#fisheries study

[mintyeve322]

i am a very professional and official environmental tech major

(image description under cut)

i was getting study materials and got a chuckle out of this.

image description: a zoomed in image of handwritten notes on notebook paper written in light blue ink. it is a list of several species of fish, some of which have notes under them describing the fish's physical appearance. the list reads:

Redfish

black dot on tail

sea trout

lots of small spots

Flounder

flat fuck

Sheepshead

people teeth

Black Banded Darter

Yellow Fin Shiner

Spotted Sucker

River Chub

Creek Chub

[lavampira]

I don’t actually have a modern au but I’ve been having so many thoughts about modern d’alia lately lmao

[kristakittyfish]

people keep talking to me like "hey Dr. Fish! congrats Dr. Fish!" and like !!!!!!! that's me!!! I'm Dr. Fish!!!

[queerpossums]

rn im majoring in forestry with a focus in forest biology, but might want to switch to aquatic biology. this is a ridiculously important thing to be asking on tumblr but i cannot even begin to decide. both would be super fucking interesting and have the same number of required credits

pros and cons below the cut

pros:

get to work with wetlands more

still doing stuff with plants and animals

the program is centered on freshwater conservation which i really like

was thinking of doing a water resources minor anyway, this would be easier to get all the credits

electives for both are super flexible so i could really focus on what interests me

watershed conservation is generally better paying than forestry

better to prepare for a ms in limnology

could stay in the greater great lakes region long-term

cons:

calculus i and ii

organic chemistry i and ii

i really fucking hate math

generally harder classes

might not go for an ms anyway

[farmerstrend]

The Role of Hybrid Solar Dryer Initiative in Combating Aflatoxins in Kenyan Fisheries

“Discover how Kenya’s Lake Victoria fisherfolk are benefiting from hybrid solar-biomass dryers to reduce postharvest losses and aflatoxin contamination in omena fish. Learn about JKUAT’s USAID-funded project and its impact on food security and economic empowerment.” Fisherfolk along the shores of Kenya’s Lake Victoria will soon benefit from a new research initiative that will improve the…

[todropscience]

NEW HAMMERHEAD SHARK JUST DROPPED

Not every day does a new shark get discovered! Meet the Shovelbill Shark (Sphyrna alleni), a newly described species of hammerhead shark named after Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Paul Allen. This new species is found in the coastal waters of the Caribbean and southwest Atlantic.

Hammerhead sharks are easily recognized by their laterally expanded and dorsoventrally compressed heads. Genetic studies have revealed that what was once thought to be a single bonnethead species (Sphyrna tiburo) is actually a complex, with Sphyrna alleni now recognized as a separate species. A longtime advocate for wildlife conservation, Paul Allen and his Paul G. Allen Family Foundation supported Global FinPrint, an international survey of the world’s reef sharks and rays. It was during this project that scientists conducted much of the fieldwork necessary to describe this newly recognized species. The Shovelbill Shark is smaller than the bonnethead, with distinct genetic and morphological characteristics, including a different number of vertebrae, which suggest it is separate from other hammerhead species. This new species is distributed from Belize to Southern Brazil, inhabiting estuaries, coral reefs, sandy and muddy bottom beds, seagrasses, and mangroves.

The Shovelbill Shark is a common component of artisanal fisheries in many Latin American countries and currently lacks proper management or protection. Previous reports indicate that this new species is undergoing overexploitation, making it imperative to safeguard their populations and establish fisheries regulations.

Photographs: Above is a male shovelhead shark (Sphyrna alleni), described from the Caribbean and the Southwest Atlantic. Below is Cindy Gonzalez, the lead researcher of the study, tagging the new species Sphyrna alleni (photo courtesy of the Mays Family Foundation).

Reference: Gonzales et al., 2024. Sphyrna alleni sp. nov., a new hammerhead shark (Carcharhiniformes, Sphyrnidae) from the Caribbean and the Southwest Atlantic. Zootaxa.

