News and Updates
This section features stories that highlight how remarkable yet fragile the ocean is. It also speaks to the connection between humans and the ocean and our responsibility to protect it.
Stories, unless otherwise noted, are written by Pam Ferris-Olson, PhD. Pam has studied ocean creatures, worked in communication, and, as founder of Women Mind the Water, focuses on the relationship between humans and water. Her Wo(men) Mind the Water Artivist Series explores the work of artivists (artists +activists) and their impact in influencing change.
Vaccine Trials Underway in US to Protect Marine Mammals from Avian Flu
Highly pathogenic strain of H5N1 form 20,000+ sea lions in Chile and Peru and 17,000+ southern elephant seal pups in Argentina. Vaccine trial seeks underway to protect health and welfare of marine mammals.
How hot is it? Enough to sicken hundreds of sea lions and dolphins
How hot is it? The answer is no laughing matter because hundreds of sick and dying sea lions and dolphins have been seen on beaches, the result of toxic algal blooms associated with warmer ocean waters and linked to high levels of domoic acid. Domoic acid is a naturally occurring toxin that can make humans and marine mammals sick. The biggest takeaway is that as ocean temperatures changed, there is the potential for more frequent and more extreme harmful implications.
