Plants and Animals

The Japanese whaling fleet set sail yesterday in defiance of international condemnation with plans to land what could be the biggest catch of minke and humpback whales since the 1960s.

As it has for more than two decades, the Japanese Government referred to the expedition as “scientific”. It is a description that infuriates anti-whaling activists. Whale meat harvested on the expeditions is sold on to the Japanese market and the profits used to fund “future research”.

From The Times: ‘Japanese whalers raise stakes by targeting vulnerable humpbacks’

I’ve never seen a Potoroo – apparently members of the genus look like rats and can hop like kangaroos.

The Gilbert’s Potoroo is Australia’s most endangered marsupial and it’s not climate change but rather syphilis that may result in its extinction. At least that’s what an ABC Online article suggests, but when you read a bit further there is reason for optimism because there is a syphilis-free population on Bald Island.

Read more here: http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/2007/2089599.htm

Thanks to both Libby and Woody for the link.

And here’s a link to the Gilbert’s Potoroo’s Action Group website: http://www.potoroo.org/

I photographed this praying mantid last night on the flowers of a Wax Jambu Syzygium samarangense. There are around 160 described species of mantid in Australia with the greatest diversity in the tropics.

This large, robust female will produce a soft, foam-like oöthecae that hardens under atmospheric exposure. It may contain hundreds of eggs, each individually housed in a sealed compartment and a day or so after emerging, the nymphs begin to cannibalise one another.

30,000 sea birds found dead on the beaches plus at least the same number of birds oil soaked and facing death. A number of dead dolphins are now found dead on the beaches as well. This might have been the biggest ecological catastrophe facing Russia since the Chernobyl catastrophe states one newspaper:

Los Angeles Times: ‘Russian workers point to oil as the problem’

International media reported back in August that Iceland will not issue new whaling permits for commercial whaling next season due to a “ lack of markets and demand”. Unfortunately for the whales , the Icelandic Government did a turn –around some weeks later and extended the commercial whaling season to November 1st , allowing whalers to kill the 23 minkes from last years quota.

It’s unclear what caused the turn-around , but according to the Foreign Minister “ whaling is a matter of compromises” . The Foreign Minister is herself opposed to whaling.

According to the Minke Whaler’s Association ,
The hunting did go well and the purchase of whale meat has never gone better since the resumption of whaling in 2003. All meat from the 45 minkes that have been killed during 2007 has been sold out and no more whale meat will not be available in the stores until next spring when commercial whaling starts again. ( Note this is VERY surprising that the Whaler’s Association states that commercial whaling will resume again next season).

Icelandic export market to Japan

In an article that has been published on mbl.is , is an agreement on export of whale meat from Iceland to Japan soon finished. Probably it’s about whale meat from last year’s hunt as well as from future hunts. This announcement comes from an interview with the Icelandic Fisheries Minister and a Japanese news agency.

According to the Whaler’s Association “ one should welcome the decision that Iceland and Japan have agreed on to resume trade in whale products , as there seems to be a market in Japan. In this interview it’s again stated that whaling permits will be issued for the next season, which resumes in the middle of of next year. However, the quotas will only be issued if there is a market.

Tourist industry
The Icelandic tourist numbers increased despite worries that commercial whaling should have a negative impact on numbers. From a report from the Icelandic Tourist Council , has never so many tourists visited Iceland as this summer. Despite of threats from NGOs.

In the first 9 months of this year, 379 000 tourists arrived to Keflavik Airport. This is an increase with 16,5 %. This is contrary to the prognosis that the tourist industry and the NGOs made. So it seems like commercial whaling has had no negative impact on tourism?

The Icelandic Minke Whaler’s Association makes finally this statement , “ they who claim that we sacrify bigger interests ( whale watching, my note) for lesser( whaling) , must now reconsider their arguments. Whalers claim as well that whaling has made Iceland more familiar and famous? for tourists , that’s why there has been an increase in numbers of tourists.

Rabbits and rats are posing a severe threat to World Heritage values on Macquarie Island, as research reveals widespread damage to terrestrial ecosystems. This includes destruction of vegetation (habitat for threatened albatross species and other seabirds), and catastrophic erosion.

Macquarie Island Under Threat

Erosion and heavy spring rains have caused a large landslip on Macquarie Island, in the Southern Ocean about 1500 kilometres south-east of Tasmania, killing penguins in an important colony.

Rabbits blamed for penguin deaths in landslide

The finer details of introducing dogs to rid a sub Antarctic island of rodents are still be worked through.

Macquarie Island dog plan still in the works

Turnbull to the rescue:

MEDIA RELEASE
The Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP
Minister for the Environment and Water Resources

T76 /07

4 June 2007

AGREEMENT TO ERADICATE RABBITS ON MACQUARIE ISLAND
The Australian and Tasmanian Governments have today reached an agreement to jointly fund the eradication of rodent pests on Macquarie Island to protect its World Heritage values.

The seabird populations and vegetation of the Island are under serious threat from plagues of rabbits, rats and mice.
Following from discussions between our Governments, I am please to announce that we have agreed in principle to provide funding of $24.6 million in equal shares to implement the Plan for the Eradication of Rabbits and Rodents on Subantarctic Macquarie Island.

The Prime Minister has today written to the Premier Lennon confirming the agreement under which the Australian and Tasmanian Governments will provide $12.3 million each to implement the eradication plan.

As Macquarie Island is part of Tasmania, the plan will be implemented by the Tasmanian Government, which will also meet any costs in excess of $24.6 million agreed funding.

The Australian Government funding is conditional on the eradication being managed by a joint Government steering committee supported by a scientific advisory committee.

As it takes two years for the for specialised training of dogs to hunt rabbits without impacting on the wildlife, our Governments have agreed that Tasmania will let contracts for this training and commence all other long-lead work immediately.

The Australian Government provided funding for the development of the eradication plan and in addition will continue to provide $1.6 million per year to support Tasmanian rangers who manage the nature reserve.
Macquarie Island was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1997 on the basis of its outstanding natural universal values:

• as an outstanding example representing major stages of the earth’s evolutionary history, including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features; and

• containing superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance.
Macquarie Island is situated about 1500 km south-south-east of Tasmania, about half way between Tasmania and Antarctica at around 55 degrees south. The main island is approximately 34 km long and 5.5 km wide at its broadest point.

Media contact: (02) 6277 7640 – Minister’s office.