Not with this herd in control of the government...vote for democrats!
1
By the way, JetIII, my family was blue collar, even had fishermen in Scotland, so don’t think these comments are coming from some “elitist “ source. The one thing I do know, whether in fishing or other “blue collar “ industries, sometimes the workers slit their own throats before the bosses even get the chance
1
We are lied to from birth that some god somewhere is watching over us. The implication being he, reflecting male nature, will not let things get out of hand, stepping in at the last moment to stop us from destroying ourselves.
How convenient it is for the men in power and control to have and use this imagery as the excuse for their continual exploitation of plants and animals.
So long as humanity is burdened with this myth no problem will be solved and as mentioned in one of these comments right whales, black rhinos and elephants will have us as company for the robot future to record.
Of course even they may be programmed to accept unprovable beliefs and walk off that cliff.
2
I find it sad that an article like this gets so few comments, and probably a corresponding level of interest, as compared to an article about some sexual scandal, which gets thousands of comments. We have the ability to be a species that cares about the rest of the inhabitants of the planet. We ignore their plight, brought on primarily by human greed and an inability to control the population of our own species, at our peril.
4
Here's a chance to make a real difference. I've been lobster fishing near shore and offshore for my entire life (more than 50 years). I've never seen a right whale, let alone a whale entangled in lobster fishing gear. I'm more than happy to forsake my lobster fishing license and federal permit for $500,000. Put your money where your mouth is. The downside; after environmentalists manage to abolish lobster fishing and fishermen (stewards of the ocean), we will be displaced by corporate interests that wish to drill for oil. A large oil spill, such as the BP spill that dumped 200 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, has the potential of destroying thousands of miles of Maine coastline, whales, porpoises, dolphins, sea birds, groundfish and mid-water fish species, seals, tuna fish, oyster beds, mussel beds and clam flats, scallops, lobsters, crabs, and the list goes on and on. The whales are not producing offspring because of a lack of food or other unfavorable environmental factors. There are 8 billion people on this planet consuming immense, natural resources and contributing to the carbon footprint.
3
A return to sailing ships, and fishing only from hand lines or single poles is the only sustainable, responsible course. Whales matter more than cheap transpirt or mass fish harvests for Filet-o-fish sandwiches on 2 for 1 deals at drive throughs.
1
Prompt action is needed to protect the Right whale. Sadly the current administration will surely not take that action.
1
We humans are most definitely the scourge of this beautiful planet. Perhaps at some point, assuming there is anything left to save from us, we can actually step down from this Masters of the Universe stance taken by so many and consider being responsible, thoughtful, intelligent, and caring. We need an antidote to greed.
14
It's always "we must," but what Cramer really means is "they must," and the costs will be borne by "they." If Cramer actually understood fishers, she might also grasp why stronger, more resilient fishing gear is a necessary good in an industry in which margins are thin and nothing is guaranteed. If Cramer had any grasp about the life of blue collar workers, she might also understand why short, intense seasons produce more seasonal unemployment and increase worker injuries. If Cramer actually understood the they implied in her "we," she might be able to come up with a more nuanced response that "must."
3
Well, in a society we have to balance interests of different groups. My interest, as, let's say, whale watcher and that of those in tourism business, for example, lies in preserving the whale population. It's a common good. I personally would like very restricted fishing and more whales. But my interest also should be balanced with that of other groups. The scientists should recommend optimum size of the population (neither mine or fishermen's preference, but in between), so that the whales are not extinct and, if it goes below that, restrict fishing and/or use of certain gear. If some fishers go out of business, so be it. Many professions become obsolete or change. Why should my interests be sacrificed to those of the fishermen? If my profession becomes obsolete, I will have to retrain or move etc. Broadly, the training opportunities/education should be offered to all low income workers. But the interests of the fishers, blue collar or whatever kind should not supersede everyone else's.
14
The alternative...let this species go extinct. I surmise this is ok with you. When it comes to humans vs other creatures on this earth, humans will continue to exact it's supremacy until all else is destroyed.