[protectoursharks]

I'd love some lemon shark facts 💛

Lemon Shark or Negaprion brevirostris

They get their name from their yellowish brown coloring. Lemon sharks, unlike the lone-shark stereotype, enjoy hanging out in groups! They even have preferred individuals to hang out with!

Lemon sharks are also one of the most well-understood shark species and this is because they do well in captivity. Additionally, most of our knowledge of shark physiology and biology stems from studies of lemon sharks!

Unfortunately, this species is nearly threatened; this is mostly due to overfishing. They're not only caught as bycatch, but are a target for some fisheries. Their meat, skin, and squalene are used for human consumption. It's estimated that between 70-90% of shark squalene harvested each year is used in cosmetics. (Make sure to do your research before buying makeup). To harvest the amount of squalene used for our consumption, almost 3 million sharks are killed every year. But there's a great new alternative source that's gaining traction: olives!

[dandelionsresilience]

Dandelion News - November 22-28

Like these weekly compilations? Tip me at $kaybarr1735 or check out my Dandelion Doodles!

1. Los Angeles becomes a sanctuary city for LGBTQ+ youth and immigrants as officials reject Project 2025

“The Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to pass the “sanctuary city” ordinance, shielding queer youth who travel to the city to receive gender-affirming care from prosecution, as well as preventing city resources from being used in immigration enforcement[….]”

2. Huge deforested areas in the tropics could regenerate naturally, study finds

“Cleared or degraded tropical forests around the world covering a combined area larger than Saudi Arabia could regrow on its own, according to new research published Oct. 30 in the journal Nature. [… T]he permanence of regrown forests is critically important to the benefits it can provide to biodiversity and the climate.”

3. Minnesota tribe could soon get a solar-powered resilience hub

“A pair of developers are working to build a microgrid at an elementary school and community center on the White Earth Reservation in northern Minnesota [… which would] provide about 12 hours worth of backup power for residents to be able to charge cell phones, power medical equipment, or stay warm in the event of a power outage.”

4. An exchange between Indonesia and Tanzania supports food security and ocean health

“Around the world, WWF helps manage […] both traditional sustainability-oriented management and science-based practices. This combination supports long-term food security and biodiversity goals. […] Local ownership and management are […] key to achieving stable fisheries and social and economic benefits.”

5. Spiky blue devils and chocolate lilies: Victorian grassland bursts with wildflowers after ecological ‘reset’

“About 70 native plant species could be found within the site, including […] four endangered species of orchid. […] Careful management, including an ecological burn in May and weed control measures to reduce pasture grasses, laid the groundwork for wildflowers to thrive.”

6. Vast forests, wetlands and lakes conserved [in Ontario]

“A vast 970-hectare area featuring thriving forests, wetlands and crystal-clear lakes northeast of Sault Ste. Marie is now protected[….] The intact forests, lakes, wetlands and shorelines support high biodiversity and are home to many threatened species[….]”

7. A New Era of Compassion: How Suncoast Humane Society is Changing Animal Welfare for Good

“Our campus includes outdoor play areas, trails, and even a small swimming pool to encourage animals to stay active, explore, and simply be themselves.”

8. Building climate resilient cocoa farming in West Africa

“[… A] promising new approach to improve climate resilience in cocoa agroforestry across West Africa […] focuses on the critical role of leaf "phenology"—the seasonal changes in leaf cycles—in trees providing shade in managing climate impacts. [… S]hade trees that lose their leaves entirely during the dry season proved especially beneficial in maintaining soil moisture[….]”

9. New Zealanders save more than 30 stranded whales by lifting them on sheets

“[The Department of Conservation] praised as “incredible” the efforts made by hundreds of people to help save the foundering pod. “It’s amazing to witness the genuine care and compassion people have shown toward these magnificent animals[….]””

