Fw: Another Right Whale Found Dead - You Can Help

December 31, 2001

" The Ocean Conservancy "

Another Right Whale Found Dead - You Can Help

Ocean Conservancy scientists just got word that a North Atlantic right whale

was found dead in the offshore waters of the Gulf of Maine, approximately 75

nautical miles southwest of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. This whale, an adult

male, was extensively entangled in fishing gear in 2002. Ropes were wrapped

more than a dozen times around the upper part of his mouth, and also were

wrapped around his body and one of his flippers. Although the whale was

reported to have shed some of this gear based on subsequent resightings, the

impact of this long-term entanglement likely contributed to his eventual

demise.

North Atlantic right whales are extremely endangered--only about 350 of the

species remain. Scientists have said that the loss of one right whale pushes

the species closer to extinction. While this species is struggling to

survive, the government continues to drag its feet on implementing

life-saving measures. The Ocean Conservancy needs your help to put pressure

on key decision makers to finally put into place regulations that would save

this imperiled species. Please take action and sign our right whale

petition.

Sign the Petition!

The two major causes of right whale deaths are ship strikes and entanglement

in fishing gear. The National Marine Fisheries Service (with the help of

Ocean Conservancy staff and supporters) has drafted regulations that would

help address both of these hazards. The first would require ships to slow

down in right whale habitat and the second would limit the amount and types

of harmful fishing gear in these same waters off the US East coast.

But, these life-saving measures aren't doing the right whales any good

sitting in a pile on the government's desk. We need to get these regulations

enacted if they are to provide much needed protections for right whales.

Please sign our petition asking the National Marine Fisheries Service to

finalize and start implementing rules to help protect endangered right

whales.

We can't let them delay any longer!

Sincerely,

Kathleen McGoldrick

Vice President, Constituency and Outreach

Recommended Posts