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Alert in the habitat of the vaquita, the most dangerous marine mammal in the world, with only about 30 specimens left, due to the death in the last days of three whales and a dolphin, due to the possible presence of the natural phenomenon known as tide Red
The findings were made in the Upper Gulf of California by personnel from the Federal Attorney’s Office for Environmental Protection (Profepa), Navy Secretariat (Semar), Secretariat of National Defense (Sedena) and the Sea Shepherd group, among others.
The first specimen, an adult humpback whale, was found dead on January 19 at “Punta Estrella” 20 kilometers south of San Felipe, Baja California.
The next day, on January 20, a specimen of the juvenile Common Whale juvenile whale was found, in an advanced state of decomposition, three kilometers northwest of the coast of San Felipe.
On the same day, another humpback whale was reported to be dead, at a juvenile stage, 12 kilometers northwest of Puerto de San Felipe.
In addition, a long, adult, highly decomposed dolphin was located one kilometer south of the Campo Las Arenas Fishing Club, also in San Felipe.
In a press release, Profepa indicated that according to the information that has been obtained so far and based on analyzes carried out by the Regional Unit for Protection against Sanitary Risks of the state government, one of the probable causes of the mortality of Marine mammals, is the presence of a natural phenomenon that cyclically affects the region by the blossoming of harmful algae, commonly known as red tide, which generates a paralyzing toxin that not only affects marine organisms, but also represents a risk to Human health.
“This natural phenomenon consists in the proliferation of microalgae in high concentrations, caused by the presence of various natural factors in the aquatic environment, including salinity, temperature variability and food availability for these microalgae. A boom or explosion of these and their congregation is so high that even the marine environment adopts a reddish coloration, characteristic of a red tide, “he explained.
Facing this situation, he announced that a sanitary closure was enacted in the San Felipe-Puertecitos and Alto Golfo area, as well as the temporary closure for capture, commercialization and consumption of bivalve molluscs of the place.
He explained that because of the degree of decomposition that the specimens presented, “the investigating authorities could only take samples of feces and intestine of a humpback whale, as well as the surrounding water, which will be analyzed and shared the results once they are counted “.
The environmental authority recalled that in January 2015 a very intense red tide event occurred in the region, which resulted in the deaths of at least 5,000 birds and 56 dolphins, which, according to the investigations, consumed sardines that, In turn, had fed on the toxic microalga.
Also, during 2015, the Federal Attorney’s Office of Environmental Protection attended in the Upper Gulf of California two massive strides of define; The first case in January with 17 corpses and in March 92 dolphins and four dead sea lions.
In both cases, the specimens were found in an advanced state of decomposition and their death was associated with the red tide.
“Profepa, in coordination with the different agencies involved, will follow up on this event in order to determine and clarify the causes of death of these marine mammals. When they were thoroughly reviewed, no evidence of involvement was found By networks or other fishing gear, as well as by anthropogenic (human) activity, “he concluded without mentioning the risk of the diminished population of vaquita, a species in imminent danger of extinction.
Courtesy of tabascohoy.com
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