SOS 010 // Brake for Whales? Sir, This Is a Superyacht.
Doing Right by Right Whales, Methuseleh had nothing on Greenland Sharks, Vigilante justice Hawaiian style. Plus this week's Ocean Nibbles and SOS Wish List.
Do the Right Thing
What’s in a name? Sometimes it’s utter darkness. Just look at the North Atlantic right whales. Whalers dubbed them the “right” whales to kill because of they move slowly, have a lot of blubber/oil and float when killed. Whaling took their estimated population from 21,000 in pre-whaling days to 100(!) in 1920. Today, there are an estimated 380 North Atlantic right whales in Planet Ocean but vessel strikes and net entanglement continue to quell any possibility of a dramatic rebound. To assist their recovery, there’s currently a Federal speed limit of 10 knots in right whale migration areas for vessels 65’ or longer. Enter Joseph Urbinati, Jr., the owner of a 78’ Princess named “Michele My Belle” (Use that link if you want to charter/sink the Princess). While sailing to its winter home in Florida, the Princess’ hired captain exceeded the speed limit three times resulting in a fine of $22,500. Urbinati is challenging the constitutionality of the current speed limits. Several conservation groups have filed a motion to intervene as defendants in the case, including Whale and Dolphin Conservation, Inc., Center for Biological Diversity, Conservation Law Foundation, and Defenders of Wildlife. It’s good to hear that someone is still doing the right thing.
We’re Gonna Need More Birthday Candles
When a 2016 study found Greenland sharks estimated to be older than America, the internet lost its mind. It’s losing it again. You may have seen recent posts showing a “400-year-old” Greenland shark swimming through the Arctic Sea. Is it true? Julius Nielsen, lead scientist in the 2016 study, has his doubts. Nielsen wants to clarify that his team estimated the age of one shark to be between 272 and 512 years. Click-baity accounts use a video of a Greenland shark taken in 2017, a year after the study concluded, which they claim to be 400 years old. Basically, they calculated the average of the age range estimated by Nielsen as 392 years old and rounded it up to 400. Sure, there are inconsistencies. The depicted shark was not observed by Nielsen and there is no evidence of its age. But Greenland sharks do live a long time and it’s likely there are 400-year-old sharks in Planet Ocean. 95.5% likely, according to Nielsen. Just not the shark we see on Instagram and TikTok.
Not All Heroes Wear Capes
What do you do when you're on vacation in Hawaii and spot an endangered monk seal? If you’re like me, your answers range from give it space to boop its snout. Sometimes it’s hard to resist their adorableness… For tourist Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk, 38, of Covington, Washington, the answer was launching a “coconut-size” rock at it. A video circulating online shows Lytvynchuk at work. Immediately after throwing the rock, the jabroni received justice Hawaiian style when a local hero beat him to the brink of endangerment. The anonymous vigilante was officially recognized by Hawaii Senator Brenton Awa as an “ambassador of aloha.” Awa even suggested that the footage of Lytvynchuk be shown on flights arriving at Hawaii to warn tourists of the consequences of fucking around with local wildlife #FAFO. Federal agents arrested Lytvynchuk last week and charged him with harassing a protected animal 👏
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Ocean Nibbles
🖤 Diving Accident in Maldives. Five divers perished while diving in the Maldives this week. The accident happened while they were exploring a cave at a depth of around 200 feet. The cause is yet to be determined but one theory is their tanks had the wrong gas mix.
🪄 We’re Not in Kansas Anymore. Using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), scientists captured footage of what appears to be a yellow brick road on the deep sea floor.
🎣 Minnesota Man Wrangles a Dinosaur. After an hour-long fight, Travis Keating landed an 80-inch, 165-pound lake sturgeon. As I wrote in SOS 004, sturgeon are living fossils. Imagine this guy’s surprise.
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SOS Wish List
Old Town Sportsman Autopilot 120
Sale Price $3,824.99
This lux fishing kayak by Old Town comes with a Minn Kota with a spot lock function capable of keeping you pinned over a productive bottom feature. Who needs an anchor? The 12’ kayak also comes with comfy seating, ample storage and flush-mount rod holders. Yes, please. Take advantage of this discounted price on Old Town’s site.