Chapter 3 North Carolina’s Species
• Entanglement – Marine species can become entangled in a variety of materials other than active fishing gear, including steel or monofilament line, synthetic or natural rope, or discarded plastic material, often resulting in injuries that can lead to weakened individuals who are more susceptible to death by other factors, or to direct mortalities. • Fisheries – Bycatch of marine organisms occurs in a number of different fisheries, including trawl, purse seine, hook and line, gill net, pound net, long-line, and trap fisheries. When managed properly, these gears can have low mortality or injury rates. Without directed management of fishing gear, these interactions may lead to serious injury or death. • Ingestion of marine debris – Marine species may ingest a variety of potentially harmful debris materials, including plastic bags, balloons, styrofoam, and tar balls. Effects of debris ingestion can include obstructions of the gut, absorption of toxic byproducts, and reduced absorption of nutrients. Microplastic ingestion has been documented in nearly all marine species that have been investigated, although the impacts of this exposure remain poorly understood. • Noise – The impacts of noise from shipping, industrial, construction activities, or military activities on the communication, behavior, and distribution of whales and other marine species remain unknown but are suspected to be significant. • Oil and gas exploration – Oil spills have been shown to impact respiration, blood chemistry, and salt-gland function in sea turtles, not only from exposure to oil but also to dispersants commonly used in response to oil spills. Spills in the vicinity of nesting beaches can place nesting adults, eggs, and hatchlings at significant risk. Oil deposits on the ocean floor can reduce food sources for all marine species and result in ingestion of tar balls. In addition to suffering effects from spills, sea turtles and other marine species can be negatively impacted by seismic surveys, operational discharge containing heavy metals, explosive platform removal (mentioned below), platform lighting, and noise from drill ships and production activities. • Poaching – Illegal harvest of marine species has declined considerably since the development and enforcement of protection regulation; however, arrests are still made for illegal capture and possession of marine species. • Pollution – Pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and heavy metals have been detected in marine species, though levels that result in adverse effects are difficult to quantify.
• Power plant entrainment – Saltwater cooling intake systems at coastal power plants have been reported to entrap marine species, including sea turtles.
2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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