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Eels on slippery slope

HANNAH HOAG

From Saturday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 11:54 PM EDT 10/04/07

Great Lakes populations in such radical decline that scientists fear they could be portend collapse of freshwater ecosystem. Is it too late to save them? ...Read the full article

This conversation is closed

  1. Gordon Franks from Canada writes:
    Here we go again, the sky is falling in. This time it's a "complete collapse of the fresh water ecosystem" One thing's for sure, the said system will still be around long after mankind has left this planet.

    Why is it whenever scientist don't know the reason for something they always assume the world is coming to an end. By all means be concerned but don't over egg the cake with your speculations. Personally I'm worried about all those hurricanes that didn't occur as predicted wgich surely must be an indication that we are on the brink of some sort of disaster.
  2. Ms. Madox from Toronto, Canada writes: We know that other fish-stocks and ecosystems are in serious danger. It doesn't take too much of an intellectual leap to realize that something like this isn't a fake "the sky is falling" situation. How many times do we have to hear about entire species being in trouble before we realize that unless we change our ways, we're going the way of the dodo too?
  3. Fifty cal from Austin, Texas, United States writes: OH MY GOD! EELS ARE DYING IN HYDRO_ELECTRIC TURBINES! You must shut them off! It's for the CHILDREN! What would the world be with out fried eel?

    So let us review. NO hydro-electric. NO oil. NO wind-power (kills migrating birds). NO fire.

    Yep. It's time all human life is extinguished in Canada. Bad for the environment. I would have said "intelligent" life, but that seems to be pretty damm hard to find.
  4. Gail Thomas from Canada writes: Species will come and go as the earth's climate changes which it's been doing for years. It's part of nature. What is not part of nature is overfishing, overhunting and other man made disasters. We cannot change the sun, moon, but we can all do our part to fix man-made problems through advanced technology aimed at curbing certain emissions. Discerning shoppers can also do their part. Use cloth bags or recyclable bags, rather than plastic, etc. Like it or not, we're all in the same boat and I hope someone packed the life jackets. If Iran doesn't cool it's jets, we could all have a lot more to worry about.
  5. Stude Ham from Outremont, Canada writes: The article states "For generations, eel were plentiful and fished to satiate palettes across the globe."

