2010-2011 Cetacean Unusual Mortality Event in Northern Gulf of Mexico
Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (as amended), an Unusual Mortality Event (UME) has been declared for cetaceans (whales and dolphins) in the northern Gulf of Mexico (Texas/Louisiana border through Franklin County, FL) from February 2010 through the present.Note: These numbers are preliminary and may be subject to change. As of April 10, 2011, the UME involves 418 Cetacean "strandings" in the Northern Gulf of Mexico (4% stranded alive and 96% stranded dead). Of these:
| Cetaceans Stranded | Phase of Oil Spill Response | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| 113 cetaceans stranded | prior to the response phase for the oil spill | February 1, 2010- April 29, 2010 |
| 115 cetaceans stranded or were reported dead offshore | during the initial response phase to the oil spill | April 30, 2010- November 2, 2010 |
| 190 cetaceans stranded | after the initial response phase ended | November 3, 2010- April 10, 2011 |
NOTE: Historical data from 2002-2009 excludes 2 previous UMEs in the panhandle of Florida (March-April, 2004 and Sept. 2005-April 2006). Historical data from 2008 through present are unvalidated and numbers may be subject to change as more information becomes available. Data include any strandings reported on or before April 10, 2011. Data from 2010 and 2011 are considered preliminary and may be subject to change as more information becomes available. Raw historical data are also available.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apl | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Average (2002-2009) | 6.6 | 6.9 | 17.9 | 11.5 | 5.1 | 3.6 | 4.1 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 2.6 | 3.8 |
| 2010 Total | 5 | 11 | 62 | 40 | 35 | 29 | 10 | 19 | 17 | 5 | 11 | 12 |
| 2011 | 24 | 62 | 63 | 18 |
NOTE: Historical data from 2002-2009 excludes 2 previous UMEs in the panhandle of Florida (March-April, 2004 and Sept. 2005-April 2006). Historical data from 2008 through present are unvalidated and numbers may be subject to change as more information becomes available. Data include any strandings reported on or before April 10, 2011. Data from 2010 and 2011 are considered preliminary and may be subject to change as more information becomes available. Raw historical data are also available.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apl | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Average (2002-2009) | 5.4 | 6.6 | 16.6 | 10.4 | 4.8 | 3.1 | 3.3 | 2.8 | 2.0 | 3.3 | 1.8 | 2.8 |
| 2010 Total | 3 | 9 | 56 | 37 | 35 | 22 | 9 | 17 | 14 | 5 | 8 | 11 |
| 2011 | 23 | 59 | 62 | 17 |
NOTE: Historical data from 2002-2009 excludes 2 previous UMEs in the panhandle of Florida (March-April, 2004 and Sept. 2005-April 2006). Historical data from 2008 through present are unvalidated and numbers may be subject to change as more information becomes available. Data include any strandings reported on or before April 10, 2011. Data from 2010 and 2011 are considered preliminary and may be subject to change as more information becomes available. Raw historical data are also available.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apl | |
| Average (2002-2007) | 1.0 | 2.2 | 6.3 | 2.2 |
| 2010 Total | 0 | 1 | 11 | 10 |
| 2011 | 6 | 36 | 20 | 6 |
Cetacean (Dolphin and Whale) Strandings in the Northern Gulf of Mexico from January 1-April 10, 2011
Documented 2011 cetacean strandings in the northern Gulf of Mexico through April 10, 2011
Bottlenose dolphins are shown as circles and other species as squares. Bottlenose dolphins with reported actual or estimated lengths of less than 115 cm are shown as a circle with a black dot inside. Pink markers show the most recent week of data while green markers are all other cases since January 1, 2011.
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This will probably be attributed to the invisible red tide that is sweeping the Gulf of Mexico. Aka, Corexit Tide. This is so freakin' sad. Thanks for whay you do. I use a lot of your reporting in my own blog, and cite it quite a bit in discussions I have with friends and family. That is not to say that I don't do a little independent investigation of my own. ;o) Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteScientists in South Fla told me that if it is "red tide algae bloom" It is more dangerous to catch shrimp and seafood in that than oil. What ever is going on out there, it is not normal and certainly not a good thing.
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