Animal Autopsies in Gulf Yield a Mystery

[babsbunny]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/15/science/earth/15necropsy.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss&src=ig

By SHAILA DEWAN
Published: July 14, 2010


GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Kemp’s ridley sea turtle lay belly-up on the metal autopsy table, as pallid as split-pea soup but for the bright orange X spray-painted on its shell, proof that it had been counted as part of the Gulf of Mexico’s ongoing “unusual mortality event.”

Under the practiced knife of Dr. Brian Stacy, a veterinary pathologist who estimates that he has dissected close to 1,000 turtles over the course of his career, the specimen began to reveal its secrets: First, as the breastplate was lifted away, a mass of shriveled organs in the puddle of stinky red liquid that is produced as decomposition advances. Next, the fat reserves indicating good health. Then, as Dr. Stacy sliced open the esophagus, the most revealing clue: a morsel of shrimp, the last thing the turtle ate.

[G_j]

1. what a mess

When shrimp season began in Mississippi on June 3, the marine patrol inspected all the boats and found no violations involving the excluders, Lieutenant Armes said. But on June 6, 12 dead turtles were found in Mississippi in a single day. Similar spikes have occurred when parts of Louisiana waters were opened to shrimpers, and since most of the waters in the spill area have closed, the turtle deaths have subsided.

Shrimpers emerged as a prime suspect in the NOAA investigation when, after a round of turtle necropsies in early May, Dr. Stacy announced that more than half the carcasses had sediment in the airways or lungs — evidence of drowning. The only plausible explanation for such a high number of drowning deaths, he said, was, as he put it, “fisheries interaction.”

Environmentalists saw the findings as confirmation of their suspicions that shrimpers, taking advantage of the fact that the Coast Guard and other inspectors were busy with the oil spill, had disabled their turtle excluder devices.

The devices are so contentious that Louisiana law has long forbidden its wildlife and fisheries agents to enforce federal regulations on the devices. Last month, Gov. Bobby Jindal vetoed legislation that would have finally lifted the ban, citing the “challenges and issues currently facing our fishermen.” By contrast, Mississippi officials strengthened turtle protections by decreasing the allowable tow time for skimmers, posting observers on boats, and sending out pamphlets on turtle resuscitation.

[Curmudgeoness]

2. Of course it was removal of TEDs from shriper nets. Unfortunate,

but they have always hated TEDs and probably figured that all the life in the gulf was doomed anyways---so what was the point. I am devastated by all the turtle drownings, but don't know if I can blame the shrimpers this time...just trying to survive. The real villian here is still BP.

[Selatius]

4. Sorry, but shrimpers should pay for what wrong they have done to the environment too.

Just because there is a disaster does not give people license to take the law into their own hands or ignore them entirely.

[FirstLight]

3. this is as far as I could bear to read...

"Far less is known about the effects of dispersants, either by themselves or mixed with oil, though almost two million gallons of the chemicals have been used in the BP spill. ..."

GAH! ...and they still have to do toxicology? AND the dispersants are STILL being poured into the leak AT the source!!!

:banghead: :cry: :nuke:
we are so screwn, the toxins will be in the foodchain, sediments, water,etc for longer than we could ever know


I am so sorry, sea creatures & ocean...for all we Humans have wrought