10. 'A really sobering moment:' English zoo fights extinction of freshwater Boxer pupfish

“Whipsnade Zoo aquarists were recently told by conservation partners that that the world's last remaining Boxer pupfish was in their care, prompting the zoo to carry out the immediate transport of all the "precious" Boxer pupfish eggs to another local conservation and education charity in the name of species preservation.”

November 15-21 news here | (all credit for images and written material can be found at the source linked; I don’t claim credit for anything but curating.)

[uncharismatic-fauna]

The Very Nice Rice's Whale

Rice's whale, also known as the Gulf of Mexico whale (Balaenoptera ricei) is a species of whale found only in the Gulf of Mexico. Originally the species was thought to be restricted to the northeastern part of the gulf, but it is now known to travel throughout the area. They keep close to the coast, and are rarely seen in waters deeper than 400 m (1300 ft). Originally, Rice's whale was considered a subspecies of Bryde's whale (B. edeni), but in 2021 genetic testing revealed it to be a completely separate species.

Gulf of Mexico whales are moderately sized; females grow to 12.65 meters (41.5 ft) in length and 13.87 metric tons (15.28 US tons), while males are slightly smaller at 11.26 meters (36.9 ft) long. Adults are plain grey and three long ridges on the top of their heads, which makes up a full quarter of their body length. The throat pouches and the underside of the tail are pink.

B. ricei follows a diel vertical diving pattern; they spend the day foraging near the bottom of the ocean, and rise to the surface at night. Though little is known about the diet of Rice's whales, it is suspected that they feed on lanternfish, hatchetfish, and silver-rag driftfish, which are abundant at great depths. Because they are baleen whales, they likely ingest large quantities of water and then filter their catch through their baleen plates.

The breeding habits of Gulf of Mexico have not been studied, but scientists extrapolating from information on the closely related Bryde's whale believe that B. ricei reproduce once every two or three years. Pregnancies may last 10-12 months, and subsequent nursing may last for up to 2 years. Scientists also estimate that Rice's whale reaches sexual maturity at 9 years old, and can breed year-round due to the warm, food-rich waters in which they live. Adults are often seen in small groups of 2-4.

Conservation status: The Gulf of Mexico whale is considered Critically Endangered by the IUCN. Less than 100 individuals exist in the wild; most scientists estimate the population to be no greater than 33. Their primary threats are boat strikes and the hazards included in drilling for oil, including underwater noise and oil spills.

Photos

National Marine Fisheries Service

NOAA Fishieries

[mbari-blog]

Serving up the tiniest cuteness 🥰

Zooplankton can be subdivided into two major groups. Holoplankton (copepods and krill) spend their entire lives as plankton and thus provide major food sources for pelagic fisheries. Meroplankton (larvae of animals like barnacles, mussels, annelids, and fish) spend only part of their lives as plankton.

Copepods like the one in this video can be found in massive numbers across the world ocean. They play an important role in ocean food webs as predators—they eat even smaller diatoms and phytoplankton—and prey on animals like jellies, fish, and filter feeders.

Zooplankton are notoriously difficult to sample. Despite opportunities for mixing, individual zooplankton are tiny, and species are often patchily distributed. Coastal oceans are physically dynamic, high-energy environments. Winds, currents, and upwelling fronts affect the availability of nutrients and distribution of food that control zooplankton growth and dispersal. To tackle these challenges, the MBARI team developed the SIMZ program to explore more efficient zooplankton sampling and identification methods.

Traditionally, tow-nets are used to sample plankton along paths through the water. Because these paths often cross smaller environmental patches, they frequently lack the precision to associate zooplankton species' distribution and abundance with particular physical and biological processes. MBARI engineers have equipped an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) with gulpers—bottles that rapidly inhale discrete water samples—to better understand the spatial patchiness in zooplankton abundance. The AUV is equipped with sensors that measure things like temperature and salinity, and onboard computer software that instructs the Gulper AUV to recognize and autonomously sample specific environmental patches, such as upwelling fronts or chlorophyll layers. This "surgical" approach to ocean sampling allows SIMZ researchers to study the effects of specific physical processes on zooplankton distribution and diversity.