12
And when people with attitudes like Jet III begin to understand that saving environmentally damaging extractive industries for the sake of somebody's job can no longer be tolerated if mankind is to continue his existence on the planet we might make progress.
7
Our capitalistic society is based upon money.
Thus, here is your cudgel.
If you care enough about these sentient creatures, what will you do for them.
It means stopping the purchasing of goods/products that are contributing/killing these whales.
It means writing/calling/protesting the Corp./Gov. and entrepreneurs themselves.
It is a worthy cause.
Good luck NA Right Whales.
Anyone notice Trump opened up the importation on elephant trophies?
Haven't seen it noted here in the NYT yet.
Sigh....SMDH.
15
Our government, in January, announced steps to try to address this heartbreaking crisis, addressing entanglement and strikes (last summer we imposed a mandatory 10-knot speed limit in the Gulf, sadly over 500 ships ignored it...sigh). But thank God we are trying and if all of us in both countries keep working on it, perhaps we can turn this disaster around.
Here is the link to the news article if you are interested.
http://www.cbc.ca/1.4495198
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Thank you. Is Canada's Ministry of Transport instituted a mandatory 10-knot speed limit for the Gulf of Maine this summer, before the whales arrive? I don't have information that that decision has been made.
1
Those ships should be fined when they reach harbor.
3
How did this happen? How did all of this happen? Earth to nyts, there are over 7.5 billion people on this planet all trying to live like North Americans producing millions of tons of waste every year. Most of it just gets dumped back into the environment. The planet might be able to support perhaps 1/3 this number sustainably. It's not a coincidence that as we gobble up more of the earth to produce ever more people there is less of it left to support all the other species we supposedly share it with. in the next few years the northern white rhino will follow all the other extinct species we hastened to their doom and whales and tigers etc will follow. We can blame trump and clueless republicans but it's us and our inability to face facts and take the hard steps to change the behaviour that has set us on this coarse since the first person took " go forth and multiple" to heart.
6
More sad Earth news about which, in the current political climate, nothing will be done.
6
It might be worth to look at the Southern Right Whale, who has recovered to the point of bringing a lot of jobs in the tourism industry (and a lot of the biggest joy a human can experience.. Hermanus, South Africa, and all places around it, October 2017)
4
The South Atlantic right whale has proven to be a great comparison in terms of why the North Atlantic right whale population was not increasing as quickly. Population growth rates in South Africa and Australian stocks was ~7% per year; the North Atlantic population only ~1-2% at most in the 1990-2008 range. A considerable difference between these stocks is the magnitude and the extent of stressors: fishing and shipping density along the US Eastern Seaboard and Eastern Canada are well higher than the Southern right whale populations experience. Still, this is a current line of study in the right whale community - thank you for the comment.
3
Thanks to the NY Times for taking a break in publishing trivial stories about Trump's hair, or, something else dumb he is doing to report on some actual news.
I just finished reading Jared Diamond's "Collapse". I guess I would say that, for the Right Whale it is too late.
And, looking around at a country that allowed one single individual to clear cut one million acres of old growth Cypress in Florida, down to the last remaining tree on that one million acres he owned?
I would say its is too late for us too. Some of us know it. But, most will find out the hard way when oil runs out and we discover that all the trees have been cut, all the wildlife is gone, all the water has been pumped out of the aquifers and....
there is no food. Then, we will be gone too.
And, the earth can begin a slow recovery, but, it may never recover from the damage we have done.
19
I suspect that over the course of 100 million years we and our junk will just be a layer in the rock.
In all the media, Stormy Daniels stories totally eclipse important news, such as the right whale, mining and oil exploration in national monument areas, a proposed gas pipeline threatening salmon in the Klamath River, protection for students and teachers in the wake of the Parkland shooting.
Reporters and editors should boycott White House press events, since the admin uses them to spread more propaganda and lies. The public needs the truth about significant events, not more gossip.
Please put stories of historic significance on the front page every day, and consign the junk stuff to a back-page category called Chicanery!
