Posted on 05/24/2023 12:23:11 PM PDT by DallasBiff
In really upsetting and disturbing news, the entire population of black sea urchins in Eilat was wiped out over a couple of months. This is an environmental and ecological disaster, not to mention something that will surely harm the tourism industry in Israel’s southernmost city.
Eilat is known for its coral reef. The reef is located down the shore from the city, about half of the way to the border with the Sinai. Black Sea urchins live around reefs. They come out at night and are best known for their long black and sharp spines like those on a porcupine. Bathers are warned not to touch them as their sting is painful.
Sea urchins in general, and black sea urchins specifically, are considered key species essential for the healthy functioning of coral reefs. Following the discovery of their deaths, an urgent report describing the current situation was submitted to the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, and emergency steps for saving the coral reef are now being considered
(Excerpt) Read more at jewishbusinessnews.com ...
I read the whole article & they appear to be ruling out pollution. The die off is very wide spread around the Med so it’s not a local toxic waste discharge.
Reparations will take care of the problem. I am starting a pre-distribution signup list for people who identify as a black sea urchin to receive reparations. Getting on the list requires a $10,000 deposit which will be refunded when reparations are distributed.
Please make your deposit checks out to “CASH”
-Reverend Al “Shape-Shifter” Sharpton.
Just the other day there was a show about the plague of urchins off the CA coast I think. It was doom for all the other species because nothing could be done to control them. Now this about urchins disappearing completely. Maybe California can get the recipe for dispatching sea urchins from the Israelis!
No Dr. F., you idiot, the new plague was supposed to kill all black street urchins, not sea urchins!
"I found myself on top of him face to face with the blow-hole. I could barely see from all of the waves crashing down on top of me but I knew something was there so I reached my hand and pulled out the obstruction!"
Cool. Sounds like swimming there just got a lot safer.
Thanks. Everyone has a story. My brother is good at getting people to tell their story. Has never met a stranger.
Nature just thinning out the crowd. That's what it does....
Back in the early 90's at a metro park near me, the raccoon population had exploded and nature doing what it does best, infected the population with a form of distemper. While playing the golf course there, we encountered a half dozen raccoons wandering aimlessly, infected with the disease.
They are pretty sure it is a disease. Apparently it was first noticed in the Mediterranean, where invasive species of Urchin suddenly died off.
= = =
Calling Fauci.
Gin up an mRNA real quick (paid for with billions of govt $) and VAX all those Urchins!
Should have evolved to wear masks.
Euell Gibbons Must be sad: “ … ever eat a sea urchin? Many parts are edible…”
“Tastes like wild hickory nuts.”
Could have been a disease since it’s only effecting one species.
This discussion reminds of the mysterious mass die-offs of (mostly) Asian Carp below some of the TVA dams. (I believe there is a current episode of this below Barkley and KY Dams @ present.)
Various diseases were suspected, but it turned out the culprit was “over-oxygenation” of the tailwaters during large water releases in the springtime. The carp’ gills can’t handle the high oxygen levels.
The negative is tens of thousands of large fish dying in a “touristy” area. Phew!
The positive is that it is an invasive and harmful species taking the hit. And, I’m sure the catfish love it. I’d not be at all surprised if one of those tailwaters or downstream produces a record blue, channel, or flathead catfish one of these days...
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