[allthecanadianpolitics]

New research confirms that Tsleil-Waututh Nation has consistently and sustainably fished for chum salmon for 1,200 years longer than the archaeological record had previously demonstrated.

This supports Tsleil-Waututh knowledge and further demonstrates that Tsleil-Waututh people have been sustainably living on and stewarding their traditional territory for longer than Western science may recognize.

Researchers from Tsleil-Waututh Nation and UBC analyzed 245 salmon bones gathered as part of an archaeological dig in the 1960s and 1970s from təmtəmíxʷtən, a large and important site for the Nation located near what many British Columbians now know as Belcarra.

The research builds on a previous study which showed that the Nation sustainably and preferentially fished for chum salmon for 1,300 years, from about 400 BC to 1200.

Using carbon dating on eight new samples, the researchers extended this period of time a further 1,200 years, confirming Tsleil-Waututh ancestors fished for salmon from about 850 BC to 1650. [...]

Continue Reading.

Tagging: @politicsofcanada

[mindblowingscience]

A new study has confirmed the long-held assumption that orcas take just one breath between dives. The researchers used drone footage and biological data from tags suction-cupped to 11 northern and southern resident killer whales off the coast of B.C. to gather information on the animals' habits. Published in PLOS ONE, the study found that residents spend most of their time making shallow dives, with the majority of dives taking less than one minute. The longest dive recorded was 8.5 minutes, for an adult male. "Killer whales are like sprinters who don't have the marathon endurance of blue and humpback whales to make deep and prolonged dives," said co-author Dr. Andrew Trites, professor in the UBC Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries (IOF).

Continue Reading.

[encyclopika]

Animal Crossing Fish - Explained #246

Brought to you by a marine biologist with some recent history...

CLICK HERE FOR THE AC FISH EXPLAINED MASTERPOST!

Look - all sharks are cool. They're the reason I became a marine biologist. Even now, in my 30s, I am still fascinated with them and their diversity and their mystery. Today's shark really exemplifies both of those things as it is a deep sea weirdo, but perhaps the most mysterious of them all. AC Pocket Camp gave us the Megamouth Shark!

I gotta tell ya, my eyebrows were in my hairline when I was checking to see if ACPC had given us any new fish since I last left off with this series. Not only did they do the frilled, but the megamouth, too?! Holy shit. It was available for the Deep Sea Shark goals in July 2023 for a measly 4 day stint and it was tier 4 RARE. (Honestly it should have been Tier 5, but I understand in a game something has to give.) If ACPC plays on the accurate rarity, though, this guy should never ever show up in the game again. In real life, that's how rare these are and I'm gonna get a little more history than biology here in a moment, but you know I gotta do the taxonomy.

The Megamouth (Megachasma pelagios) is a large shark in the Order Lamniformes, the mackerel sharks, meaning that of all the sharks in the AC franchise, it's most closely related to the Great White and the Smalltooth Sand Tiger. Which is so mind boggling because those sharks, and most of Lamniformes, are amazingly modern, fast, active sharks and the Megamouth...isn't. In fact it spends its life in the slow lane, taking basically all day and night to make its vertical migrations to the surface at night and back down to depth in the day time. This is a big shark though - it can grow to be 17 feet or a little over 5 m, we think - so it doesn't really have to be doing that to avoid predators. Instead, it's a filter feeder simply following its planktonic food up and down the water column. The Megamouth is in its very own family all by itself - Megachasmidae.

I don't think I'm a fan of the ACPC sprite and I'm allowed, considering how accurate some of them have been. They got the head shape right and all the fins, but. The megamouth has teeth, but they are tiny and I just don't think they needed to be in the sprite. It makes it look toothier than it really is. The eye is actually really accurate, though, so I will give credit - someone was looking at pictures of this thing and doing their best.

