‘Iffy’ Beaches

In response to “Crowds Stay Clear From ‘Iffy’ Beaches,” Sept. 7:

I want to comment on the statement attributed to lifeguard Lt. Mike Frazer, who points to regular dolphin sightings as evidence of clean water at Venice Beach. His statement that “dolphins can go anywhere in the world, and they choose to come here” is not factual.

The dolphins that travel close to the shore off California are the bottlenose dolphins, which are coastal feeders. Dolphins and whales are found throughout the world, but each species has a fairly specific range, i.e., gray whales migrate from Alaska to Mexico. Over thousands of years, whales and dolphins have become accustomed to a specific food and site.

“Iffy” beaches are becoming common in California and this brings up one of the most critical problems facing whales, dolphins and all marine mammals--chemical pollution. Chemicals such as DDT and PCB have made their way into the ocean food chain. Belugas, the white whales of the St. Lawrence River, are dying of cancer due to chemical pollution of their native waters.

Dolphins consume contaminated fish and store the ingested PCB and DDT in their fatty tissue. These chemicals are then passed on to dolphin young via the mother’s fat-enriched milk.

The chemical assault of the oceans is not a one- or two-day closure sign. It is a continuous daily global problem that is in need of serious attention.

MARIS SIDENSTECKER, Executive Director, Save the Whales, Venice