Ukufuna iMeko eNgcwele yeAleutian Islands Archipelago

NguMark J. Spalding kunye Catharine Cooper

Inguqulelo ye le bhulogi yafakwa kuqala kwisiza esincinci seNational Geographic's Ocean Views

Umgama oziikhilomitha ezingama-4,405 ukusuka ekubanjweni kwezandla eWashington DC kukho ityathanga elirhabaxa leziqithi ezintle ezicenga ukubandakanywa kweNdawo eNgcwele yaseLwandle. Ukusuka kwincam ye-Alaskan peninsula, iZiqithi zeAleutian zilikhaya kwenye yezona zinto zityebileyo kunye nezona zivelisa izinto eziphilayo zaselwandle, kwaye yenye yezona zilwanyana zanyisayo zaselwandle, iintaka zolwandle, iintlanzi kunye noonokrwece emhlabeni. Iziqithi ezingama-69 (ezinentaba-mlilo ezili-14 ezinkulu nezincinane ezingama-55) zenza umgama oziikhilomitha ezili-1,100 ukuya kuSingasiqithi weKamchatka eRashiya, yaye zahlula uLwandle iBering kuLwandlekazi lwePasifiki.

Nali ikhaya leentlobo ezininzi ezisemngciphekweni wokuphela, kuquka iingonyama zolwandle iSteller, iiotter zaselwandle, ialbatross enemisila emfutshane, kunye neminenga enehumpback. Nazi iindawo zokudlula ezibonelela ngeepaseji zokuhamba ezibalulekileyo kuninzi lweminenga engwevu yehlabathi kunye ne-Northern fur seal, ezisebenzisa iipasi ukufikelela kwiindawo zokutya kunye nokuzala. Nali ikhaya lezona ntlobo-ntlobo zeekorale zamanzi abandayo ezaziwayo ehlabathini. Nantsi inkqubo yendalo eye yaxhasa iimfuno zokuphila zabantu bomthonyama baselunxwemeni baseAlaska kwiminyaka eyiwaka.

Phezulu, i-screech yokhozi olunempandla. Emanzini, kuthontsiza isandi somnenga we-humpback. Mgama, imisi yomsi inyuka ngokugoso phezu kweentaba-mlilo eziqhumayo. Elunxwemeni, kukho amawa aluhlaza kunye neentlambo ezisemazantsi eenduli ezitshiswe likhephu.

Xa uthi krwaqu, le ntlango ikhangeleka icocekile, injalo, ingachatshazelwanga yintshabalalo echaphazela iibhodi zolwandle ezinabemi abaninzi. Kodwa abo bahlala, basebenzayo, okanye baphanda kule ndawo baye babona utshintsho olumangalisayo kule minyaka ingama-25 idlulileyo.

Olunye lolona tshintsho lubonakalayo kwi-ecosystem yaselwandle ibe yilahleko okanye kufutshane nokuphela kweentlobo ezininzi, kubandakanywa iingonyama zolwandle zaseSteller kunye neeotter zaselwandle. Ezi zilwanyana zanyisayo zikhanya bubomvu ukuya kubomvu bumdaka elwandle ngaxesha lithile zazibonakala phantse kuzo zonke iindawo ezingaphandle kwamatye. Kodwa amanani abo ehle nge-75% phakathi kuka-1976 kunye no-1990, kwaye ehla ngenye i-40% phakathi kuka-1991 kunye no-2000. I-Sea otter populations esondele kwi-100,000 ngo-1980 yehlile yangaphantsi kwe-6,000.

Kwakhona kulahlekile kumfanekiso ococekileyo wekhonkco le-Aleutian yinkosi yoononkala kunye ne-shrimp, izikolo ze-silvery smelt, kunye namahlathi ashinyeneyo angaphantsi kwe-kelp. Ookrebe, ipollock kunye neeurchins ngoku zilawula kula manzi. Ebizwa ngokuba “lutshintsho lwenkqubo” nguGeorge Estes we-US Geological Survey, ibhalansi yexhoba kunye nerhamncwa linyusiwe.

Nangona lo mmandla ukude kwaye unabemi abambalwa, ukuthunyelwa kweenqanawa kwiZiqithi zaseAleutian kuyanda, kwaye ubutyebi bendalo balo mmandla buqhubeka buxhatshazwa kakhulu kushishino lokuloba. Ukuchitheka kwe-oyile kwenzeka rhoqo ngendlela eyoyikisayo, kaninzi ayixelwa, kwaye amaxesha amaninzi kubangela umonakalo ongenakulungiseka. Ummandla uhleli kunzima ukufikelela kuwo, kwaye kukho izithuba ezibalulekileyo zedatha kuphando olunxulumene nolwandle. Isidingo sokuqonda ngcono i-ecosystem yaselwandle ibalulekile ukuze kulawulwe kakuhle kwaye kulungiswe imingcipheko yexesha elizayo.

