Save the Turtles by Rogene A. Buchholz - Article Example

Introduction In the article “Save the Turtles” Rogene A. Buchholz, the divulges on the impact of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 in the people’s treatment of animals. Under this law, animals that are put on the list are given special attention for their welfare and protection. This was tantamount in ensuring that no animal ever faces extinction once again. The future of such animals and its implications to future generations are expounded through such provisions. With this, a number of animals were included in the list including sea turtles that inhabit the United States waters. All six species are placed on it. The decline in their population is attributed to the development of beaches, poaching of nests and eggs, oil spills, garbage and other inappropriate fishing methods. Turtles are creatures that have stood the test of time and have been in existence since the time of the dinosaurs. But when an entire industry is compromised, putting at risk the jobs of hundreds of people, who or what comes first? Case Presentation The cause for concern in the case study are primarily the Kemp Ridley sea turtles that nests only on a beach close to Rancho Nuevo, Mexico and among the most threatened of all the sea turtle species. Its population plummeted to 500 in the 1980’s from 40,000 during the 1940s at a steady 3% decline annually. All fingers point to the shrimp trawlers who caused the drowning of the turtles as they have to resurface at least every hour to breathe. The Loggerheads compose around 11,000 of the turtle deaths while 750 are Kemp Ridleys. Experts and researchers from the countries of United States and Mexico including volunteers flock their site during mating season to study the species.1 The figures presented was challenged by the shrimpers as they argue that there are other factors that greatly contribute to the demise of the sea turtles and that they are not the ones to blame. Pollution and diseases they say are the main reason for the deaths. The studies on the other hand maintain that the 7,000 offshore vessels that have a cumulative 4-5 million towing hours are detrimental to the state of the turtles. It is found that 9 pounds of fish for every pound of shrimp called by-catch is dumped off the boats. Every American eats about 2.4 pounds of shrimp annually making it the most popular seafood which makes it an important job-providing industry in the country with over 30,000 fishermen relying on it as their livelihood and some others in the processing plants.2 Statement  Due to the polar effects of the situation, both economic and environmental, the solution was seen in Turtle Excluder Devices or TEDs which could be a mesh web or metal grid to keep shrimps out of the nets when it is being dragged the at the bottom of the sea as it keeps out large species that cannot fit into the panel. Trawlers claim that this lets as much as 20% of the shrimps pass through, a significant lost in their catch. The fight between the shrimpers and environmentalists dragged on where the decision had to be made based on: first, whether the species of turtles were really endangered, second, if the TEDs would really protect them and third, if there are other possible solutions to protect them. In May 1, 1989 it was passed that TEDs would be mandatory and when dead Kemp Ridleys washed ashore the mandate was set at an earlier date to protect the turtles. Penalties were to be imposed for as much as $12,000 for violators. But when a seaweed bloom occurred, the shrimpers let loose their TEDs and the law was suspended with lawmakers hoping this would be permanent for the benefit of their constituents and the shrimping industry of Florida.3 Views & Arguments There is yet to be a resolution to this dilemma. The solutions are seen to be through the development of new technology that is far better than the current TEDs but it remains that this issue has evolved into a political problem and such technology is yet to be seen. At the same time, is there a political solution to it. Furthermore, is there merit in compensating the shrimpers for the losses that they will accrue due to the TEDs and how and who will determine these losses. The question remains of whether there actually is a fair resolution to this problem that will appease all parties and vindicate the secretary of commerce. This is important as the potential for violence is seen from the trawlers. This also includes the fact that there should be a similar imposition on other countries to ensure that endangered species are guarded not only on a local level but on a worldwide scale as well in terms of necessity required.4 Change is often seen in a bad light. We resist change because something new is always perceived in an antagonistic way. People try to avoid employing change because what we are used to is always better than having to learn something that may be difficult for us. I believe such was the problem for the TEDs. One housewife of a shrimper made an analogy that having to install the TED was like having to go to work with a big hole in your pants. They saw it as a big hindrance in the full realization of their catch. They never gave it much of a chance in the first place. The researchers claimed that the TEDs only hindered between 2-5 percent of their total catch as opposed to the 20%-50% that they are claiming. The shrimpers argue that the researchers had the ulterior motive to guarantee their funding which actually made their study biased. To be frank about it, the industry was already suffering great blows as they cannot compete with aquacultures that are flourishing in other countries. Corporate Responsibility extends beyond the present time. It is an organization’s duty to humanity to protect and preserve the dignity of the environment we currently live in. As an institution composed of people it follows that a company also has obligations on human beings. The people as primary components of the society are considered as stakeholders of any given company. The economic process of production or service integrates steps that would not exist should there be no people involved. The company holds accountability for those they serve that transcends beyond the need for profit generation that puritan capitalism calls for. The moral responsibility of businesses yields the sentimental conviction that is not solely grounded on economic advantage. This has been a re-occuring issue in business ethics which grounds on ‘evil corporations’ and the worth that they attribute to possessions monetarily acquired. It must be remembered that as a person we are defined in multiple ways. Thus, a man cannot only be a corporate executive, he is also a son and he may be a husband and a father. With this reasoning, his position should be used in ways that affect people and in one way or another the world. To be able to protect it for the benefit of his family and further on in a generational multitude. He is also a citizen and being a patriot, he should not aim to harm other people directly or indirectly. It is optimistic to look at people who try to help out by being advocates for the environment and less-privileged people. People who think outside the box by generating not only charity but philanthropic capital that helps out people to jumpstart a better future for themselves. This goes to show that there are ways to earn without compromising your humanity and the environment’s natural beauty. Case Utilization Interface is a great model of corporate social responsibility in their unpholding enviromentally-friendly production of carpets contrary to the common manufacturing process which can cause carcinogens and co2 that goes to landfills. They have evolved into becoming the forerunner of environment responsibility in companies. The company’s principle of compliance led to its success. Under the leadership of Ray Anderson, the environmental-friendly course Interface has taken became an astounding sustainable business. Sustainability requires going beyond plain compliance and looking further from the present and keeping in mind the future which is economical, social and ecological.5 Looking at Interface and other companies that adhere to corporate social responsibility, the trawlers should take from this and follow the law first and foremost. There is a certain level of stubbornness as I perceive from members of the shrimp industry in Florida that there was actually next to nothing that could placate them. All measures of compromise was already enforced by the secretary of commerce but they have disobeyed all of them one way or another. They should also keep in mind that even the shrimps will diminish if they do not take care of the sea that gives them living. In the chain of life everything has a part to play, including the turtles. Their presence is important because they serve as purpose and their extinction will ultimately affect this process. These shimpers are already in the thrid or fourth generation, should these abuses continue there may be no future generation of shrimpers. Conclusion I believe that the ‘Endangered Species Act’ is an important piece of legislation as it gives protection to animals that could otherwise be extinct. This keeps in mind the importance of seeing animals live beyond our lifetime for the future generations to be able to witness. This is an invidual responsibility enforced with the provisions of the law which makes it a consentious effort among everyone. Such is the story of the dodo bird which has become extinct due to abuse by people. Once a common bird that was actually domesticated it had been wiped off from the face of the planet and there was nothing anyone did about it. It had been too late before people realized they were about to be completely eradicated. Before they can be seen everywhere and people took them for granted, eating and killing them at will. Today, these slow and harmless birds can only be seen in pictures. If we are to believe Rene Descartes’ assumption of animals as ‘anima machina’ then there is no matter if we let animals extinct as they are only seen as machines and without any emotional attributes. But if we are going to dismiss this theory then we will all have to become environmentalists in a manner of speaking and keep a human principle of upholding the rights not only of people but also of animals. Some research has actually found that dog’s have the emotional aptitude of a 2-year-old. This means that a man’s best friend is much like a child who has feelings and respond to stimulus emotionally and also intellectually. If we have to adhere to the previous propostion, wouldn’t it surmise that animals are important as creatures that are co-habitants of the earth. This is what makes us stewards of the earth because what differentiates us from all other creations is our rationality, and our rationality implores us to guard other species and not just our own personal interests. References Buchholz, Rogene E. "Case Study Save the Turtles." In Case Studies in Business Ethics, by Al Gini and Alexei M. Marcoux. Chicago: Pearson, 2008. DesJardins, Joe and Aaron, Janelle. “Case Study Edible Carpets, Anyone!? Interface Corporation, a Sustainable Business” In Case Studies in Business Ethics, by Al Gini and Alexei M. Marcoux. Chicago: Pearson, 2008. Read More