Turning the blue sea green
I get a bit concerned sometimes when I think of all the pleasure boat trips out there in the ocean off Tenerife. What impact are they having on the sea life, are they taking care not to pollute the very waters that attract them? I must share my experience of a recent trip on the Freebird Two from Puerto Colon to see the whales and dolphins.
Firstly it was good to hear the on boat guide announce that smokers should stick to one area of the boat and make sure they put their cigarette ends in the plastic cups provided. It seems such a small thing to flick a cigarette butt into the sea but animals swallow them and the filters expand in the water and prevent them from eating. Volunteers from the Atlantic Whale Foundation, were on board and helped to explain about the dangers these magnificent creatures face and gave out leaflets showing all the possible species we might see.
What really caught my attention though was when one of the crew leant out from the boat and scooped up a turtle that looked to be in some difficulty. Thankfully after a swill under the tap to clean it up and a quick once over, it was ready to be gently launched back into the waves.It was a nice insight into the daily concern and respect that these crews show towards a sea world that many would otherwise never experience at close quarters.
