"The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently reported a spike in entangled whales off California in 2024, leading scientists and marine mammal biologists to worry about how this year will go as winter fishing seasons get underway. Already, sea creatures have been plagued in 2025 by deadly algae blooms, bacterial illnesses and shifts in food sources, as well as the always-present threats of fishing gear and ship strikes."
"When we think about the solution to end species endangerment and protect biodiversity, we need NOAA at all stages to have robust support to be able to do that, Dave Bader, a marine biologist at the Marine Mammal Care Center Los Angeles, said. From the regulatory side, to the development side, to the enforcement side, all of those right now could use support and strengthening and we're seeing that get weakened."
NOAA confirmed 95 whale entanglements in U.S. waters in 2024, up from 64 in 2023 and above the 2007–2023 annual average of 71. Marine life faced additional 2025 threats from deadly algae blooms, bacterial illnesses and shifts in food sources, along with ongoing dangers from fishing gear and ship strikes. The federal agency has experienced budget and staffing cuts, and many employees are furloughed during a prolonged government shutdown that has limited enforcement and investigation capacity. Experts say NOAA needs robust regulatory, development and enforcement support to protect species and biodiversity.
Read at www.ocregister.com
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