Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for marine life to mistake plastic pellets for food. A) Live aquatic animals, except ornamental fish and marine aquatic animals as provided in R58-17-4(2), unless the ornamental fish are determined a risk pursuant to R58-17-2(A)(24), may be acquired, purchased, sold or transferred only from sources which have been granted health approval by the Department pursuant to this section. Apparently, it is legal to kill 80,000-85,000 cape fur seals annually in Namibia. Aquatic and semiaquatic mammals are well adapted to life in the water with physical characteristics such as flippers, webbed feet, paddlelike tails and streamlined bodies. Clearly we need to clean up our act if we want to protect these unique animals! Some tags also collect information about the temperature, salinity, and depth of the water surrounding an animal to help scientists identify ocean currents. After all, we are so small in comparison. The rod-like structure on its face has a glow-in-the-dark tip. It is actually the Yellow Christmas tree worm. Aquatic organisms are either plankton, nekton, or benthos. Beginning in 2000, scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Stanford University, and the University of California, Santa Cruz combined to form TOPP. In the darkness, only the rod-like worm is visible. These animals are colorful, and can be red, orange, yellow, blue, and white. 15 Vegan Recipes to Settle Your Stomach During The Holidays! As of July 2013, the conversation status of Asia’s Yangtze finless porpoise has been modified to fall under the critically endangered category on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species. Here are some beautiful pictures of marine animals to remind us why we need to protect the oceans before it’s too late. Sign up for daily news from OneGreenPlanet. ), Plant-Based Immune System Boosters to Keep You Healthy During the Holidays, Reducing Muscle Stiffness with Plant-Based Foods, How to Combat Autumn Anxiety with Plant-Based Mood Enhancers. Scientists have found dead marine animals with bellies full of plastics and other garbage. Cozy Pumpkin Porridge [Vegan, Gluten-Free], Pomegranate Beet Citrus Smoothie With Mint and Ginger [Vegan], 15 Post-Thanksgiving Vegan Breakfast Ideas. Probably most known for the song “Baby Beluga,” white whales–also known as beluga whales–are popular marine animals in the state of Alaska. This pattern concerns scientists because, with such rapid changes in animal movements, dolphins may have difficulty with finding new feeding grounds. Here’s What Worked for Me, 20 Sweet And Savory Indian Snacks For Your Diwali Celebration, Here’s What You Need to Be Eating for Naturally Clear Skin, 25 Meat-Free Main Dishes for Your Thanksgiving Feast, How Factory Farming Creates Air Pollution, marine life to mistake plastic pellets for food, human activities are threatening their existence. We are grossly in danger of overfishing our oceans to the point of no return. Who better to unlock the mysteries of the ocean than marine animals themselves? The reason for this is believed to be a combination of over-exploitation and low reproductive rates amongst the population.If you want to help whale sharks, consider the “Adopt a Shark” program. The Christmas tree worm lives on tropical coral reefs throughout the world. The lesson here? Between global warming and carbon pollution destroying their habitats and the marine aquarium trade “overharvesting” them, the clownfish populations are facing decline. National Aquatic Animal Health Program - Domestic Movement Permit Application For Closed Facilities within Canada Receiving Aquatic Animals, Biological Vectors and/or Things From Infected, Buffer Or Provisionally Free Areas: 2018/12: Extended : 5758 Because of collisions, pollution, and accidental bycatch, the Yangtze finless porpoise’s numbers are rapidly declining. These whales are opportunistic feeders, making them a key species in the ecosystem. Methods for killing these animals include the use wooden clubs, hakapiks (clubs with sharp picks at the end), and guns. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The two best things you can do to save our aquatic friends is to reduce your consumption of fish and other sea life and reduce your use of plastics and waste products. Anglerfish. While still alive, the sharks fins are sliced off, and the bodies are thrown back into the water where the animal will either bleed to death or drown. 15 Creative Ways to Repurpose Your Thanksgiving Leftovers! Not only does this effect the ocean itself, but this will throw everything out of balance. their greatest source of peril comes from humans. Like most of the animals here, the scalloped hammerheads main threat to survival is fishing. The largest fish in the ocean, the whale shark can reach over 40 feet in length! (We’ll Give You A Hint – You’re Wearing It), This Thanksgiving, Let’s Embrace a Resilient New Tradition, Stark Image Shows What’s Happening to the Oceans Because of Our Sushi Obsession. Through the Tagging of Pacific Predators program (TOPP), scientists hope to assess and explain the migration routes, ecosystems, and diversity of our oceans’ species. For more information, check out this article on 6 Ways You Can Help Save Our Oceans and support the work of these 10 Organizations Bravely Fighting for Marine Conservation. We also acknowledge previous National Science Foundation support under grant numbers 1246120, 1525057, and 1413739. Petition: Stop Navy Sonar Testing to Protect Orcas, New Research Shows Wildlife Trade Plays Pivotal Role In Virus Transmission, Ohio Woman Gets Maximum Sentence for Starving Dog to Brink of Death, Big Mammals Suffer Brain Damage in Captivity According to Research, A Boom in Second Hand Clothing is Reducing Fashion’s Impact on the Planet, #AdoptDontShop!