone may not agree on where these issues are going, but at least they are being talked about.  We look forward to hearing what your hope for the Obama Administration and the oceans are.

Don't be Trashy! Marine Debris and its Affects on a Global Scale

Source: NOAA

      Imagine it is a hot summer day and you venture to the beach.  You think of the sand, the sun, and relaxation.  Imagine you get there only to discover copious amounts of garbage littering the once pristine beach you were anticipating.  Marine debris is a global problem affecting marine life and society.  

       Marine Debris is defined by The National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration (NOAA) as any man-made object discarded, disposed of or abandoned that enters the coastal marine environment.  Marine debris comes from different sources such as vessels, rivers, wind, rain, sewers, and beachgoers.  This is not just a problem facing the US, but it is of global concern.  Types of marine debris include derelict fishing gear, plastic bottles, waste from ocean voyaging vessels, and undersea exploration and oil and gas extraction equipment.
     Fishing gear can become unintentionally or accidentally lost and cause entanglement issues for species such as the endangered Hawaiian monk seal and sea turtles.  Fishing equipment can also “ghost fish” meaning gear continues to capture fish after it has been left behind.  Plastic can also be a problem for sea birds, mammals, fish, and squid that ingest it.  When marine life ingests plastic, it leads to reduced nutrient absorption, ulcers, and blockage of digestive processes.  Additionally, coastal communities dependent on tourism might see an economic down slide because the presence of litter on beaches deters tourism.

Source: NOAA

      There are now a handful of regulations in place to deal with the issue of marine debris.  One of particular interest to Marine Conservation Institute is the Marine Debris and Safety Act Amendments which were signed on December 20, 2012 by President Obama.  This was a bipartisan effort by Senator Mark Begich, (D); Senator Lisa Murkowski (R); Senator Daniel Inouye, (D); Representative Don Young, (R); and Representative Sam Farr, (D).  This was one of the last acts of the previous Congress.  The hope is for more bipartisan involvement on environmental issues like this with the new Congress.  While there are people interested in marine debris there is still a lack of reliable funding available for mitigation efforts. 

Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

      How do citizens help tackle the problem of marine debris?  Vessel owners and operators can create their own set of rules on their vessels such as having a zero to minimal discharge policy.  Port operators can push for better infrastructure for disposal of waste on shore and incentives can be created for vessel operators to participate.   Awareness is also key to tackling the problem of marine debris.  For example at the Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge, staff collected 87 balloons from a coastal island that sea turtles and marine birds frequent.   A local girl made a dress out of the balloons that were acquired to bring awareness to the issue.  For those of you who are not interested in wearing trash, you can track trash you find while strolling on the beach with the Marine Debris Tracker app.  People need to get involved and spread the word about marine debris in order to keep our coastlines pristine.  What will you do to reduce marine debris or raise awareness? 

      As stated above  Marine Conservation Institute advocated for the recent passage of the Marine Debris and Safety Act Amendments because marine debris affects people's livelihoods and local economies, marine wildlife, and ecosystems.  Information on our press release can be found here.  It is a global problem; there isn’t a single ocean free of marine debris today.

               

Expansion of Gulf of the Farallones and Cordell Bank

      There is a buzz in the air about the expansion of two national marine sanctuaries off of the California coast.  Senator Barbara Boxer and retiring Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey, Democrats from California, have been trying for years to expand the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary (GFNMS) and the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary (CBNFS).  Now their hard work looks like it will pay off if we can get enough interested folks to support the expansion. 

Source: National Marine Sanctuary Foundation

      On December 20, 2012 the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Senator Boxer and Rep. Woolsey announced that NOAA would be moving forward to expand GFNMS and CBNMS, more than doubling the two sanctuaries in size.The Gulf of the Farallones, which was established in 1981, is 966 square nautical miles.  Cordell Bank, which was established in 1989, is currently 397 square nautical miles.  The combined change will result in a continuous protected area equivalent to the size of Delaware.    

     The importance of expanding these sanctuaries is overwhelming.  Cordell Bank is home to a plethora of marine mammals like blue whales and humpback whales and birds because it is one of the top four places in the world for upwelling of deep, nutrient rich water to occur.  This nutrient rich cold water grows plankton and other things that form the bottom of a hugely productive foodchain extending for hundreds of miles down the coast. Cordell Bank is a favorite spot for recreational fishermen because of the abundance of albacore and salmon.  The Gulf of the Farallones has one of the largest seabird colonies in the contiguous US and contains one fifth of California’s harbor seal breeding population.
     Almost all the testimony submitted during past Congressional hearings on the expansion proposal was in favor of the expansion because it would protect ocean resources important to fishing and regional tourism.  These in turn will keep the local coastal economy vibrant. 
     Sanctuary status will protect this magnificent ecosystem from coastal pollution, oil and gas drilling, discharge of pollution from ships, keeps boaters away from sensitive seabird nesting areas, and visitors a safe distance from whales.  CBNMS currently prohibits the extraction of natural gas and oil, the discharge of waste, and the extraction of anything that has cultural significance and any organism that dwells on the sea floor.  GFNMS prohibits anchoring in seven zones, coming within fifty meters of the white shark within two nautical miles of the Farallon Islands, harmful discharge, abandonment of vessel, introducing or releasing non-native species, and taking or disturbing “sensitive” wildlife.  Both of the sanctuaries are off the California coast; however, the Cordell Bank is more remote than the Gulf of the Farallones, which makes enforcement difficult.  If both of these sanctuaries are to expand there will be a need for better enforcement tools. 

