Oceans' breaking point is near, Cousteau says

Published on January 22nd, 2010

By CINTHIA RITCHIE

The Alaska SeaLife Center's first Marine Gala took place Jan. 17 at the Dena'ina Center in Anchorage, with over 500 men and women dressed to the max and ocean explorer and environmentalist Jean-Michel Cousteau presenting a talk advocating ocean conservation.

The event benefited Alaska SeaLife Center programs promoting ocean literacy such as SeaTrek, Magic Planet Globe Systems and educational internships.

Approximately $58,500 was raised through silent auction, donation and ticket sales.

According to Cousteau, son of the renowned Jacques Cousteau and founder of Ocean Futures Society, we are at a pinnacle point regarding the ocean's future.

"We are using the ocean as a sewer and it's affecting the marine life," he said.

Cousteau showed portions of a DVD revealing beaches in northwest Hawaii littered with plastic.

"Junk from 52 different countries," he said.

The heaps of debris contained everyday items such as lighters, toothbrushes, a computer monitor and a mascara wand.

This, he continued, is what marine mammal species have to put up with. And that worries him. What worries him more, however, are the things we can't see, the chemicals and heavy metals polluting our waters.

The worst of these are PCBs, which were banned years ago but still linger in the atmosphere, and PBDE (flame retardants).

High levels of both have been found in orcas and killer whales, and Cousteau predicted that offspring from certain pods will be unable to survive within three years due to dangerously high levels of contaminants.

The ocean, he said, has become toxic soup. And it's everyone's problem.

"If marine mammals are absorbing toxins, what about us?" he asked.

According to Costeau, the Environmental Protection Agency hasn't changed its rules and regulations since 1986.

"We have a long way to go and a lot of work to do," he said.

The face of planetary change begins with each and every one of us, he said, and millions of marine mammals, and ourselves, are at the threshold of enormous suffering if we don't begin soon.

Yet it's about more than taking care of the ocean for physical and environmental purposes. It's also about taking care of the ocean for our spiritual and emotional sake.

Early in the program Cousteau showed a DVD segment of beluga whales frolicking through the water.

"Maybe it's worth protecting the beluga for the beauty of its song," he narrated from the film slice. "Maybe protecting the beluga helps define who we are.

"Protecting the beauty and wonder of these waters is as essential to our spirit as food is to our bellies."