Flotsam & Jetsam

Captive Audience — When the South Florida Sun-Sentinel examined federal records — until now completely unexamined — on marine animal captivity, they discovered some shocking facts about the cost to wildlife of US public marine attractions, which collect as much as $1 billion a year in revenues, and of similar marine parks worldwide. Among other things, the examination revealed that more than 3,850 sea lions, seals, dolphins, and whales have died while under human care, a quarter of them before they reached the age of one year and half them before reaching age seven. Eightythree percent of bottlenose dolphins in captivity died before reaching age 20, the projected life expectancy for dolphins in the wild. The Sun-Sentinel also reported that more than 1,600 marine mammals were taken from U.S. waters for attractions worldwide; yet, American parks and zoos have not applied for a capture permit in more than a decade. Captive dolphins and whales are, apparently, valuable commodities, with some species valued at as much as $5 million per animal.

Super Shark — A 12-foot White Pointer tagged by marine researchers has them rethinking shark behavior. In a ninety-day period, the tagged female shark swam from the tip of South Africa to the northwest cape on the remote tip of western Australia, a 6,214 mile swim.

Working Dive Vacation — Bored with the same old “fun in the sun” dive trip? Boston’s New England Aquarium is offering spots on a fishcollecting expedition to the Cay Sal Banks and Bimini, Bahamas, from April 23 – May 2, 2005. In addition to helping with the collection of fishes and invertebrates, a dive in the Aquarium’s 200,000-gallon Giant Ocean Tank is offered at the end of the trip. For more information contact Holly Martel Bourbon, Senior Aquarist/DSO, at 617-973-5248 (Wednesdays through Saturdays), or e-mail Holly at hbourbon@neaq.org.