Source: Wildlifist

      As NOAA moves forward with the administrative expansion process there will be three more public meetings in California for community input: one on January 24,2013 at Bodega Bay; another February 12,2013 at Point Arena; and the third on February 13,2013 at Gualala.  Electronic comments can also be made by March 1, 2013.  Specific details about the meeting and how to send an electronic comment supporting the expansion can be found here.  
     The Marine Conservation Institute enthusiastically supports this expansion and is organizing public comments in favor of it.  You can see our President, Dr. Lance Morgan, applauding President Obama and NOAA for taking up the sanctuary expansion project on the Marine Conservation Institute website.

A Brief Consideration of the Kulluk Stranding: Biodiversity of Sitkadilak Island

 Sitkadilak Island’s seabirds and marine mammals

Right now, as I sit here writing this blog the drilling rig Kulluk is sitting in its temporary anchorage in Kiliuda Bay which is located just north of the grounding location (Figure 1a & b) on the eastern side of Kodiak Island.  News sources have reported there is no evidence of oil leakage from the rig.  Initial mentions of possible risks to wildlife were scant with a brief mention of Steller sea lion habitat. This region is in fact one of high biodiversity. Diversity and abundance of coastal and nearshore species may be at their highest during summer months, but there are species that use this area during the winter months as well.

Figure 1 (a&b). Location of Kulluk stranding.  Source: Arctic ERMA [1].

Seabirds

According to a US Fish and Wildlife Service wildlife biologist, the department’s ship-based surveys, which include the south east coast of Sitkalidak Island, indicate that there are at least sixteen species of seabirds that occur in highest abundance in the in the protected waters of Sitkalidak Straits (on the west side of Sitkalidak Island) and adjacent bays.  These species occur in lower abundance on the exposed side of Sitklidak Island where the rig is currently stranded. This area is an important foraging area for seabirds year round so any event that might cause a decline in the abundance or quality of forage fish may have a negative impact on seabird populations.

Marine mammals

In addition to prime seabird habitat, the nearshore area is critical habitat for both the federally endangered Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) and the federally threatened sea otter (Enhydra lutris) (Figure 2). According to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) critical habitat is by definition specific areas that contain physical or biological features essential to conservation of the species.  There is a known Stellar sea lion haul-out location at near Cape Barnabas which is located at the north east end of Sitkalidak Island [2].

Figure 2. Location of Kulluk stranding on Sitkalidak Island in relationship to Steller sea lion and sea otter critical habitat. Source: Arctic ERMA [3].

Below is a brief list of mammal and seabird species that might be found within the vicinity of the Kodiak archipelago:

Seabirds (Only those that may occur during the winter are listed):

Sea ducks

Harlequin duck
Barrow’s goldeneye
Red-breasted merganser
Common merganser
Black surf scoter
White-winged surf scoter
Long-tailed duck

Loons

Pacific Loons
Red-throated loon
Yellow-billed loons (infrequent)

Grebes           

Horned grebe

Red-necked grebe

Alcids

Marbled murrelets (fairly common in the winter and breed on Kodiak Island)

Pigeon guillemot
Common murre

Terrestrial Mammal

 

Kodiak brown bear (This subspecies only occurs on the islands of the Kodiak Archipelago. The population was estimated to be 3,526 in 2005 [4]. The Kodiak brown bear is included in this list because it utilizes coastal resources during the spring and summer.)

Marine Mammals (all marine mammals are listed without regard to seasonality of occurrence):

Sea Otter
Steller sea lion
Dall’s porpoise
Harbor seal
Fin whale
Gray whale (Migrating whales most commonly observed during the spring and fall.)
Humpback whale
Minke whale
Orca (Most common during the spring and summer.)

 

A take home message
The Alaskan coastal wilderness is just that—wilderness. For the most part the Alaskan coast is pristine.  When we hear reports about industrial accidents in this region it may be in the best interest of the responsible parties to minimize the perceived potential damage to natural ecosystems.  These places may be subjected to harsh abiotic conditions that may at first seem inhospitable, but they are inhabited by a diverse suite of plants and animals that by default depend on us to ensure that their habitats remain pristine.  Whether it is the image of an adorable sea otter breaking open a sea urchin for lunch, or the monetary benefits of maintaining Alaskan ecosystems for the purposes of sustaining fisheries, think about these images next time you hear about an accident that may at the face of it appear to have little impact on the surrounding habitats.

Sea otters convene in a kelp bed near Kodiak Island, Alaska.
(Photo by Arthur Morris) [5]

Sources

[1] Arctic ERMA*. https://www.erma.unh.edu/arctic/erma.html#x=-153.22219&y=57.11911&z=10&layers=12959+12913+12921+12920+355+13553 (accessed 2 Jan 2013).

*Arctic Environmental Response Management Application (Arctic ERMA) “is a web-based GIS

[2] Anchorage Daily News. http://www.adn.com/2013/01/01/2739838/kulluk-final.html (accessed 3 Jan 2013).

[3] Arctic ERMA. https://www.erma.unh.edu/arctic/erma.html#x=-153.26201&y=57.11873&z=10&layers=12974+12969+13553 (accessed 2 Jan 2013).

[4] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodiak_bear#cite_note-kodiakmgmt-12 (accessed 4 Jan 2013).

[5] Sea otter photograph. http://news.ucsc.edu/2012/09/sea-otters-kelp.html