25
I was fortunate enough to watch 10 whales feeding off shore on Cape Cod last summer. They were slurping along the surface and many people watching could not figure out what they were seeing. I lent them my binoculars and people were thrilled to see the large mouths skimming the surface. Then all at once one breached. The crowd went wild yelling and hugging each other. The area was full with research boats and helicopters. I will head out this April for another shot at a viewing. It was magic.
7
Reason #99,999,999 why I don't eat seafood; wildlife biologist here in WY (but originally from Boston). I don't think the vast majority of Americans think about how their consumption of "healthy" seafood, even people who call themselves "vegetarians," understand how destructive our fishing industries are. I'm an omnivore and a meat eater; its hard to make completely ethical decisions when consuming animal protein, but fish/seafood is one of the worst. Right wales are just one of many unintended causalities (to say nothing of depleted fish stocks). Sorry folks!
7
The human race is a pox on this planet. I never imagined that right whales, black rhinos, and elephants, among others, would become extinct in my lifetime. It's looking more and more likely. The government -- especially in the age of Trump and the GOP -- is actively making the situation worse, getting rid of clean air and water regulations and disregarding the status of a number of endangered species, including right whales. There will be no "bold and swift" action; whales don't vote. Many people don't, either. But we can hope that this will be the year that more people actually _do_ vote. We can work to make that happen. And then maybe we can try to stop the careless disregard many people seem to have for the planet and its occupants. I don't hold out much hope for this, but I'm certainly engaged in the issue, and will do what I can.
15
Call your senators and congressmember - demand they call for enforcement of the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act for these animals. Also donate to Defenders of Wildlife and to the Center for Biological Diversity, who are suing the Feds to make them comply with these laws,
9
I have sent this to many of my friends especially on the east coast. Seems like some easy changes could make a difference. Maybe if people knew they could boycott Lobster to bring it to the public awareness.
I just keep reading about more and more animals etc on the border of extinction. It is so depressing yet I am determined not to lose hope,each of us needs to take action in any way we can.
6
The oceanic mammals are also finding it more difficult to eat as small baitfish are decimated in record numbers to make fishmeal, cat food and farm feeds, omega oils and to bait crustacean traps. 40 percent of the total wild fish catch is baitfish and nearly half of that catch goes to trap baiting. Crustacean fishing is one of the few remaining profitable fishing activities because Asian markets opened up and will purchase everything caught. A 100% export tax on crustaceans to Asia would reduce the pot hauling ropes entirely. Further, scientific efforts for synthetic trap baits might get deeper funding to help replenish baitfish biomass, as that would make a gigantic contribution to oceanic mammalian and seabird's primary food supply, baitfish. Even polar bears need baitfish as another example. See: Kepley Biosystems oceanic sciences and the tragic, overwhelming baitfish story.
16
We are destroying the oceans even as we burn the land and poison the atmosphere. Well, at least the mantle and core of Earth are safe... for now. Our insatiable appetite for animal protein is the root cause for much of this folly. Animal farming and harvesting is a leading cause of worldwide pollution, deforestation, habitat loss, the second leading cause of Global Warming, and the impetus behind our Herculean race to see if we can fish out the seas before we entirely suffocate them with plastics. All of this carnage so we can stuff down our gullets food products that actually is associated with each of the diseases and illnesses that kill millions of people: heart disease, hypertension, many types of cancers and diabetes. What a lovely species we are. It's probably too late for the Right Whales... and thousands of other species. We don't really care, though, do we? Not enough to lay off the burgers and bacon and cheese and eggs and mercury-laden seafood and other animal products that we are so addicted to. Tinkering with fishing lines and ship speeds (if the powers-that-be will even go along with even these slight measures) might help a little, but the real answer to sustainability for our planet is for Homo sapiens to completely overthrow its own rapacious consumption habits. Either we do, or we will someday be like the Right Whale ourselves, caught in our own webs of ignorance, uncaring, greed, cruelty and plastics.
7
The planet is over populated and its getting worse. We have become an unregulated growth.
It is a shame that as science showed us how to live a better life we failed to act responsibly. But given the unending ignorance what can one expect.
