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Sea lions sickness might be result of starvation, not radiation

Starvation, Not Radiation Likely Cause of Ailing Sea Lion Pups: Expert By Monica Garske, Apr 7, 2013 More than 1,000 ailing sea lion pups have been washed ashore in Southern California over the past three months, and a national fisheries expert says a lack of food source is likely the cause, not radiation as reported by some media outlets.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has assembled a team of experts to research the cause of the beached sea lion pup problem.

NOAA has been granted an official declaration of what’s called an Unusual Mortality Event (UME). The status allows for the establishment of a panel of experts to convene to look for answers and will also provide for extra funding.

On Thursday, NOAA held a conference to discuss that research. Experts said the leading hypothesis their panel is looking at focuses on a lack of food source, starvation and dehydration. Other potential causes being studied include possible infectious diseases or pollutants in the ocean.

Experts believe pups are being affected in greater numbers than adult sea lions because they are limited in how far they can travel and unfamiliar with the environment.

Over the weekend, some news outlets reported that radiation from Japan’s March 2011 Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster is also being looked at as a possible cause for the UME concerning sea lion pups……

“Radiation is being looked at, just like everything else. We haven’t ruled it out, but we really don’t suspect this at all,” Milbury told NBC 7. “We don’t suspect radiation because this would also mean other animals in the ocean would be affected, especially in the oceans of Hawaii, closer to Japan, and we haven’t seen any of that.”Milbury says the more plausible cause is simply starvation…..  http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Starvation-Not-Radiation-Likely-Cause-Sick-Sea-Lion-Pups-NOAA-201844981.html#ixzz2PuGOCdw0

April 8, 2013 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | radiation