Lögberg-Heimskringla - 17.09.1999, Side 3

Lögberg-Heimskringla • Föstudagur 17. september 1999 • 3
Placing a net actoss the bay where Keiko now lives will give him a larger area to swim and do his acrobatics.
Photo:. Morgunblaðið/Kristinn
Sustainable use of the ocean vital
SELF-SUSTAINING UTILIZATION OF
the oceans’ resources is a key
factor in shaping the future,
according to Jean Michel Cousteau,
president of Ocean Futures Institute. He
maintains that in politics and business
short-term solutions rule the day. As a
result, institutions such as the one he
heads are essential to ensure the welfare
of our descendants.
The French scientist, Jean Michel
Cousteau, visited Iceland recently. Mr.
Cousteau is president of the Ocean
Futures coalition, which was formed
earlier this year by joining an institute
named by him and the Free Willy Keiko
Foundation. Mr. Cousteau spent some
time in the Westman Islands where he
observed the orca whale, Keiko, and
talked to his caregivers.
When asked about Keiko, Cousteau
said that Keiko’s adjustment to his envi-
ronment in the ocean at Klettsvík had
gone very well; that the whale was in
good health and making progress. The
development is slow, but moving surely
in the right direction. Keiko has now
spent eleven months at Klettsvík. The
winter proved difficult and tested the
equipment, but everything went well.
Now it is time to begin preparations for
the next step towards making Keiko
independent and ready to live in the
wild again. Among things on the agen-
da is strengthening the outfitting for the
winter and to set up a net to close the
bay where Keiko lives. This will make
it possible to let Keiko out of the pen
and give him a much larger space to
swim around and explore. Preparation
for this will begin in the next weeks and
the job will possibly be completed this
fall or else next spring.
AHowed to go free
OUSTEAU SAID THE NEXT STEP AFTER
that was to let Keiko go free out to
sea. A part of the preparation for that
was to study the ocean around the
Islands. For example, they had seen a
pod of 50-75 orca whales travelling
around the Islands and the question is
whether these were home grounds to
these orca whales or whether they were
only moving by. Scientists are studying
various aspects in this regard, as well as
working on equipment to fasten around
Keiko’s neck which would make it pos-
sible to trace his movements out on the
ocean and come to his assistance if need
be. “In all this we are not only studying
Keiko but also whales in general and
perhaps orca whales in particular. We
do not know much. For example, little
is known about the number of orca
whales and their behavior in the North
Atlantic Ocean,” Cousteau said.
When asked about the formation of
the coalition the Ocean Futures Society
and its goal, Cousteau said that the
coalition had been established to make
the work more effective and to save on
expenses. The coalition’s projects were
mainly in five areas. First of all the
work of the institute was aimed at ocean
mammals. They wanted to increase
understanding of the environment and
living conditions of ocean mammals as
they were a good measuring stick on the
condition of the oceans.
Another area of concem is the
water quality. This does not only
include salt water, but also fresh water.
He mentioned for example that in his
youth he had been able to drink water
almost anywhere without paying for it,
but today people must pay for their
drinking water. To him this was a sign
how serious the situation is, yet little is
done to improve the situation.
The coalition’s third project is pro-
tection of coastlines and shallow waters
areas and their biology, which are
endangered, for example by all the poi-
son which is constantly dumped into the
oceans. The biological life in shallow
areas and at the coasts is very varied
and very important to the biological
chain in the oceans, as well as to multi-
tudes of birds staying there for shorter
or longer periods.
The coalition’s fourth project is
their struggle to protect coral reefs
worldwide. Twelve percent of coral
reefs in the tropics have already been
destroyed and that number could now
be up to twenty percent, as they have
been greatly destroyed in the last two to
three years, and biological life is
nowhere as varied as at the coral reefs.
The fifth area of focus was fishing
and fish farming. No one is overseeing
the utilization of fishing grounds which
invites misuse, which leads to overfish-
ing’. The dream is, if possible, to coordi-
nate fishing worldwide in an intelligent
manner. Fishing would have to be con-
ducted by self-sustaining methods, as
otherwise it would be ruined. The same
is true for the utilization of whale stocks
which should be based on self-sustain-
ing utilization of the stocks.
Cousteau added that in the world of
business and politics people think in
short terms. He said he was not making
accusations, it was the nature of busi-
ness and politics to stmggle with that
which is close at hand, rather than that
which will happen in twenty years. As a
result, institutions such as his were
formed, coalitions which seek to protect
future interests, in order to hand them
over to our children in no worse shape
than what we received and preferably
better. “We have a mission to protect
people’s well-being, both those not yet
bom and those who are not in position
to express their will through democratic
elections. I want them to know that they
have an opportunity to have influence,
and although much has been done the
projects ahead are endless,” Cousteau
said.
Translated from Morgunblaðið
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