Stand up for Puget Sound orcas-- public hearings

[rockymountainboy]

Here's a notice about some upcoming public hearings. Also there are addresses for e-mail or snail mail at the bottom of this message, if you want to send your comments.

 

 

STAND UP FOR PUGET SOUND ORCAS

Demand Bush Administration Provide Full Protection to Imperiled Orcas

 

 

In a great victory for science, conservation, and killer whales, the Center for Biological Diversity successfully campaigned to gain Endangered Species Act protections for the Southern Resident killer whales, an endangered orca population that spends much of its time in the waters of Puget Sound, Washington.

 

 

Now we need you to stand up and speak out for killer whales at public hearings in Seattle and Friday Harbor, Washington to demand full protection for orcas and for a strong Endangered Species Act.

 

 

The Southern Residents are currently proposed for Endangered Species Act listing. However, the Bush Administration ignored its scientists and proposed protecting the killer whales as a "threatened," rather than an "endangered" species. Under the law, a "threatened" designation gives the Bush Administration wide latitude to exempt activities that harm whales from these hard-won protections. The administration also failed to propose protecting the Southern Residents' habitat all together.

 

 

The Endangered Species Act is our Nation's strongest safety net for wildlife on the brink of extinction. For recovery programs to work, resource managers need access to all the tools of the trade. Listing the Southern Residents as "endangered" and designating Puget Sound as "critical habitat"

for the Southern Resident killer whales will give managers the tools they need to recover the whales.

 

 

It is our shared responsibility to protect these whales for future generations. You can hold the Administration accountable by standing up for a strong Endangered Species Act and speaking out for an "endangered" listing and critical habitat designation at Public hearings in February.

 

 

The meetings are from 6:30pm to 9:30pm. The first is on February 17 at the Seattle Aquarium, Pier 59 at 1483 Alaskan Way. The second is on February 28 in Friday Harbor, Washington (San Juan Islands) at the Friday Harbor Labs, 620 University Road. We'll see you there!

 

 

You may also submit written comments to:

 

 

Chief, Protected Resources Division

525 NE Oregon St., Suite 500

Portland, OR 97232-2737.

 

 

You may also E-mail comments to SRKWstatus.nwr@noaa.gov.

 

 

Thank you! For more information, contact Brent Plater at bplater@biologicaldiversity.org.

[Fairweather]

What makes the orcas that inhabit the Puget Sound/San Juan Island area genetically distinct from, say, resident populations in Southeast Alaska?

 

 

What sacrifices/compromises will Puget Sound residents be asked to make to protect orca habitat in Puget Sound? Specifics help people make informed decisions, would you not agree?

[iain]

Those are good questions fairweather.

 

I believe native salmon runs are one of orcas' primary food sources. Engage firestorm.

 

They also feed somewhat on bottom-dwelling species, which are also considered overfished, so perhaps some tighter regulations on comm/rec fishing.

 

As top-level predators, they are considered more susceptible to pollutants concentrated in prey moving up the food chain, so maybe some action on this front.

 

There are other factors like underwater noise from boats, along with the exhaust they leave on the surface.

 

In short, it could be a ton of stuff. Aside from the panda bear, orcas are perhaps the most charismatic of charismatic megafauna when it comes to environmental rallying cries.

[lancegranite]

The Orca would be cooler if it lived up to the name...

 

"Killer Whale terrorizes Alki, police chief threatens to close beach"

[Dru]