RELATED SEARCHES
Sponsored Penguins Results:
Endangered Species: Penguins, Fishing, Habitats, Global Warming And Conservation
By:
Published: October 22, 2007
Penguins have been all the rage for moviegoers these last couple of years. Movies such as the documentary "March of the Penguins" and the animated feature "Happy Feet" have brought the plight of Penguins center stage. Through these films, cinema patrons have be exposed to the numerous threats faced by penguins.
Scientists have long been aware of the threats, the shrinking of the flightless birds' habitats due to global warming, and the depletion of krill, their primary food source, that is used by commercial fishing outfits. The public awareness, provided by the above listed films, can only help as scientific organizations actively seek governmental action for the conservation of penguins.
One scientific organization in particular, the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD), has been at the forefront of the identification of threats and conservation efforts regarding penguins. The CBD has identified twelve penguin species that the organization believes should be listed as endangered species. Should the species qualify for protection under the Endangered Species Act, government agencies and certain corporations would be forced to alter behavior. In an article regarding the CBD's petition, Catherine Komp wrote, "The [CBD] says the change could create legal leverage against activities that contribute to climate change or otherwise threaten the birds."
Should the petition pass the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), such legal leverage could impact automobile gas-mileage standards, as well as set limits on industrial emissions. Global warming has a profound impact on penguin habitats. Though penguins have survived for centuries in the harshest environment on the planet, melting sea ice impedes many species' abilities to breed and feed. The ice melts earlier each year, forcing penguins to travel further for their food. An early thaw in the Antarctic also forces penguin chicks to swim before they are ready. In November 2006, an ABC News reported, "Climate scientists around the world agree…the earth is virtually certain to warm at least another two degrees Fahrenheit due to human-induced greenhouse gas emissions." The CBD's penguin conservation efforts may help to change such grim assessments.
According to the ABC News report, the CBD's petition will also affect the behavior of commercial fishing companies operating proximate to penguin habitats. Antarctic fishing operations capture vast amounts of the penguin's primary food source: krill. Josh Reichert of the Pew Charitable Trust is quoted in the ABC News report, warning, "We will soon see gigantic trawlers – boats that can take 120,000 metric tons of krill in one season, as much krill as the entire international fleet in the southern oceans takes now." Krill is the food of choice used by fisheries raising fish in captivity for human consumption. If the CBD succeeds in acquiring endangered species status for penguins, the fisheries would have to use an alternative to krill, or at the very least they would be forced to limit their catch.
The CBD filed their petition with the FWS in November 2006. The 134-page petition details the numerous threats to 12 species of penguins. Habitat destruction due to global warming and the threats from commercial fishing are just two of the many threats listed within the petition. The FWS announced in July 2007 that they have considered the petition and are going forward, considering endangered species status for 10 of the 12 species of penguins. Because no penguins reside in North America, their protection under the Endangered Species Act will be limited. However, since the U.S. is responsible for 25% of the emissions responsible for global warming, the CBD's petition, if successful, will be considered a win for penguins, as well as a significant win for the broader struggle against climate change. The later victory has the potential to impact all life on earth.
Sources:
Blakemore, Bill. "'Happy Feet' Not So Happy."Technology & Science.28 Nov. 2006. abcnews.com. 17 Oct. 2007. http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=2683077.
Komp, Catherine. "Protecting Penguins Could Force Bush to Move on Climate Change." Alternet.org. 4 Dec. 2006. The New Standard. 17 Oct. 2007. http://www.alternet.org/environment/45069/.
"Service Finds Endangered Species Act Protection May Be Warranted for 10 Penguin Species."News Release.10 July 2007. fws.gov. 17 Oct. 2007. http://www.fws.gov/news/NewsReleases/showNews.cfm? newsId=B0DCFB65-C9AA-D57F-09F68D89F821A101.
"Before the Secretary of the Interior Petition to List 12 Penguin Species Under the Endangered Species Act. 28 Nov. 2006.Center for Biological Diversity. Biologicaldiversity.org. 18 Oct.2007. http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/swcbd/species/p enguins/PenguinPetition.pdf.
One scientific organization in particular, the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD), has been at the forefront of the identification of threats and conservation efforts regarding penguins. The CBD has identified twelve penguin species that the organization believes should be listed as endangered species. Should the species qualify for protection under the Endangered Species Act, government agencies and certain corporations would be forced to alter behavior. In an article regarding the CBD's petition, Catherine Komp wrote, "The [CBD] says the change could create legal leverage against activities that contribute to climate change or otherwise threaten the birds."
Should the petition pass the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), such legal leverage could impact automobile gas-mileage standards, as well as set limits on industrial emissions. Global warming has a profound impact on penguin habitats. Though penguins have survived for centuries in the harshest environment on the planet, melting sea ice impedes many species' abilities to breed and feed. The ice melts earlier each year, forcing penguins to travel further for their food. An early thaw in the Antarctic also forces penguin chicks to swim before they are ready. In November 2006, an ABC News reported, "Climate scientists around the world agree…the earth is virtually certain to warm at least another two degrees Fahrenheit due to human-induced greenhouse gas emissions." The CBD's penguin conservation efforts may help to change such grim assessments.
According to the ABC News report, the CBD's petition will also affect the behavior of commercial fishing companies operating proximate to penguin habitats. Antarctic fishing operations capture vast amounts of the penguin's primary food source: krill. Josh Reichert of the Pew Charitable Trust is quoted in the ABC News report, warning, "We will soon see gigantic trawlers – boats that can take 120,000 metric tons of krill in one season, as much krill as the entire international fleet in the southern oceans takes now." Krill is the food of choice used by fisheries raising fish in captivity for human consumption. If the CBD succeeds in acquiring endangered species status for penguins, the fisheries would have to use an alternative to krill, or at the very least they would be forced to limit their catch.
The CBD filed their petition with the FWS in November 2006. The 134-page petition details the numerous threats to 12 species of penguins. Habitat destruction due to global warming and the threats from commercial fishing are just two of the many threats listed within the petition. The FWS announced in July 2007 that they have considered the petition and are going forward, considering endangered species status for 10 of the 12 species of penguins. Because no penguins reside in North America, their protection under the Endangered Species Act will be limited. However, since the U.S. is responsible for 25% of the emissions responsible for global warming, the CBD's petition, if successful, will be considered a win for penguins, as well as a significant win for the broader struggle against climate change. The later victory has the potential to impact all life on earth.
Sources:
Blakemore, Bill. "'Happy Feet' Not So Happy."Technology & Science.28 Nov. 2006. abcnews.com. 17 Oct. 2007. http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=2683077.
Komp, Catherine. "Protecting Penguins Could Force Bush to Move on Climate Change." Alternet.org. 4 Dec. 2006. The New Standard. 17 Oct. 2007. http://www.alternet.org/environment/45069/.
"Service Finds Endangered Species Act Protection May Be Warranted for 10 Penguin Species."News Release.10 July 2007. fws.gov. 17 Oct. 2007. http://www.fws.gov/news/NewsReleases/showNews.cfm? newsId=B0DCFB65-C9AA-D57F-09F68D89F821A101.
"Before the Secretary of the Interior Petition to List 12 Penguin Species Under the Endangered Species Act. 28 Nov. 2006.Center for Biological Diversity. Biologicaldiversity.org. 18 Oct.2007. http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/swcbd/species/p enguins/PenguinPetition.pdf.
Featured Penguins Products:
