Remember that scene at the end of of Raiders of the Lost Ark? It's an often used joke in cases like this, where does this stuff go, either evidence of extraordinary events or things that the Government may want to cover up.
Now I'm not saying that this is a Cover-up. But I certainly am wondering to what extent the Administration is willing to prosecute BP for the Oil spill that took place last year.
The concern has to do with the alarming number of dolphin deaths along the Gulf Coast during the calving season, many of the dolphins that are washing ashore are either neonatal or just born and the rate at which they are dying is alarming. In past years the average number of deaths have been around 14 and so far this year it's nearing 200 according to this Reuters article. It's dire.
But what is killing the dolphins? That's all people want to know and right now, the US Government doesn't want that information released because it may compromise their case against BP.
Wildlife biologists contracted by the National Marine Fisheries Service to document spikes in dolphin mortality and to collect specimens and tissue samples for the agency were quietly ordered late last month to keep their findings confidential.
The gag order was contained in an agency letter informing outside scientists that its review of the dolphin die-off, classified as an "unusual mortality event (UME)," had been folded into a federal criminal investigation launched last summer into the oil spill.
"Because of the seriousness of the legal case, no data or findings may be released, presented or discussed outside the UME investigative team without prior approval," the letter, obtained by Reuters, stated.
A number of scientists said they have been personally rebuked by federal officials for "speaking out of turn" to the media about efforts to determine the cause of some 200 dolphin deaths this year, and about 90 others last year, in the Gulf.
Source
According to NOAA they said this need for such a protocol has to do with the fact that they are treating each dolphin death as a murder. For many of us who see dolphins as sentient beings and an important part of the ocean community, I'm pleased to hear such talk but at the same time, could more transparency mean helping the current population's health issues?
Is there something to be DONE?
Is what is harming dolphins something that could actually harm HUMAN HEALTH?
There are a lot more unanswered questions and it comes back to the not only the oil spill but the massive amount of dispersants used to cover up said oil spill. The Gulf's food chain starts at the smallest organisms and goes up, dolphins are at the top of the food chain, as are humans.
"It throws accountability right out the window," one biologist involved in tracking dolphin deaths for more than 20 years told Reuters on condition of anonymity. "We are confused and ... we are angry because they claim they want teamwork, but at the same time they are leaving the marine experts out of the loop completely."
And for those who say that anything could have caused their death, yes, but if the "experts" are not included, then what? If the spill is not the cause, then what is? Ultimately it comes down to just wanting answers rather than seeing the truth shelved forever in some warehouse.