[The seals are enduring the consequences of human activity in more
than one way. Is it too much to ask that we give them a chance? ]
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SEALS, SATELLITES, AND DUNG BEETLES — WHAT LINKS THEM?  
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Meena Miriam Yust
January 1, 2023
Common Dreams
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_ The seals are enduring the consequences of human activity in more
than one way. Is it too much to ask that we give them a chance? _

Seal lying on sand amid fishing net and other human debris, (Photo by
NOAA on Unsplash)

 

Imagine hunting for a fish dinner in the middle of the ocean, in the
middle of the night without flashlight, compass, or iPhone . . . and
then to find a way back to land. This is what seals must accomplish on
a regular basis to survive. These pinnipeds, so often seen posing with
a ball balanced perfectly on a whiskered nose or bowing gracefully for
a circus display, have skills that cannot be seen on the stage. In
fact, they give our close relatives the chimpanzees something to envy.

One sign of intelligence is an ability to recognize and respond to
human gestures. Chimpanzees have difficulty doing this. Dogs are one
of a few species capable of doing so. It turns out seals, too, can
recognize human gestures and, surprisingly, perform even better than
dogs at these tasks, as has been demonstrated through research
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The grey seal outshone almost all the other animal contestants.

A dog resting comfortably by the fireplace after a nice meal is a
familiar sight for many of us, and it does not take a stretch of the
imagination to picture a seal doing the same on a bit of rock or sand
after a dinner of fish. The intelligence of the two creatures is
comparable, and to some degree, the look of their furry heads, pointy
noses, and soulful eyes. Perhaps it’s time to extend a little of the
love we feel for our pets to their oceanic counterparts far out in the
sea. There is a good reason.

Seals face many threats in the wild — loss of habitat, loss of food,
pollution, numerous climate change impacts. But there may be a new
one. Seals hunt for food at night and must find their way back to
shore. Studies have demonstrated that harbor seals can navigate
using a lodestar and learned star courses
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vital star map was disrupted?

Low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites are brightly visible in the night
sky, and could interfere with star navigation. SpaceX, the largest
producer of LEO satellites to date, has launched over 3,000 Starlink
satellites with plans to launch as many as 42,000. And while SpaceX is
the the largest producer of LEO satellites, it is not the only one.

Astronomers have raised concerns
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orbit satellites are visible and inhibit scientific research. The
International Association of Astronomers has set up a Centre for the
Protection of the Dark and Quiet Sky from Satellite Constellation
Interference as a response. The astronomer Meredith Rawls has
described the plans of launching thousands more satellites in the
coming years as “an unsustainable trajectory”.

In addition to creating streaks in photos and hampering astronomical
observations, satellites will also handicap creatures like seals,
migratory birds, and even the humble dung beetle, all who use stars
for navigation
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Among birds, Indigo buntings prefer to travel at night during
migration. Scientists studying the buntings found that the birds rely
on star patterns
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determine north. European robins and yellow underwing moths also use
the stars in travel.

If the Milky Way map is disrupted by a projected 65,000 satellites as
is expected in a few years, they will light up the sky. They will not
only affect astronomy research, but may also affect the survival of
many creatures large and small. There are likely many more species
that rely on stars beyond the ones discussed in this article -
scientists have only scratched the surface of star navigation
research.

Global Internet is a necessary purpose, but if it costs species their
lives, then perhaps we could have global internet that is just a tad
slower — with satellites not quite so low in orbit.

There is another aspect of LEO satellites that is a cause for concern.
It is one that threatens not only the survival of other species but
also our own. Starlink satellites burn up in the atmosphere leaving a
residue (aluminum oxide) that reflects sunlight and could deplete the
ozone layer. Furthermore, the full effects of aluminum in the
atmosphere are unknown and could be severe. SpaceX might argue that
meteoroid material comes in every day - but it is made up mostly
of oxygen, magnesium, and silicon
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Satellites, by contrast, are made primarily of aluminum. Aluminum can
burn to reflective aluminum oxide, which may alter the climate to
worsen warming of the planet. Scientists are also concerned that
aluminum oxide could create a hole in the ozone layer.
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As recently as February 2022, about 40 Starlink Satellites burned up
in the atmosphere
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And burning up is the ultimate fate for all of them — all 42,000
plus.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is at present examining
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satellite licensing should require environmental review under the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), but it may take considerable
time, from months to years, for a decision to be reached, and the
decision may not end up affecting satellites already approved and in
space. Since 1986, the FCC has enjoyed a categorical exclusion from
NEPA. One can only hope for a prompt determination that can have a
preventive effect.

An uncontrolled aluminum experiment capable of creating holes in the
ozone layer and exacerbating global warming is highly risky because we
may not have a second chance.

We used to think lead paint was a great idea. Years later, we
discovered health risks and began removing it. The trouble is, if we
find out a few years from now that aluminum is destroying the
atmosphere, we cannot dispense with it as easily as the lead paint.

The seals are enduring the consequences of human activity in more than
one way. Is it too much to ask that we give them a chance?

Meena Miriam Yust is an attorney based in Chicago, Illinois. Educated
at Vassar College and Case Western Reserve University School of Law,
she published a draft Migratory Insect Treaty with commentary in the
Case Western Reserve Journal of International Law.

_Common Dreams is a reader-supported independent news outlet created
in 1997 as a new media model.  Our nonprofit newsroom covers the most
important news stories of the moment. Common Dreams free online
journalism keeps our millions of readers well-informed, inspired, and
engaged._

_We are optimists. We believe real change is possible. But only if
enough well-informed, well-intentioned—and just plain fed up and
fired-up—people demand it. We believe that together we can attain
our common dream.  _

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