Pelican Deaths
By: Lauren Rose Mele
Have you ever wondered how much trash is really in the ocean? 14 million tons of trash is dumped in the ocean every year. This trash is forming a red tide. Red tide kills sea life, and it is especially targeting pelicans. The California Institute listed brown pelicans as endangered. The numbers are skyrocketing up. A reporter in the Florida institute of fish and wild- life research said, ¨To date we have confirmed at least 70 dead or ill Brown Pelicans and at least one white pelican.¨
Experts say fertilizers have been dumped into the Gulf of Mexico, leaving the brown pelican feathers to get drenched in the fertilizers, causing them to get hypothermia. The website surfider.eu says, ¨the pesticide use went up by 25% in the last decade.¨ We dump these fertilizers in the ocean, and the red tide is created. This red tide is not just killing brown pelicans. It has killed over thousands of fish. In 2013 this killed 200 manatees. These pesticides are destroying the marine ecosystem. If we keep putting these harmful fertilizers into the ocean then these pelicans, and other sea life, will keep dying. Sooner or later they will become extinct.
Observer says, “ Improperly disposed of trash can find its way into sewage systems and waterways, which can eventually lead it to the ocean.” This proves that disposing trash properly helps with removing red tide. Another way to help your environment is you can stop using harmful fertilizers and pesticides. Red tide could cause severe skin irritations, such as rashes, burning and sore eyes. It can also cause respiratory irritation such as coughing and sneezing.
¨It's like a bomb went off here,¨ says Damon Utterback (fisherman on Fort Myers Beach). Since the red tide came here the water looks like green vomit, But 15 years before it was so clear. Red tide turns the ocean red, brown, or green. Fort Myers Beach's water is brown. The red has been getting worse and worse since November. Florida's wild and fish conservation confederacy reported that the pelicans are dying from botulism poisoning (rare poisoning caused by toxins).
Sooner or later these pelicans and other sea life will become extinct. If we all just dispose of trash properly, and stop using these harmful fertilizers, then we can save sea life forever. Fort Myers Beach can be safe for all the living.
Lauren Rose: Lauren’s opinion on the issue is that she want’s people to stop putting fertilizers in the ocean because it is killing fish, pelicans and etc. And a whole bunch of trash was being dumped into the ocean. And the trash is causing the “Red Sea” to happen. I agree with Lauren’s opinion because all of the sea life is getting killed by the fertilizers and the millions of trash getting dumped in the ocean. The reason why I agree with Lauren’s opinion is because 70 and more pelicans have died from the fertilizers and the chemicals. And the fertilizers have been dumped into the Gulf of Mexico and leaving brown pelican feathers to get drenched into the fertilzers.
ReplyDeleteIt is really easy to clearly see your opinion on this topic and that you think this topic is sad and something very serious and I totally agree with it. Pollution is a serious problem that has to be stopped. In your writing you say that “We dump fertilizers in the ocean, and the red tide is created. This red tide is not just killing brown pelicans. It has killed over thousands of fish.” This is not only sad to hear but also kind of scary. Thousands of fish are dying because of our mistakes which is really sad.
ReplyDeleteLauren's claim is that if we dispose of trash properly and stop using harmful fertilizers, then countless sea lives will be saved. I absolutely agree with this claim, and I think it is terrible that the red tide is killing so many pelicans and fish. In addition, my grandma recently went to Fort Myers Beach, and she said that she could not even go on the beach because breathing in the red tide's toxins was harmful to her health. Lauren made some very good points to back her claim, such as when she stated a fact from the Florida Institute of Fish and Wildlife that said, "To date, we have confirmed at least 70 dead or ill brown pelicans and at least one white pelican." To add to the harmful fertilizer problem that Lauren is talking about, she says that not only are pelicans and fish dying, but additionally, in 2013, 200 manatees were wiped out by the red tide.
ReplyDeleteLauren’s opinion is that red tide, along with trash and harmful fertilizers will cause pelicans and sea life to go extinct. I agree with her opinion because the red tide has killed or hurt at least 70 brown pelicans and one white pelican. Red tide is formed from trash easily getting into the ocean, as well as from harmful fertilizers. Fertilizers also get onto the feathers of pelicans and cause hypothermia. Furthermore, red tide hurts sea life because in 2013, red tide killed 200 manatees. Therefore, red tide does cause pelicans and sea life to go extinct.
ReplyDeleteLauren, I believe that your opinion is that we should dispose of our trash properly. And I strongly agree with you; because when many creatures are going near extinction, we should try to help. Especially when it is our fault, for causing the red tide. The red tide is made up of improperly disposed trash and fertilizer, and these substances also harm our environment, ecosystems, and people themselves. One of the effects of the red tide is that over a thousand fish were killed, and in 2013 around 200 manatees were also killed. If people can help now by properly disposing of their trash; then they should because it wouldn’t only help slow down the effects of water pollution now, but it would in the future too.
ReplyDeleteLauren, I understand that your opinion that humans need to throw away and recycle their trash so it doesn’t get thrown in the ocean impacting animals like pelicans. I agree with her opinion; people should stop dumping fertilizers in the ocean that is making the environment toxic for animals. I agree that it will end up causing ocean life in the sea to die. I was surprised to learn that fertilizers create a red tide that has killed pelicans and manatees. You opened my eyes to this problem.
ReplyDelete