UNDIAGNOSED DIE-OFF, TURTLES - USA: (GULF COAST)
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Date: Sun 3 Apr 2011
Source: The Huffington Post, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) report [edited] <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rocky-kistner/sea-turtle-deaths-mount-i_b_844123.html>
Sea turtles continue to wash ashore along the Gulf [of Mexico], forcing the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to scramble and figure out what is causing the spike. Last week [week of 28 Mar 2011], the Natural Resources Defense Council and The Huffington Post were first to publish blogs about the sea turtle deaths in Mississippi.
Since then, the national media picked up the story. Last [Fri 1 Apr 2011], NMFS released a statement with some details about its
investigation:
In the past few weeks, we've seen an increase in turtle strandings in the northern Gulf, primarily in Mississippi. The spring time is the typical time when turtle strandings in this region begin to increase, but the sharp increases in recent days are of concern to us. NOAA [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration] Fisheries is in contact with the states of Mississippi and Louisiana regarding current trawl and other fishery activity that can result in turtle by catch and mortality. In addition, tests will be done for biotoxins, such as those from harmful algae blooms, which are common in the Gulf. All causes of death, including petroleum, will be investigated when possible based on decomposition. During a necropsy, the full GI tract is examined for product or evidence of oil ingestion. In addition, samples are taken for PAH [polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons] analysis.
All turtles are being carefully examined for signs of external oiling.
Like the dolphin strandings this year [2011], it's likely that many more turtles have died and will never be found. A recent study of dolphin deaths showed the true number of mortalities is probably 50 times what is recovered. As of [Fri 1 Apr 2011], NOAA says recent deaths of sea turtles, all of which are included on the Endangered Species list, include 6 in Alabama, 10 in Louisiana, and 47 in Mississippi.
Make that at least 50 confirmed sea turtle deaths in Mississippi.
This weekend [2-3 Apr 2011], a Pass Christian resident found 3 more dead turtles. Altogether, she has found 9 this year. Over her more than 30 years in the community, she has never seen a dead turtle before.
Nearly 2 weeks ago a new oil spill from a shallow well off the Louisiana coast leaked oil into the water that resulted in a huge slick that stretched for miles and polluted parts of Grand Isle and other nearby marshes. The Coast Guard says it was due to oil leaking from a well being capped by Anglo-Suisse, an oil drilling firm based in Texas. Initially the company said it had leaked only 5 gallons of oil. But the oil slick was clearly much bigger. According to a Skytruth, an analysis of the slick using satellite imagery shows the well may have gushed as much as 640 000 gallons of Louisiana crude into the sea. It's not clear what impact this oil spill has had on marine life.
In Mississippi, [the Pass Christian resident] believes BP oil has something to do with the dead sea life she constantly encounters by the shore. And she wonders how this may affect vacationers now flocking to the region. "It's bad enough for turtles and dolphins to be dying, but should people and their children be swimming in this water too?" That is not the kind of message BP or local politicians want to hear.
[byline: Rocky Kistner]
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ProMED-mail
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[There is something affecting the turtles but it is not necessarily issues that may relate to the BP oil spill. A necropsy on the turtles is needed and clearly that means finding one that is not too badly decomposed. If the turtles are dying out in the water and then washing ashore, it becomes more problematic. Without some testing it is impossible to state the cause of the turtles' demise. - Mod.TG
The Gulf Coast of the US and the states of Mississippi and Louisiana can be seen on the HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map at <http://healthmap.org/r/0Ez5>. - Sr.Tech.Ed.MJ]
[see also:
2010
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Undiagnosed die-off, turtles - USA: (TX), RFI 20100502.1424
2009
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Turtles, stranding, fatal - USA: (FL) 20090331.1249
2006
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Undiagnosed deaths, sea turtle - USA (FL) 20060916.2631] .................................................sb/tg/mj/sh/ll
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