Elakha Alliance’s Post

#DYK that the polar bear is the largest species of bear in the world? 🤔 It is also the only bear species that depends on the ocean for food, which is why it’s considered a marine mammal. 🌊 Learn more about the polar bear with data Mares ⬇️

I love seeing an RPS Protected Species Observer featured! And this is such a great photo, one taken during the Vineyard Wind installation, with so many things to appreciate happening here: the look of concentration, full PPE, all the equipment on hand... Magic! #protectedspeciesobservers #onwatch #offshorewind #rpsenergy #tetratech

We are devastated to learn that another dead North Atlantic right whale was found off our region’s coast: a one-year-old female near Tybee Island, Georgia has been confirmed to be killed by vessel strike. This news comes a month after a different whale—a one month old calf—experienced a likely fatal vessel strike off the coast of South Carolina. These magnificent creatures are among the most endangered marine mammals on the planet. With as few as 360 whales left, each fatality is a devastating blow to this rare species struggling to survive. Vessel strikes and fishing gear entanglements are the primary cause of North Atlantic whale deaths. Studies show that reducing vessel speeds to 10 knots could reduce the risk of death up to 90%. Addressing vessel collisions would give North Atlantic right whales a fighting chance. #Conservation #EndangeredSpecies

In the aquatic world, frogs aren't just passive observers; they're stealthy predators lurking beneath the water's surface. With lightning-fast reflexes and powerful leg muscles, they wait patiently for their prey, including catfish, to swim by. When the moment is right, they strike with precision, using their sticky tongues to snatch unsuspecting catfish. This dynamic illustrates the often-overlooked role frogs play as hunters in aquatic ecosystems, where they serve as key predators, helping maintain balance and diversity in underwater communities. #aquaculture #predators #fish #sustainability #fishfarmers #aquaculture education

A manatee is a large sea mammal that resembles a walrus. It is also called sea cow. It has a flat, paddle-shaped tail and a broad, flat snout that resembles a pig’s snout. Its hind legs support its body, but the forelimbs are used for manipulation. There is no other species of marine mammal like a manatee. It is an aquatic herbivore, eating mostly sea grasses and various water plants. It can live in both shallow water and areas of deep waters. It can grow up to 12 feet in length and weighs up to 1500 pounds. The world’s smallest manatee is about 2 feet in length. It is found in rivers and shallow coastal water bodies in every continent except Australia and Antarctica. #ManateeFacts #SeaMammals

A UP study has identified the hotspots of marine mammal strandings. Some 35 hotspots for strandings have been identified so far, 24 of which, or more than half, are in Luzon, particularly in the Ilocos and Cagayan regions. https://lnkd.in/gqtTtgZ6

Canada’s Marine Mammal Regulations are in place to ensure the safety of marine mammals and Canadians alike. Under these regulations, it's illegal to: - Feed a marine mammal - Swim or interact with one - Move or entice one to move - Separate one from its group - Trap one between vessels and/or the shoreline - Tag or mark one without authorization Learn more: https://ow.ly/xrX150QNxWY

Conservation via environmental protections is essential, but reducing ship traffic is key. For the US, that means modifying domestic trade policy to drastically reduce the shipment of raw materials to, and importing finished goods from, China and other SE Asian countries.

How well do you know your marine mammal facts? Test your knowledge with this fun ocean trivia from The Marine Mammal Center.  https://bit.ly/3PJ4c6Y