Ndaqala ukuzibandakanya noluntu lokusingqongileyo Alaskan 2000. Njengentloko yeNkqubo Alaska Oceans, Ndanceda ukuyila amaphulo eziliqela ukujongana neengxaki ezichaphazela indawo - ezifana imfuneko ukuseka imida engcono ezantsi trawling ezantsi kuLwandle Bering - kuba iAlaska Conservation Foundation. Siye sanceda ukuxhasa amacebo asekelwe kwi-ikhosistim-based advocacy ukuze kuphuculwe ulawulo lwezokuloba, ukwandisa iinkqubo zolwazi lokufunda nolwandle, sakhuthaza ukuyilwa kweShipping Safety Partnership, saze sakhuthaza iinzame zamazwe ngamazwe nezesizwe zokhetho oluzinzileyo lokutya kwaselwandle. Sakha i-Alaska Oceans Network, ebonelela ngonxibelelwano olwabelwanayo phakathi kwamaqela olondolozo afana ne-Oceana, i-Ocean Conservancy, i-Earthjustice, i-World Wildlife Fund, i-Alaska Marine Conservation Council, kunye neTrasti zase-Alaska. Kwaye ngalo lonke elo xesha, besikhangela iindlela apho umnqweno woluntu lwase-Aleutian ngekamva lolwandle oluzinzileyo unokuvunywa kwaye ubhiyozelwe.

Namhlanje, njengommi ochaphazelekayo kunye ne-CEO ye-Ocean Foundation (TOF), ndijoyina ekufuneni ukutyunjwa kwe-Aleutian Islands National Marine Sanctuary (AINMS). Ibekwe ngaBaqeshwa bakaRhulumente kuXanduva lweNdalo, kwaye isayinwe yiZiko lezoNzululwazi zeBiological, iBhunga loLondolozo lwe-Eyak, iZiko loBugcisa baManzi, iNorth Gulf Oceanic Society, i-TOF, kunye neMizamo yaseLwandle, indawo engcwele iya kunika amanqanaba ongezelelweyo okhuseleko ezininzi izoyikiso ezijongene namanzi aseAleutian. Onke amanzi ajikeleze iziqithi ze-Aleutian Islands - ukusuka kwi-3 ukuya kwiikhilomitha ezingama-200 emantla nakumazantsi eziqithi - ukuya kumhlaba we-Alaska kunye namanzi adibeneyo aphuma kwiZiqithi zePribilof kunye neBristol Bay, acetywayo ukuba aqukwe. Le ndawo ingcwele izakubandakanya indawo ekude nonxweme emalunga ne-554,000 yeekhilomitha zee-nautical miles (nm2), eya kuba ngowona mmandla mkhulu okhuselweyo waselwandle, kwaye yenye yezona ndawo zinkulu emhlabeni.

Ukuba ama-Aleutians afanele ukukhuselwa ukususela kwi-1913, xa uMongameli uTaft, ngoMyalelo oLawulayo, waseka "i-Aleutian Islands Reserve njengoLondolozo lweeNyoni, iZilwanyana kunye neeNtlanzi." Ngo-1976, i-UNESCO yamisela i-Aleutian Islands Biosphere Reserve, kunye ne-1980 Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) yaseka i-Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge kunye ne-1.3 yezigidi zeehektare ze-Aleutian Islands Wilderness.

Nokuba ezi zibizo, ii-Aleutians zifuna ukukhuselwa ngakumbi. Ezona zoyikiso ziphambili kwi-AINMS ecetywayo kukuloba ngokugqithisileyo, uphuhliso lwe-oyile negesi, iintlobo ezihlaselayo, kunye nokwanda kweenqanawa. Imiphumo ekhulayo yokutshintsha kwemozulu izenza zibe mandundu ngakumbi ezi zoyikiso zine. Amanzi oLwandle lwaseBering/iZiqithi zeAleutian aneasidi ngakumbi kunawo nawaphi na amanye amanzi aselwandle emhlabeni, ngenxa yokufunxwa kweCO2, kunye nokubuya komkhenkce wolwandle kutshintshe ubume bendawo yokuhlala yale ngingqi.

UMthetho weSizwe weeNdawo zaseLwandle (i-NMSA) waphunyezwa ngo-1972 ukukhusela iindawo zokuhlala ezibalulekileyo zaselwandle kunye neendawo ezikhethekileyo zolwandle. Iindawo ezingcwele zilawulwa ngeenjongo ezininzi, ngaphandle kokuba ukusetyenziswa kuthathwa njengokuhambelana nokukhuselwa kwezibonelelo nguNobhala wezoRhwebo, omisela ngenkqubo yoluntu ukuba yeyiphi imisebenzi eya kuvunyelwa kwaye yiyiphi imimiselo eya kusetyenziswa kwizinto ezahlukeneyo.