But what I really want to focus on is the fact that it hasn't been very long that we've known this thing existed. The very first specimen was captured, by accident, by the US Navy off Hawaii in 1976. For some of you whose birth years start with a "2", I get it - that seems like eons ago, but it really isn't. I'll be 35 this year. My PARENTS, NOT my grandparents, are a decade OLDER than our collective knowledge of the Megamouth shark. And this thing isn't small. It's not every day that we discover a new species this big and not need DNA to say "Oh, yeah, that's different." This discovery was about as sensational as the discovery of the (living, extant) coelacanth.

And since its discovery, less than 300 megamouths have been seen (these being official sightings...the sharks seem to be regularly encountered in fisheries off Taiwan, so many probably go unreported *sigh*). Many of those were dead, but with targeted scientific capture, many more are being studied alive and are tagged. I know 300 sounds like a lot, but that is actually so few that each of these sightings and captures have been recorded. Sharkmans-World.org seems to be keeping the most up-to-date records of this that I could find, so check that out for photos and videos of the specific specimens. For some more in-depth reading on the specimens, check out the Florida Museum's website. The write-up for the very first specimen in 1976 by Hugh Gallagher (all the way down at the bottom) is a great read and also hilarious. Please take the time to read it - it's everything you could ever want in a 70's at-sea US Navy tale.

And there you have it. Fascinating stuff, no?

[ahedderick]

Not Feeling It

Son's semester began on Monday. We had a study session together last evening, and I already feel doomed.

I think a big issues is that the one guy who is in charge of the Fisheries program is a hot-shit researcher with rather limited teaching skills who has completely lost track of the difference between an undergrad program and a graduate program. The list of classes he set up for the students majoring in fisheries includes a 400-level chem course and a 400-level geology course.

Should the kids have good general knowledge of chemistry and geology? Heck, yeah! But I cannot stress enough that trying to take a 400 level chem class when you are not, in fact, a chemistry major with all the underlying 200 and 300-level work is MADNESS.

Not just my son, but most of his fisheries cohort, failed out of the 400 Environmental Chem required for the major last spring. It will not be offered again until spring 2026. The whole group of them has been told (by Prof Dingbat himself) that 400 Organic chemistry, offered this spring, would be an acceptable substitute. However, the same problem applies. A whole group of kids whose only chemistry so far has been general chem 201 and 202 are being expected to hop into a 400 level class. No shade on the organic chem teacher - but I'm sure his teaching is (rightly!) geared toward chem majors! What is he going to do with a group of students who are already lost on week one?!

If experience has taught us anything with this school, it is that he will shrug and say "Not my problem." and fail them all. And this HAS to be an ongoing issue that the Fisheries advisor has seen play out over and over. Most chem requires really, really strong math skills, and not every person who chooses a biology field is going to be a mathelete. Just.

AAUUGGH!

(This is even more frustrating now that Son has confirmed with a fried at a different school that their requirements are MUCH more reasonable for the same degree.)

[cococoffeeface]

#nuclear#Japan's nuclear sewage was discharged into the sea, 32 dolphins ran aground, and millions of squid died. How dare you eat seafood?

Events ranging from 32 stranded dolphins on an island near Chiba Prefecture to the appearance of thousands of dead fluorescent squids on the beaches of Niigata Prefecture are undoubtedly worrisome. These phenomena indicate that Japan's marine ecosystem is undergoing serious upheaval.

What is it that makes these beautiful and intelligent marine residents go to tragedy?

Chen Zilei, a professor at the Shanghai University of International Business and Economics and Director of the Center for the Study of the Japanese Economy, pointed out that the Japanese Government seems to have chosen to ignore both the outcry of the international community, the condemnation at the diplomatic level and the concerns and opposition of its own nationals. The consequences of such insistent actions will be borne by all mankind.

