Leave a species alone and this will encourage population, correct? Not always. Taking the case of beluga whales in the St. Lawrence Estuary, these whales faced near extinction some 30 years ago due to over-hunting in the area. Thanks to the local government, this practice was halted and the whales were thought to be saved. When the whales continued to die at an alarming rate, more questions were asked.
Following extensive scientific research, it was found that these beluga whales were dying from intestinal cancer. This was no coincidence. It was from something in the water – specifically, industrial pollutants dumped into the river from neighbouring aluminum smelters. The smelters have since closed down, yet less than 1,000 whales remain in the Estuary, making them a threatened species.
Another sad story, but with a far happier ending, involves immense numbers of brown bullhead catfish in Ohio’s Black River which were found to have liver cancers (from the early 1980s). Upon investigation, it was found that coking facilities in the area were dumping contaminants into the water. Facing public pressure, these coking plants shut their doors and, within four short years, the catfish population had blossomed.
Far too often, we humans casually dispose of toxic chemicals by dumping them in waterways. While doing this may seem like an easy answer, it is far from realistic or environmentally friendly. We cannot continue to do this. Those toxic chemicals may float away out of our sightlines; however, we cannot ignore how those chemicals can cause cancers – as this can happen with people, it can happen with marine wildlife. And, should you think that you are not affected … think again – specifically if you are a fan of seafood on your dinner plate.
For more information on the St. Lawrence Estuary beluga whale situation: www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi
For more on the increased risk to marine wildlife: www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm
