Pelican Shooting in a Coastal Wildlife Reserve

A pelican, a protected Australian species (Pelecanus conspicillatus) has been shot by 'hunters' in the Shoal Bay Coastal Reserve in the Northern Territory. In another catchment reserve another ' hunter' has been fined $ 330 as he was caught with a lead shot. About the effects of this heavy metal on birds and the environment Folly has reported before. Elsewhere Albatrosses and Pelicans are dying from human caused eutrophication.
Via abc 021008
Image: altered, Brockhaus image, via Zeno
Videos: Pelicans

Pesticide leaking from shipping container at Moreton Bay, Brisbane

“A man is in a serious condition in a Brisbane hospital after a dangerous pesticide leak in a shipping container at Fisherman Islands at the Port of Brisbane.” The toxin “is believed to contain the chemical endosulfan”.

This highly toxic POP is banned in the EU and other countries, it is very persistent in the environment.” Endosulfan is a very toxic chemical for nearly all kind of organisms. Endosulfan has the potential to cause some endocrine disruption in both terrestrial and aquatic species. Endosulfan causes neurotoxicity and haematological effects and nephrotoxicity.”

The organochlorine pesticides came from “a leaking shipping container” on Fisherman Islands (map, pdf) which is surrounded by the Moreton Bay Marine Park.

The Bay Journal reports on the 'rapid crowding' of Moreton Bay in the Port of Brisbane.
Already there are a lot of threats to the Moreton Bay Marine Park .There are more horror tales of a 'A Primeval Tide of Toxins' in Moreton Bay.
Hope, the man makes it and the abundant marine wildlife and birds are not harmed.
Links:
- "The European Commission has proposed to amend the annexes to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants by adding endosulfan, a neurotoxic organochlorine insecticide."
- Moreton Bay Marine Park

Hack, mix, distribute and eat – your plastics

Since the beginning of time human beings have utilised the 71 % of the Earth's watery surface to dump their rubbish. What has changed, is the massive population and the nature of the artificial anti-products that are now disposed in the world oceans by individuals and industry. Apart from the cost-effective discarding of 'millions of tonnes of sewage and toxic waste' gigantic amounts of plastic is added. ”80% of marine debris originates from land based sources.” Just the plastic alone floats for hundereds of years on the surface and is distributed/ 'flushed' with the ocean currents to all corners of the globe (map). With time the pellets of domestic and industrial waste develop into ever smaller particles. They are given the cute term: 'Tears of the Mermaid'. These toxic, microscopic particles then enter living organisms in the ocean at all levels. They remain and accumulate in the aquatic and terrestial living beings.The degradation of the entire food-chain is the inheritance left behind.
The issue is unfortuntely not sufficiently important to act on, there have been various reports over the years – all in wane. Some attention is generated now as there is a financial impact on large boats having trouble getting thorough the plastic debris.
More on causes and effects
Disposable Oceans, Greenpeace
Mother Jones defending oceans

Australian birds killed by lead

Thousands of native Australian birds died from ”lead levels up to 10 times higher than a fatal dose.” The toxin lead is cumulative and leads to severe seizures. The human manufactured catastophic event took place in Esperanca, W.A. The area planned “...to ship around 84,000 tons of lead in concentrate from the port to its Chinese customers this year....Lead exports from the port were suspended March 12 after testing of dead birds in the region found a number died of lead poisoning.“
The concerned residents now have their water checked. But as usual "no evidence" can be found...and there is an eerie bird-less silence.
The Canary in the mine...
Lead fact sheet, gov.au
Birds Australia
update:The birds started dying three months ago, ABC
update: 22.3. An expert found that the lead carbonate 'poses a hightened risk to human health'.