It’s officially summertime! Are your friends or family visiting the beach, traveling to Hawaii, or having other ocean-related adventures? One popular ocean activity is whale watching! July is one of the best months to observe these ocean giants as they embark on their long yearly migrations. Whales travel between foraging and breeding grounds across the globe, sometimes traveling up to 12,000 miles annually! 

These massive, majestic creatures are not only cool to watch, but also important sources of nutrients for ocean ecosystems. Whale waste/poop releases tons of nutrients into the ocean that act like fertilizer and boost phytoplankton growth. Additionally, when whales die, their massive bodies fall to the bottom of the ocean and create entire new ecosystems for bacteria, worms, squid, and other deep sea organisms. 

Unfortunately, historic whaling has led to declines in whale populations globally. Many cultures hunted whales for resources (like whale meat, blubber, and baleen) and for sport. As environmental awareness increased, the US began listing whales as endangered in the 1970s, and ultimately banned whaling in 1971. Whale watching has been promoted as a sustainable alternative to whaling. This fun activity first started in California in the 1960s and has since grown into a global industry, making almost $2.1 billion a year! Although whale watching is clearly less harmful than whaling, there are concerns that whale watching could disturb whales by creating noise, confusion, stress, and separation from their pods. Scientists have observed that whales change their diving, surfacing, and feeding patterns when vessels are nearby. 

How can we whale watch in a way that is safe for whales? Whale watching can be safely done by strictly following each countries’ published guidelines on minimum distances for whale watching vessels. Additionally, when selecting a whale watching program, look for companies that have certifications and clear rules they follow to protect whales. Whale watching can even help promote whale conservation by helping us appreciate, love, and support whales. Tour guides can educate us about different species, threats to whales, and how we can help protect them. Lastly, while we whale watch, we can upload photos and record observations to “citizen science” apps like iNaturalist that scientists utilize for research! Have fun this summer, and if you get the chance, enjoy safe whale watching that protects these amazing creatures!

I’m sure many things come to mind when you first think of sharks: scary, ferocious, and cool! Unfortunately, scientists these days might first think of “under threat”. Many species of sharks (of which there are over 1,000) are currently facing extinction. So while they are certainly scary and cool, they also need our support in order to keep on being their scary cool selves. July is the perfect month to learn about sharks, as July 14th is Shark Awareness Day. On this day we should learn more about sharks, underneath their ferocious exterior, and learn what threats are currently facing them.

In the theme of honoring sharks, it’s important to mention that the shark family includes skates, rays as well! Though not all can be called sharks, they share enough similarities, including what threats they face, to make them one in the same!

Sharks have been around for a long time, even dating back to before the dinosaurs. Some shark fossil records date back to 400 million years ago; they are believed to have descended from a fish with no bones or eyes! It’s hard to believe that these ferocious creatures once could be so blobby, but against the threats that the ocean’s creatures currently face, they might as well be just as helpless.

One of the reasons you might think that sharks are scary goes back to the 1970s with the release of the movie Jaws. This movie was a cultural phenomenon that is still referenced today, so it makes sense that the terrifying “jaws” of the movie still influences the way we consider sharks. The large shark on the cover certainly makes a terrifying impression, but before this movie, sharks were prized and even worshiped by some cultures for being powerful and noble creatures. In the Pacific Islands, many myths exist about sharks being powerful gods symbolizing power and strength. In these myths, sharks guide sailors home or transport volcanoes with the god Pele. I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase “never judge a book by its cover” and this is true of sharks, for while they aren’t the friendliest creatures, they aren’t the killers they’re depicted to be in the movies.

All oceanic animals are affected by things like loss of biodiversity, pollution, ocean acidification, and invasive species. The estimated loss of one-thirds of the shark species can be attributed primarily to overfishing. Sharks are hunted for their fins, and some are hunted for their meat or oils. Species such as Scalloped and Great Hammerhead sharks are currently endangered, with many others being classified as under threat. It is estimated that over 100 million sharks are killed for their fins annually. 

Equally as important to understanding what threats face sharks, is how we can help them. On July 14th remind everyone that today is Shark Awareness Day! To mitigate the ecological threats that face sharks, learn what you can do to lessen your ecological footprint. Stay politically involved in your community by learning about how you can make your voice heard! When it comes to overfishing, supporting legislation that mitigates the impact of fisheries, trading, and consumption does a lot to lessen the amount of sharks killed for their fins. 

As we continue through the summer into July, it comes time to talk about one of the most productive and diverse powerhouses of our oceans: coral reefs! A coral reef is both a habitat and a colony of living organisms. An individual coral organism consists of a calcium-based “backbone,” the animal itself, and a large collection of algal plant cells that live within the animal. Corals are one of the most remarkable examples of symbiosis, a relationship between two or more organisms to benefit the survival of one or all of the participating individuals. And the symbiosis does not stop there! Coral reef colonies are hubs of energy and life for thousands of ocean-dwellers, like a bustling, big city.

Just like big cities, coral reefs are somewhat of a rarity. They are few and far between but still manage to attract a huge number of permanent and temporary tenants. Because of this, they make up what we call a biodiversity hotspot. A biodiversity hotspot is a rare area of Earth that contains an incredibly large number of different species, many being endemic, meaning they are found only in that area! Because of the natural riches found in these hotspots, the animals and nutrients found in this area also bring a lot of human interest which can threaten these ecosystems. According to NOAA, coral reefs provide a sanctuary for 4,000 species of fish and at least 800 species of coral. Not to mention the predators that hunt in the reefs: sharks and eels patiently waiting for prey to venture a little too far from their anemone. The crustaceans that manicure the reefs by feeding off of the dead or dying cells. The sea slugs and octopuses that will call this reef home for the entirety of their lifespans. It is abundantly clear why these reefs warrant such an exclusive label as a biodiversity hotspot, and why coral reef conservation is the current conversation.

Coral reefs are sensitive to bleaching, an occurrence brought on by heat and pollution that causes the coral to throw away the plant cells that keep it alive. Bleaching has been a major risk to the health of coral reefs across the globe. Luckily thousands of individuals are coming together to implement innovative solutions. One such solution is called coral gardening, growing coral for the purpose of “replanting” and replenishing damaged reefs. Coral gardening is a technique that uses the most resilient corals, ones that can withstand high temperatures and damaging chemicals, to create artificial structures that will one day act as viable reef habitat. These corals can be grown in labs, on fishing lines, on metal frames, around PVC trees, or on blocks, making them extremely versatile for restoring the beauty and functionality of our reefs!

To learn more about coral reef conservation, make sure to check out our social media accounts this month! Links can be found on our website or at the end of the newsletter.