PLASTICS IN THE OCEAN
Report from Peter Wallerstein
Marine Animal Rescue, Los Angeles
We tried for over a month to rescue this sea lion. We tried using the floating net technique, paddling up in a kayak, approaching from a boat. But nothing worked, she eluded rescue each time. Having other sea lions on the buoy with her complicated this rescue.
Today, approaching in an inflatable boat we successfully rescued the injured sea lion from the Cerritos Channel Buoy.
It’s been puzzling us what the material was that was strangling the sea lion. It wasn’t a fishing net or any kind of commercial fishing gear. Over the past 6 months we’ve seen other sea lions with this same type of material wrapped tightly around their necks. It was a mystery until today.
What is strangling the life out of these animals is, plastic packing straps.
MAR will do everything we can to help authorities track down the source of the plastic packing straps and we will also use this incident to educate the public on the tremendous hazards of plastic materials ending up in the ocean.
Marine animals are suffering and dying from plastics in the ocean.
I’m sorry to have to share this information, but I feel it’s important.
The sea lion died shortly after the rescue. Her suffering will not go unnoticed.
Yes, it hurts us a great deal too. But we must remain focused, because there are other animals out there in need of MAR’s assistance.
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4 Comments
On April 29, 2010, Dustin Rhodes, Friends of Animals wrote:
Here in Washington, DC, they passed a law a few months ago (under the auspices of cleaning up and preserving the rivers in the area) that requires you bring your own bags for grocery shopping, restaurants, etc. If the store has to provide one, you pay 5 cents per bag.
Shockingly, no one wants to pay 5 cents, and it’s really changed the culture here quickly. I wish this were the case everywhere. The amount of plastic we mindlessly use and waste boggles the mind—and as you highlight below, it’s deadly.
Peter: Thanks for doing what you do. I hope this serves as wake-up call.
Dustin
On May 13, 2010, Rabbi Miriam wrote:
Thank you Peter for trying to save these marine animals. A true one man show!
I have walked on the beach today and came across a young sea lion on the Marina Peninsula. I ran to the Venice Beach Life Guard Headquarter station to report about it and ask for immediate help. It took them 25 minutes to send a car with a lifeguard. He told me that he called you and told you about it. He told malso mentioned that you were in San Pedro and he does not know when, it at all, you are going to come. I do not under how ONE person, Peter Wallerstein, is able to cover and save marine animals from San Pedro to Malibu? Peter, are you able to train others to help you?
I do not understand why a whole lifeguard headquarters has not even one person that is trained to rescue these poor animals. All that this impotent and powerless lifeguard did was to sit in his truck with the engine on and watch the “show,” a total waste of time, energy, and tax money! How sad.
Dear Peter, may you continue to be our super hero in rescuing these animals, but I sincerely think that more efficient ways are also possible.
Miriam
On June 27, 2010, Mary Raso wrote:
Hello FoA! I love this site. It always makes me feel like someone always cares. Please emai me back. I talked to my principal about making a FoA donation. He assured me that he would talk to the school board. I am also making flyers for my school and anywhere else I’m allowed to put them up.
~Mary, Age 11
On September 16, 2010, peter chlebogiannis wrote:
mary it is nice to know there is at least one other kid out there that cares about animals, im 14 and to be honest i think what is happening is disgusting, we have truly become murderers, and no one cares, how come its a crime to kill a human by acccident but its not to be the cause of sea lions strangling themselves to death, if we dont change welle end up killing this planet
peter age 14