    The editors may want to look into better constructed spelling and grammar checking softwares since the word 'pallettes' does not make any sense in the context used. Rather the word most probably should have been 'palates'.
  6. Michael Powers from Smiths Falls, Canada writes: Yep, the sky is falling - again. Which enviromental group are we to send our money too this time????
    We do have to moderate our footprint on the world but you don't accomplish this by sending money to the likes of Al Gore or David Susuki. You do it by moderating your lifestyle not destroying it.
  7. Carla Larson from Canada writes: what a sad story. I'll think twice before having my favourite unagi next time.
  8. Orest Zarowsky from Toronto, Canada writes: I see that the nay-sayers are out in force. Again. The term "eco-system" is worthy of contemplation here. The critical concept is that everything is connected. And, just becuase we don't know or understand how and why specific components work and are connected, doesn't mean that messing things up won't hurt us. There is an old folk expression that goes: What you don't know won't hurt you. The majority of the poster here so far obviously subscribe to this perspective. However, the US air-force has a more correct version of this saying. It goes like this: What you don't know won't hurt you. It will kill you. Any time a top end predator declines as precipitously and quickly as the eel population has, for whatever reason, there is legitimate cause for concern. The overall system ramifications are staggering. As one example, the overhunting of sharks has led to an explosion in the ray population. The rays eat scallops. There are examples of entire scallop beds in Chesapeake Bay being wiped out overnight. Say, all those scallop fishermen in the area must be ecstatic at the reduction in the shark population. The comments about species going extinct in the past, and now and in the future is absolutely correct. Massive periodic die-offs of populations of a given species are also common and well documented. The issue here is that we as a species are no different from any other living organisms. Our continued survival depends on the continued existance in a stable form of the environment and eco-system we evolved in. Our activities are putting the continued survival of opur species at risk. That is why these issues are cause for concern among all rational humans. Personally, I prefer that our species survive. Those here who don't think that environmental issues are important are perfectly free to commit suicide asap. This will remove the Darwin Award contenders, and leave the rest of us a freeer hand to clean up the mess.
  9. Hugh McNeil from toronto, Canada writes: The usual half wits show up and say they don't like Gore or Suzuki. It was an article about some species in massive decline due to overfishing and pollution. Nobody mentioned Gore or Suzuki, but I am certain they appreciate the fixation you have on them.
  10. Larry Robinson from white Rock, Canada writes: First we have the usual media hyperbole forcasting impending doom usually based upon any amount of "scientific study". Then we have commenters who are becoming, like many people, intolerant of the constant hysteria. And finally, we have the strident defenders of mother earth who inevitably require long posts to explain why we should all immediately change our lives or face an uncomfortable extinction.
    Forget the doom, the intolerance and the hysterical warnings - turn off your computers and go for a walk on Sunday evening. The sun will rise tomorrow - guaranteed.
  11. Terry H from Moncton, Canada writes: Stude Ham from Outremont, Canada ... You have nothing better to post about than someone's grammar or spelling? Take a look at your own error. Your own quote.
    " Stude Ham from Outremont, Canada writes: The article states "For generations, eel were plentiful and fished to satiate palettes across the globe."
    The editors may want to look into better constructed spelling and grammar checking softwares since the word 'pallettes' does not make any sense in the context used. Rather the word most probably should have been 'palates'." Is it pallettes or palettes? The editors didn't use the word pallettes, they used palettes. You either don't know how to cut n paste, or you typed it wrong also. Don't sweat it, I typo all the time, but I don't care. LOL.
    On the topic. I think the loss of many of the ocean related species is a combination of climate change and over fishing. Mostly by European and Asian countries. They have raped and pillaged their own waters until empty, now they have been depleting North American stocks until there is almost nothing left. Nothing will stop humans from using all of mother earth's resources and polluting the land, air, and water until we as a species are extinct. Unless we nuke ourselves to death over the last barrel of oil or gallon of water. Beings from another galaxy or planet would never land here, seeing what we have done to the planet and to each other.
  12. harry carnie from NORTHERN,B.C.., Canada writes: As COUNTRY AS YOU CAN GET..here...where I live ....there are a multitude of spiecies that are no longer seen
    Snakes, frogs , lynx, skunks, rabbits , grouse, butterflys, water beetles,
    wild bees, wasps...either ALL gone or very rare. We will not go into the
    lack of numbers in the birds returning from the South..that is VERY upsetting.
    No..the sky is NOT falling...but is "Silent Spring" Coming?
    One thing for sure...when our (human beings) time comes, the Earth will be a better place..maybe INTELLIGENT LIFE NEXT TIME?
  13. Edwin Leung from Sechelt, Canada writes: I don't think "the sky is falling". However, I support further study of eels. We should pay attention to the change in nature not only when we have seen threats. So, guy keep on whatever you like in your dish. And then we can discuss if we should have a farm to raise eels.
  14. Orest Zarowsky from Toronto, Canada writes: @ Larry Robinson: Simplistic answers to complex problems invariably result in worse and even more complex problems. And, like I said, everything is connected. We just don't know how, and what the consequences of disruption are. Some show up fast, others take longer. That Law of Unintended Consequences thing keeps biting us in very sensitive spots. Who would have thunk it - killing off too many sharks would lead to problems with the scallop fishery. Given that we presently have nowhere else to live other than "Mother Earth", is it really such a bad thing to try and take better care of our home. Say Larry, why is it that you don't use your kitchen floor or bed as a toilet?
  15. Mike Hodge from Toronto, Canada writes: I'm not sure what this guy with the baseball bat is about. Was he a mugger or a poacher? Two different things...maybe he was both?

