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Paddle quickly, think slowly...
Nadja <expatgal@…>
08/25/08 #4822
~Our local waters of the Salish Sea are home to the only resident Orca whale pods in the continental USA. Combined, these Orcas of J, K & L pods currently estimated at 86 whales were listed on the Endangered Species Act in 2005. They are 'culturally' unique from all other Orcas in the world, as well as possessing their own language dialect.
Their populations have been decimated by fisherman, who dubbed them 'blackfish' and saw them as their primary competition for the salmon catch, by the military who used them as target practice and by Canadian & US Sea Aquariums, who recognized their ability to bring in the almighty dollar. The last great capture/ slaughter for the marine parks was at Coupville, on Whidbey island in 1976. Only one of these whales still survives,“Lolita”, from L pod, in the Florida Sea Aquarium. She is the longest living Orca to last in captivity. Her mother and sister are still alive. (I saw them yesterday.) There has been much effort to bring her back home to local waters, but a major lack of funding…
~Humans are the number one threat to these gentle giants. Pollution, from toxins entering the water, are the primary concern that could effect their reproductive abilities and survival rates.
~Why should us paddlers care about these marine mammals? Would you still launch your surfski, outrigger or kayak into the bay or channels if you knew most of the sea life below you was dead?
~While knowing which new boat designs will perform the fastest and what new gadget & gismos are going to provide the most accurate technologically advanced rewards for your hard earned money, teaching yourselves and most importantly your children about the other intelligent life which share our waters should be an even higher priority.
~I didn't intend to become a “whale hugger”. After living overseas for the past 7 years, I witnessed some of the most obscene environmental disrespect imaginable. (IE- While snorkeling in the Philippines I heard dynamite being used nearby for fishing. While on a ferry from Malaysia to Sumatra I witnessed Indonesian deckhands tossing 6 hefty bags of styrofoam & plastic of our lunch containers into the Strait of Malacca. While delivering a yacht from Malaysia to Thailand I saw bottom net fishing techniques that literally made the seas look as if they were bleeding…) Finally, last year, China broke my soul & hence made me break my job contract half way through and come running home, as I reached an unacceptable overload in pollution tolerance.
~I attempted to return home and escape here into the comforting natural surroundings that I had missed for so many years…only to work as a deckhand on a few local whale-watching boats over the past year and learn that some of our practices are no better than what's happening on over there…
~Afeter meeting with the founders of the Orca Network yesterday, we have been inspired to create a kayak race soon that will hopefully be able to raise awareness and funds for this much needed local non profit…