I-NMSA yagunyaziswa kwakhona ngo-1984 ukuba iquke iimpawu "zembali" kunye nexabiso "lenkcubeko" kwiinkxalabo zokusingqongileyo. Oku kwandise ubizo oluphambili lweendawo ezingcwele zokugcina ubutyebi baselwandle ngaphaya kwe-ikholoji, ulonwabo, imfundo, uphando okanye imilinganiselo yobuhle.

Ngezoyikiso ezikhulayo kumanzi ase-Aleutian, iinjongo ezicetywayo ze-Aleutian Islands Marine National Marine Sanctuary zezi:

1. Khusela iintaka zaselwandle, izilwanyana zaselwandle, neendawo ezihlala iintlanzi, kwaye ubuyisele abantu kunye nokomelela kwemekobume yolwandle;
2. Khusela kwaye uphucule indlela yokuphila yaselwandle yaseAlaska;
3. Khusela kwaye uphucule amashishini okuloba amaphenyane amancinci;
4. Chonga, ubeke iliso, kwaye ukhusele iindawo zokuhlala ezizodwa eziselwandle, kuquka iikorale zamanzi abandayo;
5. Ukunciphisa imingcipheko yokusingqongileyo kwiinqanawa, kubandakanywa nokuchitheka kwe-oyile kunye nemithwalo eyingozi, kunye nokuhlaselwa kweenqanawa ze-whale;
6. Ukuphelisa imingcipheko yokusingqongileyo kuphuhliso lwe-oyile nerhasi elunxwemeni;
7. Ukubeka iliso nokulawula imingcipheko yokuqaliswa kweentlobo ezihlaselayo zaselwandle;
8. Ukunciphisa nokulawula inkunkuma yaselwandle;
9. Ukuphucula uphuhliso lokhenketho lwaselwandle; kwaye
10. Ukuphucula ukuqonda kwenzululwazi kummandla.

Ukusekwa kwendawo engcwele kuya kwandisa amathuba ophando kwinzululwazi yaselwandle, imfundo kunye nokuxabisa okusingqongileyo elwandle, kwaye kuncede ukuvelisa ukuqonda okucacileyo kweempembelelo ezimbi kunye nezoyikiso ezivela kusetyenziso lwangoku kunye nekamva. Ugqaliselo olukhethekileyo kumanzi akwi-Subarctic kunye ne-Arctic, ukomelela kwe-ecology yolwandle, kunye nokuchacha ekulobeni okugqithisileyo kunye neziphumo zayo kuya kuvelisa ulwazi olutsha ukunceda kuqulunqo lwemigaqo-nkqubo yokuphucula uqoqosho kunye nokusebenza kwexesha elide kwendawo engcwele. Izifundo ziya kwandiswa ukuze kuphandwe ngamandla angaphakathi kulo mmandla, njengendima yeekorali zamanzi abandayo, umsebenzi weentlobo zorhwebo kuthungelwano lokutya lwaselwandle, kunye nokudibana kweentaka zaselwandle kunye nezilwanyana ezincancisayo zaselwandle.

Ngoku kukho iiNdawo eziKhuselekileyo zaseLwandle zase-US ezilishumi elinesine, nganye inezikhokelo zayo ezithile kunye nokhuseleko, nganye kuzo yahlukile kwindawo yayo yokuhlala kunye neenkxalabo zokusingqongileyo. Kunye nokhuseleko, iindawo ezigcina iilwandle zelizwe zibonelela ngexabiso lezoqoqosho ngaphaya kwamanzi, ukuxhasa imisebenzi eqikelelwa kuma-50,000 kwimisebenzi eyahlukeneyo ukusukela ekulobeni kunye nokuntywila ukuya kuphando kunye nokwamkela iindwendwe. Kuzo zonke iindawo ezingcwele, malunga ne-4 yeebhiliyoni zeedola ziveliswa kuqoqosho lwasekhaya nolunxwemeni.

Phantse zonke ii-Aleutians zikhuselwe njengenxalenye ye-Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge kunye ne-Aleutian Islands Wilderness, ngoko ke isimo se-National Marine Sanctuary siya kuzisa entsha. ukongamela kummandla, kwaye izise inani lilonke leendawo ezingcwele ukuya kwindawo ezilishumi elinesihlanu – ezilishumi elinesihlanu zobuhle obumangalisayo, ezinembali, inkcubeko nexabiso loqoqosho. Iziqithi zaseAleutian zifanelwe ukubizwa, zombini ngenxa yokhuseleko lwazo kunye nexabiso abaza kulizisa kusapho olungcwele.

Ukwabelana ngeengcinga zikaGqr. Linwood Pendleton, (ngoko) we-NOAA:

"Ndikholelwa ukuba iindawo ezikhuselekileyo zaselwandle ziyinxalenye ebalulekileyo yeziseko ezingundoqo zolwandle, kwaye kwelona themba lethu lokuqinisekisa ukuba uqoqosho lwaselwandle esikhule sixhomekeke kulo luzinzileyo kwaye lunemveliso kwizizukulwana ezizayo."

Ifoto yomnenga ngoncedo lwe-NOAA