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Oregon Coast under Siege by Invaders

03 Friday Aug 2012

Posted by admin in General

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beach, invasive, japan, oregon, species, tsunami

The tsunami that devastated Japan over a year ago was an incomprehensible disaster for Japan. The consequences there will not be fully understood for many years. Unfortunately, some of the danger is landing on the Oregon Coast.

The 66 foot floating dock that washed up on Agate Beach in Newport brought danger with it. First of all, it arrived without having been detected. This could have been a tragedy for a fishing boat or any other boat that inadvertently got in its path. Coastal residents are being encouraged to quickly collect and dispose of any debris they see. So far there is no system in place for tracking things like the dock. Fishermen in particular are concerned about what would happen at night when they would not be able to see something in the water. Lives might be lost.

The other serious concern is the very real possibility that invasive species carried by the debris will thrive along Oregon’s Coast. Approximately 13 pounds of living organisms were found by Oregon State University’s Hatfield Marine Science Center scientists. The scientists found living barnacles, mussels, starfish, urchins, anemones, worms, limpets, snails, and algae – dozens of species. Scientists identified 30 species of plants and animals attached to the dock and there could easily been more. Workers from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife moved quickly to remove and bury as much as they could scrape off the dock. Once that task was complete, they used blow torches to burn off whatever remained.

Most of the creatures and plants found are native to Asia. No one knows whether or not they could live in Oregon’s waters, but they survived over a year in the open ocean. Although the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife moved quickly to remove the non-native organisms, it may have been too late before the dock even reached the shore. The organisms and their eggs or larvae may have gotten into Oregon waters as the dock came on shore.

Plus there are other ways for invasive organisms to get to Oregon. For instance, they could arrive in the ballast water that ships use to keep balanced. Water is pumped into the hulls of ships at their port of origin, and discharged when they arrive at their destination. This water could easily contain invasive species since it is not treated in any way. As long as we continue to import goods by sea, there will be danger that either in their ballast water or attached to their surfaces they will bring invasive species.

The organism the scientists found on the dock appeared to be not only healthy, but also reproducing. Among the organism were three that have caused serious problems in other places: Northern Pacific star fish, Japanese shore crabs, and brown algae (used to make miso soup). These three invaders alone could devastate local sea life along the Oregon Coast.

The organisms arriving from Japan could have a horrible impact on the ecology of the Oregon Coast. Hopefully, unlike the horror of the tsunami the killed so many people in Japan, there will be no loss of human life.
Article written by Mary Boyer

For more information about the invasive species that are coming ashore on the Oregon Coast check out these resources.
http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_21177698/gary-griggs-our-ocean-backyard-invasion-from-sea
http://articles.latimes.com/2012/jun/14/nation/la-na-nn-tsunami-species-20120614
http://topics.oregonlive.com/tag/invasive%20species/index.html

Japan Tsunami Debris This Summer on Oregon Beaches

15 Friday Jun 2012

Posted by admin in Outdoor Location

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beach walk, debris, dock, glass float, japan, summer, tsunami

Visitors to the Oregon Coast this summer have the chance of encountering debris that is starting to show up off shore and on the beaches of Oregon. While the initial debris that is showing up is likely only the start of what is to come as the currents carry the items closer to shore. While much of the debris will be indistinguishable junk such as foam and other chunks of plastic.

Already a very large dock coated with non native species washed ashore near Newport, Or. this is an example of the strange and large sized items that are floating out in the ocean from this devestating disaster and is a reason for boaters to be careful this summer when navigating the water offshore. Japanese Dock Infomration

Some fisherman have been reporting large tracts of debris in the water as well, as finding one of the more prized finds a green glass fishing float.

Keep your eyes open when making your favorite early morning beach walking and you might stumble onto something that has come adrift. For more information on the tsunami debris off the coast.

Remember that the debris from the tsunami is a real representation of the absolute destruction that was caused across the Pacific in Japan and many of the things washing ashore were part of peoples lives and means to earn a lively hood. Check out the story below about a man that lost his motorcycle during the tsunami and the people that found it washed up on their shore were able to track him down.

Of course the random glass float with no numbers or names is something that you can just keep and treasure as a reminder of the power of nature if you are ever so lucky to score the ultimate beach combing prize.

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