1
I’m told the name “Right” was given to the whales because they were identified as the right whales to hunt. And now, sadly and horribly these baleen whales with their migration routes have become the right whales to be trapped by ropes and fishing gear and ships. Yes, whatever ideas can be applied to stop the extinction of these giants of the seas needs to be implemented immediately. The current administration seems to take great pride in getting rid of regulations. But, of course, all regulations are not wrong or bad. Hopefully, requirements that lower strength lines, shorter trapping seasons, etc. can help to allow these whales their 3score and ten years.
6
Thank you for this. Can I boycott Canadian snow-crab? Picket outside my Red Lobster. I am being serious. Please include what I can do.
We are the largest pest on the planet.
7
Quoting a suggestion above, "Call your senators and congressmember - demand they call for enforcement of the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act for these animals. Also donate to Defenders of Wildlife and to the Center for Biological Diversity, who are suing the Feds to make them comply with these laws." Additionally, consider donating to NGOs and research programs centered around right whales, population monitoring, and development of solutions to this issue (New England Aquarium, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Consortium for Bycatch Reduction, Canadian Whale Institute)
3
A łink by the author to any organization that is supporting the rescue of these animals would have been helpful.
I would gladly do something if I had a clue as to what would be the most expeditious method if lending my support.
3
As individuals, the best one can do is boycott all fish and shellfish from New England and Eastern Canada. Actually, from just about anywhere. Second, governments and non-profit organizations should establish programs to retrieve abandoned fishing pots and lines. Get them out of the oceans. Third, the federal government needs to require ships to slow down in whale habitat. The whales and their habitat must come first.
3
Great suggestion - Here is a link to the North Atlantic right whale consortium, where you can find more info and importantly a list of partners (research institutions, NGOs, stakeholders, industry, government)
https://www.narwc.org
2
Depending on which organizations you like to support, you can support the work of the Center for Coastal Studies in Provincetown. CCS undertakes critical research on right whales, including conducting aerial surveys of right whales in Cape Cod Bay. The aerial surveys need to be expanded to identify the routes right whales are taking into and and out of the bay and to protect them along those routes. Large numbers of right whales come to Cape Cod Bay in the spring. CCS's aerial surveys need to be expanded to locate and protect these whales as well.
2
These whales will all die because we value our "right" to a night at Red Lobster more than we value these marine mammals with whom we share the planet. Just the same, millions of other species will die because we value the solitude of our SUVs and the juiciness of our factory-farmed hamburgers over their right to inhabit the planet.
Sadly the North Atlantic right whale is only one of many, many dominoes that's poised to fall. The oceans are teetering on the edge of a mass extinction. It may already be too late. Even if the right whale survives the immediate danger of human contact, it's probable that a disruption of the food chain will send their population spiraling towards extinction anyway.
The situation is widely known, but nobody cares, because Stormy Daniels is just so much more captivating than these majestic, 50-foot submersible songbirds. I mean, we can't even bestir ourselves to intervene in man-made mass-murder of our *own* species (i.e., opiates and guns). What chance do 400-some whales stand? They can't even vote, let alone donate. Maybe they need a SuperPAC.
7
Not encouraging that we don't know what technologies are likely to be implementable that could work if tried, when the political will to do so is so weak. Shame on us.
Why would fishermen use ropes they have to replace more often? What technology for warning whales to stay out of shipping lanes are there?
1
How about technology for warning ships to stay out of whale habitat?
2
Here's a radical idea: Go vegetarian. This is the one meaningful things an individual can do that has the most profound environmental repercussions, including the reduction and elimination of these fishing nets. Additionally, meat production accounts for well over half of all water pollution, which ultimately makes it way into our oceans. (Dead zones anyone?) There are so many profound benefits to eliminating meat from our diets.
And a quick shout out to lobsters who are just as deserving of protection. Lobsters are complicated, wondrous creatures. They have fascinating social lives. Most species live much longer than 25 years if left alone, and many species live over a hundred years! These sensitive creatures certainly do not deserve to be thrown into a pot of boiling water.
