Life in our Seas

[graham]

I constantly read newspaper articles and TV programmes about the depletion of our fish stocks by over fishing.

The images on TV this week of huge pods of Dolphins off west wales. estimated in thousands.Made me wonder.

They all looked pretty healthy ,as did the ones I saw this year of Pembrokeshire.And their were lots of young ones, a pod that size must get through tons of fish everyday so it cant be all gloom and doom out there?

 

[Blueboatman]

Or are they there because there ain't enough fish/too many nets in their habitual feeding grounds ? I just wonder ,having absolutely no knowledge of marine species really.

 

[Evadne]

The continental shelf to the west of the Bristol channel and Wales has always been full of dolphins, I remember coming into Barry from the Porcupine Seabight nearly 20 years ago, with people who had been doing it 20-40 years beforethat, and seeing huge pods feeding, leaping and generally being photogenic. Its nice to see they are still there.

I think the fish over-predation that goes on is fairly specific in species and area, but is getting more and more widespread as localised populations, such as herring and cod, collapse and new ones are sought I find it hard to distinguish between the real facts (which go largely unreported) and the propaganda put out by both sides. IMHO Greenpeace are no more believable than the fishing industry. They both have agenda which are served by the events they report. They only differ in their intent. The sea is a big place, and it is difficult for a land-based species like man to make a serious impression on it but some people are having a really good go at it.

 

[KevB]

From the BBC
Dr Evans, from the zoology department of Oxford University, leads the Sea Watch Foundation expeditions to Pembrokeshire.


Rich stocks of mackerel are attracting whales and dolphins

Describing the Irish Sea as "teeming with food" this summer, he explained that it was large schools of mackerel and herring which are attracting the unusual numbers of larger visitors.

 

[bobgosling]

The Dolphin eat the Mackeral

The Mackeral eat the Sand Eels

The SandEels have not yet been hoovered up from the Irish Sea as they have been in the North Sea ( mainly by Norway - which processes them into Fishmeal - to feed farmed Salmon ).

 

[catmandoo]

An old man told me before he died and theres no reason to believe he lied that Mermaids have been seen on a Saturday night in the Clyde just down from the Kingston bridge opposite the SEC Shell.

Great Balls of Brass what next