Dolphins Dying at Record Rate off East Florida

By Hardy Jones

Bottlenose dolphins are dying at a record rate in Brevard and Volusia Counties on the east coast of Florida. So far this year fifty one dolphins have been found stranded. In the entire year of 2009 the corpses of 55 dolphins were recovered in the same area.

Scientists from Hubbs Sea World Research Institute report they have no clue as to what is causing this unusual mortality event (UME).

Fifteen of these dolphins were found in the Indian River Lagoon, a body of water known to have high concentration of contamination that originates in the Agricultural lands around Lake Okeechobee. Recent studies have shown dolphins from the IRL (as well as Charleston Harbor) have severely compromised immune systems.

Current Threatens to Carry Oil to Keys

A current, associated with the Gulf Stream, has been found to be carrying oil from the Deepwater Horizon oil blowout disaster. The so-called Loop Current will move the oil southeast and towards the Florida Keys and Cuba.

BlueVoiceBreakingNews will track the oil spill, focusing on its impact on whales and dolphins. Many other excellent organizations are focusing on other areas.

We will not only cover direct impact on whales and dolphins but on the impact of toxic hydrocarbons on the long term health of these animals which are sentinels of ocean health.