Commotion in the Ocean

What’s all the commotion?! I heard yelled out from miles of ocean. I began to survey the area, but it was too late; I was already in the throes of a giant web of plastic engulfing me and hundreds of others in its wake. It all happened so fast – before I knew it, my body was pressed up against scales and netting and the pressure was getting unbearable. I thrashed to break free, but my tail was caught. I was expending energy fast. Although I couldn’t see a thing, I could feel us all rising to the surface. My body began to tighten. “This is it,” I thought.

My ancestors had told tales of the ‘invisible death string.’ It’s estimated 300,000 of us get caught in netting like this per year. Apparently, the humans don’t even intend to catch us dolphins! It’s their mistake that contributes to one of our highest causes of mortality. I couldn’t believe it was happening to me. The cautionary tales ran through my head as I felt I was surely being lifted to my death.

I felt myself out of the water and heard fish gasping all around me. “Well, this is the most traumatic thing I’ve experienced in my 14 years of life,” I thought to myself as I dangled upside down by my tail. I thrashed again trying to break free, but my effort was futile. I heard a human make a loud noise to the others and watched him clomp over to me.

The ancestors also warned us about humans. Since we can read their energies, we can usually tell their intentions. Not all have positive intentions, but most humans are good. I’ve interacted with some on a boat before and they adore us! But these men on this boat seemed…different. I can feel they are in the business of killing.

As the man approaches, I can feel his sympathy, but then he violently whips out his knife. My life flashes before my eyes – swimming free in the open ocean, playing and laughing all day – I could’ve had 14 more years in this lifetime! One thing is for sure, though; I had fun every day and made the most of it. Humans could learn a thing or two from us dolphins about enjoying life and living in the present moment.

The man takes his knife, and to my surprise, cuts me free from the netting. We lock eyes for a moment, and I can feel his entire life story – the abandonment he felt as a child, the first time he fell in love, his first heartbreak, the birth of his child, the fear of not being able to provide for his family, the desperation that led him to this job and to this very moment. I loved him without ever knowing him. His eyes begin to well with tears. Is he feeling what I am?

I’m whipped back to reality as I splash back into the water, back HOME! It feels so good to be able to move my body again. I’m swimming in happy circles, so incredibly grateful that man saved me. I come up to the surface to say thanks and I see two men standing and staring back at me.

“Bro, I think I just had a moment with that dolphin” the one says to the other.

I got away but grieved the loss of all the others who didn’t. The fishing industry devastates our communities and is like a cancer to our oceans. Did you know that more than 640 tons of fishing gear is dumped per year?! I don’t think many humans understand the harm they’re causing to their own home too. If there’s one takeaway from my story, it’s to stop all the commotion in our oceans!