Wait. You did ask my opinion?
5
Unfortunately, the fuel oil needed for mass scale grain farming creates a lot of CO2. The simple truth is that there are to many of us for our space ship to support as we all wish to live.
We will reap what we sow. And, collectively, we will deserve it. What we are doing to our earth and all of the wonderful creatures we are doing to ourselves.
5
We inflict so much unacknowledged suffering on wild things. it is so sad and so few in power are paying attention or seem to care.
4
Commercial fishing are killing the whales, the Department of Commerce is killing commercial fishing, it’s hard to gauge which is more endangered. Yet readers of this column demand fresh fish on their restaurant tables.
But don’t fret people, we can buy all the chemical laced fish we want from China and Vietnam, and those people don’t care about dead whales. Currently there is a lot less commercial fishing in New England than at anytime in the past 100 years, the whales will recover, the industry will not.
A campaign in which we refuse to buy fish caught with these systems of fishing gear and ropes will help. How do we find out the name of companies that rely on these systems?
14
There is nothing unusual or unique about the vertical lines that entangle whales, primarily in lobster and crab fisheries. These lines connect the surface buoys with the traps or pots on the ocean floor. Some of the fishers are corporations but most are just individual fishers. It’s going to take a revolution in how the entire industry catches lobster and crab. There’s no one bad actor.
My understanding, from information available from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, from the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, and from the Marine Stewardship Council, is that 98% of lobsters caught in the U.S. lobster fishery are caught in traps/pots. 87% of the lobster caught in the U.S. lobster fishery comes from the Gulf of Maine.
1
My wife and I went on a whale watch cruise off of Cape Cod in April of 1988. We saw dolphins, many Humpbacks, and then later in the day, a mother and calf Right Whale. A boat full of tourists, students, and researchers was reduced to silence, then to tears at the sighting of these rare and threatened mammals. The fate of these animals since then perhaps illustrates the difficulty of translating emotion into action, and of knowing what that action should be.
15
The oceans are already full of plastic fishing line and rope. No-one should fish with plastic line - natural and biodegradeable only (https://www.bradwiegmann.com/tackle/terminal-tackle/600-100-biodegradabl.... If you fish with plastic, you are a serial torturer.
27
Heartbreaking1
12
So far I’d be the second comment.... that does not bode well for the Right Whale. I’m sadly pessimistic in Trump world that any legislation or government help could be utilized in an effort to save such magnificent creatures. I see articles in The Times often on the sad plight of the animals and plants we share the planet with ; I usually cringe at the titles and find It hard to read the latest scourge of our fellow earth inhabitants.
23
I feel the same. I'm only commenter #3. I'm guessing everyone is exhausted by the constant parade of terrible news. Thank you, Ms. Cramer, for caring enough to write this. I care, too. About these whales, and about the vaquita (the smallest porpoise in the world) which will go extinct soon. I wish there were a safe sea for these creatures, somewhere far from human greed and ignorance. For us, losing them, our world grows poorer and uglier...
34
Patrick: You expressed it perfectly -- I can't because I'm so furious with us humans who pay almost no attention to other living things on this fabulous planet.
1
Remember all of the outrage over Spotted Owls? (Maybe you are too young but you can look it up.) Well logging had to stop until scientist figured out what the owls needed and they now nest is four areas and have rising numbers. Why no fuss over these whales? I have observed whales in two oceans and these guys seem to come close to shore. The catering to the fishing industry has to stop. Believe my, by the end of June I am sick of eating lobster here on Cape Cod.
1
We should do SOMETHING, for heaven's sake. Just about any effort would be worth avoiding yet another William Shatner reprise of his Kirk role (at 86!).
6
Actually that 1986 film helped to mobilize protections for humpbacks, which are now thriving. Right whales are probably Pining for another Shatner.
6
Is that supposed to be funny? The plight of these fine mammals, who pre-date us on planet earth, is profoundly troubling. And this article, rightly, focuses on just one of the many species, large to tiny, that are imperiled by human activity.
5