Guest guest Posted June 6, 2000 Report Share Posted June 6, 2000 ===== A message from the 'makahwhaling' discussion list ===== FROM WASHINGTON CITIZEN'S COASTAL ALLIANCE --------------------------- NO HUNTING IN JUNE.... YET Sekiu, WA: 10:45am PDT ODI vessels are currently patrolling the hunt area, but have reported no activity at this time. There have been an increasing number of " drive bys " the past few days, which in Sekiu means people coming by to spy on the boats and on activists' land quarters, some yelling out profanities. Saturday's land protest went very well! We can tell that a growing number of people are getting sick and tired of the whale-killing plans of the Makah Whaling Commission, and support continues to grow! Spread the word, write a letter, make a call, but keep spreading the word about this hunt to your elected officials. And we welcome ALL of you to come visit us each Saturday at 1:00pm- let your voice be heard! Today's update focuses on the outrageous behavior of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), who KNOWS that the migration is over, but refuses to admit it. Our teams have reported almost NO whales in the area lately, and anyone with a lick of sense knows these are the Washington resident whales. NMFS, already guilty of contorted policy-making and outright political pandering, has done nothing. They are simply going to let the Makah kill these residents- in DIRECT violation of their self-written rules. (Governor Locke, this would be a great to time to pull your head out and actually represent the people of Washington!) Oh, we almost forgot: NMFS has done ONE thing- they've quietly allowed the Makah Whaling Commission to make wholesale changes to the Makah Management Plan. Without public comment, without scientific input, without any kind of logic, the Makah have been allowed to amend their " Plan " at least four times this spring already! The bottom line? Everytime activists take to the water to protect these whales, no one has a clue WHICH set of rules is in effect that day. The Coast Guard is even getting confused, which, actually, should surprise no one... If this how Al Gore runs a whale hunt, say a prayer for our country if he wins the election this November! ***** WORLD WHALE POLICE UPDATE June 1, 2000 ------- In a discussion with Joe Scordino of National Marine Fisheries Service, Bill Moss of the World Whale Police challenged NMFS to send out a qualified marine mammal scientist to determine the status of the gray whale migration off the coast of Washington State. Scordino refused to evaluate the spring, 2000 migration. He further indicated that the only migration information that NMFS will consider is historic studies that were done prior to 1997 and complied in a document in 1997. This study indicates that the gray whale migration finishes on June 30th. Although Scordino admitted that each migration may vary and the NMFS' own documents indicate that an extension could be given if, at June 30th the migration was determined not be be completed, he refuses to consider that this migration may be done earlier than June 30th. Scordino side stepped all questions about suckling calves traveling with females being targeted by the Makah whalers this spring. Based on this information, it is clear that NMFS has no interest or will to ensure that the Makah gray whale hunt in conducted in conjunction with the agreement between NMFS and the Makah whalers. Pat Gearin is the NMFS representative observing the Makah hunt. Doug DeMaster is Pat's boss. I have provided the phone numbers below, for anyone who like to discuss these matters further with NMFS. Pat Gearin (206) 526-4034 Doug DeMaster (206) 526-4047 Joe Scordino 206) 526-6143 Bill Moss & Julie Woodyer World Whale Police http://www.worldwhalepolice.org ***** A GOOD MORNING TO NMFS! REMEMBER THIS? --------------------------- " ...The timing of the migration within Washington is similar to that for Vancouver Isand, BC. as described by Darling (l984). The first northbound whales begin arriving in late February and peak numbers could be expected in late March or early April. Northbound migrant whales were not observed off Vancouver Island, BC after April 30th, indicating that most have passed through this area. (Darling l984). Southbound migrants pass Vancouver Isalnd from November to late January, with peak numbers observed the last 2 weeks in December. (Darling, l984) The migratory timing for the northern Washington Coast is probably similar to Vancouver Island though 1-2 weeks earlier on the northward route and 1-2 weeks later on the southward route. and further in the paper.. " In the area of the Makah usual and accustomed fishing/hunting grounds, summer resident gray whales are common from June through November. " [Excerpt from " GRAY WHALES IN WASHINGTON STATE by Patrick J. Gearin and Douglas DeMaster, NOAA, NMFS, NW & AFSC, National Marine Mammal Laboratory, 7600 Sandy Point Way, N.E. Seattle WA 95115 (IWC Scientific Committee /48/ASl8 l996)] ***** T-SHIRTS! -------- They're great, they're effective and they're available! Check out the web-site of U.S. Citizens Against Whaling and order yours today! (http://www.usagainstwhaling.org/t-shirt.htm) ***** AS ALWAYS... --------- Be sure to visit www.stopwhalekill.org often for articles, news and contact information. It's only through the efforts of ALL of us that we will put an end to this hunt! ***** QUOTE OF THE WEEK ---------- " The problem is that this die-off has come on so suddenly and dramatically. It has caught us by surprise, because we expected it to be much more gentle. Both the mortality rate is up and the birthrate is down, and both happening at the same time is troubling. " (John Calambokidis, gray whale researcher, commenting on the alarming number of gray whale deaths over the past few years- San Francisco Chronicle, May 29, 2000) ***** _______________ The simple way to read all your emails at ThatWeb http://www.thatweb.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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