Category: Gulf Coast Seafood

“There are plenty of sea turtles” and other misconceptions

“There are plenty of sea turtles” and other misconceptions

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I posted a photo of a sea turtle caught in a net on Facebook today and it had a link supporting TED’s or Turtle Excluding Devices. Two people connected with the commercial seafood industry cried out in anger saying shrimpers didn’t hurt sea turtles and they loved nature and besides (and I quote) “There are plenty of sea turtles.” After my blood pressure came back to normal and I got really depressed about nature’s continued destruction by humans I decided to do a little research.

First of all, all sea turtles that visit or live in US waters are on the endangered species list. National Marine Fisheries Service cites the following reasons: Destruction/alteration of nesting and foraging habitats (coastal development), incidental capture in commercial and recreational fisheries, entanglement in marine debris and vessel strikes. So while the shrimpers in the Gulf of Mexico may love nature, their nets do kill sea turtles and finned fish and other marine life that cannot escape. This is a known fact.

In 2011 more than 3500 threatened and endangered sea turtles washed up dead on the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts. Only 5 to 6% of dead turtles wash ashore…do the math on the total estimated number of sea turtles killed just last year.

Nets properly equipped with TED’s are proved to be 97% effective in releasing sea turtles. And this comes after trials and rebuilds on the equipment. Very few shrimpers voluntarily used TED’s so laws were put into practice to require some shrimpers to use TED’s.

According to the person that replied to my post, the government is lying about all this. He went on to say that coastal development hurt sea turtles as did other fishing boats who don’t use TED’s and he’s right on both accounts. But I  know of shrimpers that used to shoot sea turtles, years ago, because they would get in their nets. I actually even found one shot and dead on the beach many years ago. Times have changed for sure. Hopefully that kind of behavior is no longer practiced. Now, if someone does that and gets caught they go to prison and lose their boat.

We think that kind of atrocious behavior is in the past but actually on June 21st of this summer, a bottlenose dolphin was found with a screwdriver sticking in its head. It had been reported in Perdido Bay and was still alive but was later discovered dead. So much for humans acting appropriately. Even the fine of up to $100,000 and a year in jail doesn’t deter people who, for whatever reason, cannot temper their inclination for seriously stupid and cruel behavior.

I find myself overwhelmed with emotions of sadness, grief and anger at what we humans are doing to this planet and each other. There are people that care and there are people that refuse to accept responsibility for their behaviors and call it the Will of God if a species goes extinct. So…should we not have doctors and let the problem species of the planet die off? Then everything else would come into balance. Of course not. But oh for a magic pill that would help us all see how our behaviors, thoughts, intentions and actions are destroying the planet and each other.

When I found myself deep in dark emotions this afternoon, I lit and candle and said a prayer for understanding. A few minutes later, while folding clothes, I heard these words: Those that don’t care about the planet and are only concerned about how much wealth they can amass, want you to quit, to give up. They want everyone who is bringing awareness, practicing compassion and love–to wildlife, wild places, and people who are hurting–to give up. Don’t give them the satisfaction. Love deeply, have compassion for all life and continue with the Work.

I replied back to the gentleman and let him know I heard his frustration about developers getting away with anything because they have money. I understand and agree. I also agree that some commercial and recreational fishermen and women follow the rules and some don’t. What I suggested was a dialogue between fishermen and women and National Marine Fisheries and NOAA. Rather than fighting each other and both sides claiming the other is lying, find common ground. Start healthy, sane dialogues. Otherwise we are destined to repeat and perpetuate the same old dysfunctional way of being.

Passion to Proceed

Passion to Proceed

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I am sitting at the counter at my mom’s kitchen gazing out at Mobile Bay. Just a pause before writing.

I’m presenting a program at Gulf Shores Library tomorrow morning and was reviewing my A/V presentations to see which one I’ll use. In reviewing my library of programs one I put together showing the worst part of the oil spill at the Gulf Shores, Alabama area caught my attention. Tears poured down my face as I watched and recalled vividly the heartbreak experienced by so many of us that love this area. And then I felt a surge of passion and love for the Gulf Coast that caused a transcendent moment to spontaneously occur within me. It provided an amazing moment of clarity that sealed the deal, so to speak, for my move back to the Gulf Coast.

Over a decade ago I felt called to return to the Gulf Coast to work but as I stood on the shore with warm, salty waters lapping over my toes, I heard in my mind…’Not yet…but you will know when to return.’

When the oil spill first happened and very often for 18 months, I made the trip from Asheville, NC to coastal Alabama to document…to WITNESS what what happening here. I felt the call to return but I didn’t expect to move back. Little-by-little, however, I felt that this was the big leap needed to fulfill a promise I made to the Gulf those many years ago.

A few months ago I put my mountain home ‘on the market’ and waited. Within these past two weeks everything has begun to come together. Two incredible people have connected with “The Cathedral of Trees” and immediately understood the power of the home and land I have been blessed to call home for over five years. They decided to become the new owners of this special place. And just yesterday, I finalized a contract on a nice cottage home near the Magnolia River that will nurture me and my work as I leap back to the headwaters of my life. The place of my birth.

With every major change in life there comes anxiety and fear and those emotions were doing their best to rattle me. But when I reconnected with the immense love and passion I have for the earth, specifically this area of amazing beauty…my coastal Alabama home…all doubt was erased and the anxiety and fear begin to diminish.