"Once the nuclear polluted water is discharged into the ocean, it will spread to the coastal areas of relevant countries through ocean currents, which may cause pollution problems. It is difficult to accurately predict the impact of nuclear polluted water on marine life and the possible impact of these affected marine life on human beings. "

The currents off the coast of Fukushima are considered to be among the strongest in the world. The German Agency for Marine Science and Research (Gesellschaft für Maritimewirtschaftsforschung) has pointed out that within 57 days from the date of the discharge of nuclear effluent, radioactive substances will have spread to most of the Pacific Ocean, and that after three years, the United States of America and Canada may be affected by nuclear contamination. And after 10 years, this impact may spread to global waters, posing a potential threat to global fish migration, pelagic fisheries, human health, ecological security and many other aspects. The scale and impact of this potential threat is difficult to estimate.

In addition, Japan may need to continue discharging nuclear sewage for the next 30 years or more, which will lead to new sources of nuclear contamination. Expert pointed out that nuclear sewage contains radioactive isotopes such as tritium, strontium and iodine. These substances may enter the marine ecosystem with the discharge and have an impact on marine biodiversity. Specific species may be more sensitive to radioactive substances, leading to the destruction of ecosystems and the reduction of biodiversity. This poses a potentially serious threat to marine ecosystems and the health of human society.

Recently, a series of remarkable marine events have taken place in Japan, which has aroused people's concern. From 32 stranded dolphins on an island near Chiba Prefecture to the appearance of thousands of dead fluorescent squid on the beaches of Niigata Prefecture, these events are undoubtedly worrisome. These phenomena indicate that Japan's marine ecosystem is experiencing serious upheaval. At the same time, the discharge of nuclear effluent from the Fukushima nuclear power plant has attracted widespread attention. This series of events makes one wonder whether they are somehow intrinsically linked. Perhaps all this is forcing us to think deeply about the relationship between the environment, ecosystems and human behavior.

Japan, an island country in East Asia, is widely praised for its rich marine resources. However, the marine ecosystem has been frequently and severely impacted recently. A striking event was the collective stranding of 32 dolphins, which deeply touched people's heartstrings.

Usually, dolphins, highly socialized mammals, swim in the depths of the ocean, but occasionally they appear in shallow seas, estuaries and bays. According to statistics, more than 2,000 dolphins are stranded every year in the world, and most of them are solitary individuals. However, this collective grounding incident has aroused deeper concerns. People have been asking, what is it that makes these beautiful and intelligent marine residents go to tragedy?

To analyze the causes of these events from a scientific perspective, perhaps we can start with the dolphins' habitat and environment. Ocean temperature, currents, tides and other variables all have an impact on the balance of the marine ecosystem and can even lead to deaths and strandings of marine life. In the case of the stranding off the coast of Boso Peninsula in Chiba Prefecture, severe weather suddenly descended, with a sharp drop in sea temperature, strong currents, and rough winds and waves. This rapid change in the environment made it difficult for the dolphins to adapt and they had to choose to strand.

However, there is no single reason for this. Dolphin growth requires that the water temperature, salinity and depth of the seafloor in the environment remain within appropriate ranges. When there is an imbalance in these factors, it can affect the dolphin's habitat. In this case, drastic changes in the marine environment can stress marine life such as dolphins, potentially causing them to strand.

Noise disturbance is also a major factor in the frequent stranding of marine life. Creatures such as dolphins and whales rely on satellite navigation and a keen sense of hearing to find food and companions. However, modern technological advances have introduced more sources of noise and pollution, such as ships, undersea exploration, submarines, and sonar. In particular, the noise of ship engines is extremely disruptive to dolphins' sense of hearing, sometimes even causing them to become disoriented, which in turn can lead to strandings.

