Dungeness crabs are important animals for fishermen up here in southeast Alaska. However, there is increasing concern that fishermen are going to have to compete more and more with another predator: the sea otter! Students at UAF are looking into this relationship between predators and their prey (mentioned briefly here), and had an opportunity to make a short film about the potential conflict.
What do you think?
What do you think?
I was thinking that was really well done, showing both sides of the issue fairly, when Adam's name popped up! Good job, Adam! It does sound like a tricky issue because the ecosystem worked itself into a new balance without the otters, and now that they are back finding a new balance is probably going to take some time. And it seems to me that the fisheries are going to have to take a hit, much like an older sibling when a baby comes into the family. I am glad that they are back, though. They are so cute!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Amelia! I was very proud of his and Sean's work! It is a very tricky situation (quite a bit more contentious than sibling rivalries!), but I really think (hope?) that managers, fishermen, and southeast Alaskans as a whole can work together on this issue of sustaining a fishery but including sea otters in the ecosystem.
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