We’ve come full circle now, and anglers around Melbourne are incensed that trout are about to be purged from Australian waters.

The popular game fish has been declared an alien species and put on a hit-list for eradication in a move that has outraged anglers.

Trout would be culled from major Victorian rivers such as the Murray, Goulburn and Yarra, despite the Brumby Government pouring about 400,000 trout into our waterways each year.

Native fish recovery means the trout are interlopers and will be removed from the watershed. An interesting quandary, as we’ve studied all the things necessary to promote trout habitat, now we’ll see how resilient the species is when systematically purged.

Trout were introduced in Australia in the 1870’s, similar well meaning anglers did likewise in California and other parts of the US, pushing the native trout out of most of the watershed.

Is this the start of something larger? Genetic manipulation of crops and animals have been front page news for some time, will this be championed by the eco-radicals into something bigger, a return to historical species and populations, despite many of the original strains extinct or hybridized?

Nothing surprises me anymore.

Technorati Tags: trout pests, native fish recovery, australia

The grocery clerk was ill prepared for Singlebarbed repartee, he’d asked whether I wanted “paper or plastic,” and I’d responded, ” choose between a Pterodactyl or a pine tree? You pick, let the guilt be on your conscience.. ”

From now on I’ll be much gentler, he still percolates his coffee, mine has the bark on..

I’ll decimate Pine trees until something worse happens. Reading an article on the North Pacific Gyre, aided my resolve to get all my groceries in paper. Even a hardened fisherman can have a twinge of conscience as we’ve done it to ourselves. The “Gyre” is roughly the “center” of the Pacific Ocean, bounded by Asia, Australia, and North America, that serves as an airless meeting point for the coastal currents. It’s the Elephant Graveyard of Plastic, a soup of castoff consumer plastics the size of Texas.

Traditional plastics don’t degrade, they just get brittle – and over time the ocean is filled with tiny plastic fragments that linger on the surface, brightly colored bits of debris that lure birds and fish into feeding on them.

It’s pretty damn disgusting to contemplate, eyewitness accounts describe, “a half mile of Taco Bell wrappers” they had to sail through. Most of the debris is washed into the ocean via normal winter rains, it’s not simply a case of wanton garbage disposal, more of a phenomenon induced by the longevity of the material. “Every piece of plastic ever made is still here..”

Revenge of the Pterodactyl, I’ll take my chances with the Pine tree..

(YouTube video available here)

Technorati Tags: North Pacific Gyre, ocean of plastic, pterodactyl

Recent data from the Millennium Assessment suggests that there’s some unseen agents at work contributing to the decline of historic wildlife populations and species. Man is the root cause, but the conversion of land to agrarian usage replaces resident wildlife with an artificial ecosystem that is less diverse.

Scientists suggest the increased conversion of land in developing countries is assisting in the demise of native species due to a double stressor; domestic plants and animals are removed, and new commercial species are introduced. Historic populations fall and the commercial species compete with what’s left.

Sampling of these areas suggest that what survives is both smaller and fewer.

Genetic diversity is on the decline worldwide across all species; plants, animals, and fish. Research suggests that diversity is one of the least understood effects, as the loss of one species usually accelerates the rise, or fall, of others.

The rise of democratic governments has opened additional areas to trade, and with trade comes the same species everyone else is using for grains and meats; commercial crops are becoming less diverse as well, an issue of equal concern.

It’s an interesting read, suggesting that we need to set aside additional “preserves” on land and sea, to ensure our continued well being.

Technorati Tags: genetic diversity, Millennium Assessment

It’s the classic case of Good News and Bad News, maybe…

It’s all still theoretical but evidence is mounting that women will take over the world shortly, I’m not sure which news that is, but scientists are beginning to scratch their collective chins over the subject.

Half as many boys as girls are being born in some places around the world—and pollution is the prime suspect.

Guys have had ample opportunity to save the world, history would suggest their track record isn’t so good. We had fun shooting the place up, stomping the guts out of anyone smaller than us, and pissing on the remainder – maybe it’s time we took a window seat and let the gals fight over us for a change?

Studies of the effects of Estrogen in urban wastewater have determined that it can affect sex characteristics in fish populations, and that male fish are more susceptible to estrogen pollutants than female fish.

While not specifically tied together all of the data suggests men are more susceptible to a pollution cocktail then women, as a result we can expect less of us.

The angling industry will be the last to know, but the fantasy of meeting Miss Right while arse deep in a river, is mathematically more likely. I’ll overlook the reality that they won’t like fat old guys, but it’s a brief ray of sunlight for the rest of you young pricks angling fraternity.

The question remains unanswered, is this caused by our wallowing  in pollution daily, while the Missus looks on, alternately crinkling her nose or offering encouragement? Next time the toilet overflows, hand her the plunger – the life you save may be your own.

Technorati Tags: estrogen, birth rate, women are smarter