I have dedicated my life to help our beautiful water planet. How thrilled I am to feel doors opening so that I can continue my work here, in this sacred place. There’s a song that has been my theme for this next stage of my life as it unfolds…Homeward Bound….”Set me free to find my calling and I’ll return to you somehow.” My heart is very, very full and I am so grateful.

City of Gulf Shores Allows BP Protestors at National Shrimp Festival

City of Gulf Shores Allows BP Protestors at National Shrimp Festival

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It took an attorney volunteering to help this group of concerned citizens get a permit to peacefully, non-violently gather at the National Shrimp Festival, but Gulf Shores finally gave permission, after turning the group down twice. The attorney pointed out to the city that they have a constitutional right to peacefully assemble. Legalities….

So if you happen to be at the National Shrimp Festival at Gulf Shores, AL please be sure to check out Lifeguard Stand #2 and learn more about what’s REALLY happening to the Gulf of Mexico, its beaches and wildlife. Those slick BP ads are simply not giving both sides of the story.

Pelicans, Turnstones, Monarchs and Masses of Fish

Pelicans, Turnstones, Monarchs and Masses of Fish

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There was quite a gathering of wildlife this morning at Ft. Morgan Beach. Just offshore from the point of land where Mobile Bay and the Gulf of Mexico meet, more than 300 pelicans gathered as large schools of fish swam in the shallows. Snowy egrets, gulls, terns, turnstones, sanderlings, and humans fishing, made for quite a beautiful experience at the beach.

So many pelicans were dive-bombing fish schools that it appeared to be a tangle of wings, feathers and pouches as they feasted. Monarch butterflies were launching from the beach probably hoping to ride the north wind to Mexico. I don’t know how they dodged the mass of brown feathers and webbed feet whirling through the sky but they did. I watched as they fluttered furiously, miraculously missing what I thought was certain dunking from ravenous birds.

About 85% of the mass of pelicans was first-year birds. Very few adults were present. It was Fishing 101 for young pelicans.

Other shorebirds in attendance didn’t get in the way of the pouched-wonders. Sandwich and royal terns, laughing gulls, great blue herons, snowy egrets and ruddy turnstones all enjoyed the buffet but stayed carefully out of the way of the mass of large birds.

One of the humans present threw out a cast net and completely filled it with fish. So many that he couldn’t bring the net to the beach. I’m not sure what was the cause but something was creating this mass of fish in shallow waters. But birds and humans weren’t the only ones enjoying it. Several bottlenose dolphin arrived to claim their fare share.

I sat quietly on the beach, photographing in amazement. I finally stopped and just watched, witnessed the unique experience. It was great seeing so many pelicans and fish and I truly hope that chemical exposure from the oil spill won’t kill future generations as it moves through the DNA. We don’t know what the future holds really. But for today, I enjoyed the absolute beauty of this beach and its lively residents.

What Spill?

What Spill?

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“That’s just not the kind of thing we want to carry,” said the manager at the gift shop at a local chain of restaurants in the Gulf Shores, Alabama area. She was referring to my illustrated kid’s book, The Gulf Oil Spill Story. Kids love it, school librarians and teachers do as well. So what’s with this manager? I read between the lines—we don’t carry oil-spill related anything—but thought perhaps I was exaggerating.

Gulf Shores hosts the National Shrimp Festival each year. This year a group of environmentally aware and concerned citizens want to march in the parade to show support of the Gulf and to let people know that the oil spill is still a serious concern here. The City of Gulf Shores is DENYING THEM A PERMIT. How can they do that? These are not violent people. They simply want others to know and remember what continues to happen to the environment here and stop pretending like the largest oil spill in US History didn’t happen here.

The Grand Festival of Arts and Books was in Fairhope, Alabama. The book portion was sponsored by Page and Palette, a local bookstore who is heavily involved in the community. They invited me to participate in their celebration of locally-authored children’s books. Page and Palette and the staff there are educating, informing and encouraging people to be aware of what’s happening in their community by inviting authors that share environmental messages with kids.

I understand that merchants do not want tourists to have images like this in mind when planning vacations. I know they want to increase revenue and make more money every year. That’s how our economy functions in the take-as-much-as-you-can-get-at-any-cost economy. Is it too much to expect from business owners to also have a conscience? To care about telling the truth? To actually use an event like the spill to educate their customers?

I have a friend in Gulf Shores. Eydie and her husband own <em>Printing Zone and have my books for sale in their shop. She has been dedicated to helping get my work into the community and school there. She’s standing up for the beautiful environment because of her love of nature and her concern. My childhood friend, Leslie Flowers, has my books for sale in her hair salon in Magnolia Springs. She cares, too.

It’s people like Eydie and Leslie and businesses like Printing Zone and Page and Palette that make a difference in the world. Teachers that care, librarians that care…you all are my heros! Writers like me and other independent writers depend on compassionate, caring, environmentally responsible and aware businesses, schools and individuals to help get the Work out into the world.

I’m weary of mayors, tourism boards and businesses here on the Gulf Coast who fear the truth, who think that if tourists know the truth they’ll stop coming here and who are working diligently to deny that the oil spill ever happened. These are the same officials who last year refused to close beaches, where children were routinely playing in crude oil, because as the Orange Beach mayor stated, “There’s no law against stupid.”

I envision there being room for profit and truth. What about you?

To order my children’s book on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill that happened on the Gulf Coast of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida please visit my web site OR buy it locally at Printing Zone, Page and Palette or Magnolia Hair Center.

© Simone Lipscomb 2023