    Reminds me of the movie Withnail and I. "Excuse me, could we have an eel? You've got eels down your leg." Bloody poachers.
  16. Cold Clear Water from Canada writes: Mother Earth looks after herself, with or against us. Orest Zarowsky presented a solid argument for choosing the former. Have a nice day.
  17. Alexander Jablanczy MD from Sault Ste Marie, Canada writes: I swore I wouldnt write again but this is too important. A hundred years ago the sturgeon has all but disappeared. They were burning them like cordwood. The buffalo they shot and left rot not even bothering with the fur and the tongue. In our lifetime unless you are an eel the salmon on the West and the cod fishery on the East has collapsed. There is simply no argument it has happened and is still going on. Just a couple of decades ago the woods were like an aviary I havent heard a song bird in years. Last turtle ten years ago and frogs used to trip over them. The fact of massive extinction is simply not arguable the cause is. I suspect the plastics hint might be a good guess. As far as the eel article one would have liked to have read about what they eat and what eats them. Other than us and plastics. Curiously the hunted species are most abundant Canada geese ducks grouse. Very few porcupine and skunk. A local rebound of smelt for a while they were plummeting. One could hazard a guess that only large scale industrial fishing but not sport fishing and strictly controlled hunting are a minor cause. The major causes are almost certainly chemicals radiation pollution particulates such as plastics nets garbage drugs such as birth control pills industrial effluent pesticides herbicides insecticides fungicides paints solvents as well as mining wastes like cyanide and heavy metals. In short our industrial civilization. The moronic fairy tale of personal responsibility is rot, we cant do anything about it. I dont buy gold nor use any .cides nor throw away any garbage. It is big industry which commits these crimes against nature not you and I. What we can do is support political parties which will not permit the destruction to continue. The other main cause habitat loss is not pertinent in the case of the eel the seas havent disappeared yet. Also naming the seven species would have been instructive.
  18. Rob C from Toranna, Canada writes: Just a thought...

    Anyone here think this will get people talking and lame brained Celebrities protesting about this?

    Not so sexy as Save the Cute Baby Seals now is it?
  19. Brian L from Canada writes: World population a century ago, about 1 billion, world population today, about 7 billion (12 billion by mid-century); increasing evidence of declining fish stocks around the globe; increasing evidence of pending shortages in energy supply. I doubt these statistics are a coincidence.

    This then is the real problem facing mankind today (for you global warming fanatics), too many people taxing the resources of the planet, both energy and biomass.

    David Suzuki and his five little Suzukis (who are no doubt now procreating in the reckless manner of their papa) should take note.
  20. Long Live Canada from Canada writes: "But adding to the eels' mystery are recent findings by David Cairns, a biologist with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in Charlottetown. He says the Maritime populations of American eels aren't suffering the same decline as the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River population."

    I find this part of the article very interesting. I wonder why there isn't as great a decline in maritime populations. Hope they are successful in solving the problem.

    Slightly off topic, I think that G&M (and other media outlets) would do well in covering stories of some positive news about the environment every so often. While it's important for us to be aware of things like this I think an unending barrage of negative news actually becomes counterproductive. It should be somewhat balanced with environmental issues that are improving. Just to give us a little hope every once in awhile.

  21. Orest Zarowsky from Toronto, Canada writes: @ Long Live Canada: Re your comment "I wonder why there isn't as great a decline in maritime populations." Well, it most likely has a great deal to do with the trivial fact that pretty well all of the municipalities in Quebec that are on the St. Lawrence River use it as a cesspool. They don't treat their sewage before dumping it in the river. This has caused big problems for the Belugas that live in parts of the river. A detail that was documented a long time ago. And the fact that municipal sewage includes all sorts of industrial waste is a factor to consider. I trust this clarifies things for you.
  22. Long Live Canada from Canada writes: "Well, it most likely has a great deal to do with the trivial fact that pretty well all of the municipalities in Quebec that are on the St. Lawrence River use it as a cesspool. They don't treat their sewage before dumping it in the river."

    I didn't even think of that.
  23. skeptical Observer from Canada writes: well, there will always be some winners and some losers, im betting the insects and birds will be the biggest winners

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