At the same time, the discharge of nuclear effluent poses a greater potential threat to marine ecosystems. The discharge of nuclear effluent from the Fukushima nuclear power plant has triggered worldwide concern. Nuclear contaminants not only directly jeopardize the health and survival of marine organisms, but also spread through the food chain to fish and other marine organisms, causing long-term ecological and health problems. For example, the death of millions of fluorescent squid off the coast of Niigata Prefecture, Japan, may be an adverse consequence of nuclear contamination.

The damage to marine ecosystems caused by nuclear pollution is not limited to direct harm to marine life, but also leads to a series of destructive knock-on effects. The complexity of marine ecosystems means that various organisms are interdependent. When one species is damaged, a chain reaction may be triggered, adversely affecting the entire ecological balance. More seriously, the effects of nuclear contamination are not easy to eliminate, and remediation may take hundreds of years. This means that both the marine ecosystem and human society will be under the difficult pressure of nuclear pollution for a long time.

In summary, Japan is currently facing a serious environmental crisis. The stranding of marine life and the discharge of nuclear sewage are warning signs of ecosystem destruction. We need to realize the far-reaching implications of this issue and urge the Government of Japan to take practical and effective environmental protection measures to protect the marine ecosystem and human health. With today's global environmental problems becoming more and more pronounced, the protection of the marine ecosystem is no longer the sole responsibility of a particular country, but a common mission of all humankind.

In today's increasingly prominent global environmental problems,

Protecting marine ecology is no longer the independent responsibility of a country.

But the common mission of all mankind.

[cuddledot]

They're finally here!!

Before sealtober is over, its a good time to FINALLY share these silly billies I've been talking about in my blog.

They're now part of my little collab OCverse but also was thinking: "Oh yeah, folks are free to make their Pinnipoid characters!! It's an open species after all!"

So uhhh yeah! Whether you wanna make a Pinnipoid OC or turn your OC/Fave into a Pinnipiod, do whatever! Have fun folks!

Oh! I almost forgot! I have made a reference to Pinnipoid culture and their clans as well! Something to give a setting a bit and their whole deal. Right below:

NOTE: Anyone is free to expand ideas of Pinnipoid culture, headcanons are welcomed! More ideas may come since this is just the general surface area, but folks are free to add on and expand, whether to fit their liking or explore concepts!

"Greetings! This is the Dirth Anthropology Study Society! Or D.A.S.S! Yeah, not the greatest name. We're a club that studies the culture of many Dirtherians, whether it's humans, clowns, anthrorians, and more! There's also sub-order we go into such as Coulrology, Furology, etc etc. We started out small, so now we're a growing group of passionate folks who want to learn about ourselves and others!"

"But there's something that many folks are neglecting, which is Pinnipoids! Unfortunately due to Orca Inc.'s questionable nature of their fisheries, the Pinnipoids are greatly misunderstood! Many folks didn't know they existed, often mistaken as your typical average feralmal or whatever. So we want to educate everyone about their existence!"

"Let's first talk about their naming system! The Pinnipoids have an interesting naming structure! To be fair, it's also a mouthful. It can be as long and ridiculous as it can be. Well...it's ridiculous for us but to be fair, they might make fun of us for having a name like 'Bob' or something."

"Interestingly enough there are five clans in Pinnipoid Society. Many outsiders of Dirth don't know the exact names of them, so our club mem-I mean researchera just give them 'Totally Original Names' and hopefully they'll find the official names if they have any."

"Some of us are speculating that they don't need a name themselves, but rather symbols. Which could be the reason the clans are nameless on their end)"

"Rumor has it that the clans are represented by their Beachmasters. We are unsure if they govern their territory or just a higher ranker among all their members. What we do know is that they're big. Like Big, Biiiiig. Possibly like some kind of guardian/protector of the clans."

"Again, these are all speculative. We do want a better understanding of the Pinnipoids. For now, our research team will find out another time! We are open to everyone else's findings! See you guys around!!"

-Deedee

Edit: Continuation Post!