Put Down That Pineapple: Farm Runoff Is Killing Hawaiian Sea Turtles

[Omaha Steve]

A sea turtle with tumors caused by fibropapillomatosis. (Photo: Chris Stankis)


http://www.takepart.com/article/2014/10/01/agricultural-pollution-killing-hawaiian-sea-turtles?cmpid=tpdaily-eml-2014-10-02

October 01, 2014 By Taylor Hill

Taylor Hill is TakePart's associate environment and wildlife editor.

Hawaii’s golf courses and pineapple farms are causing tumors in imperiled green sea turtles, a study published Tuesday finds.

The link is an amino acid called arginine, which trickles down from the island’s nutrient-rich urban runoff into the turtle’s food source, riddling their bodies with white tumors.

“We’re drawing direct lines from human nutrient inputs to the reef ecosystem and how it affects wildlife,” said Kyle Van Houtan, lead researcher on the study, in a statement.

Scientists at Duke University, the University of Hawaii, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration teamed up to study fibropapillomatosis—a tumor-forming disease that is the leading cause of death in green turtles.

FULL story at link.

[Jenoch]

1. I think it is an error of fact to blame

pineapple production for the nutrient runoff problems in Hawai`i. Most pinwapple production moved to central America. Neither Dole nor DelMonte have pineapple canning operations there anymore, they were moved to central America where their plantations are also located..