Fw: Tell the Bush administration to stop delaying right whale protections

[Guest guest]

" Ocean Conservancy "

Tell the Bush administration to stop delaying right whale protections

 

Since last summer, three North Atlantic right whales have died and two

others were injured when they were hit by ships along the Atlantic

coast. These tragic and needless deaths could have been prevented with

sensible and scientifically sound ship speed regulations. Meanwhile,

the Bush administration dawdles over those rules.

 

We urge you to send a strong message to the Bush administration asking them

to stop stalling and approve the ship speed rules now.

 

Take Action Now:

 

http://www.oceanconservancy.org/site/R?i=CZrOCbXj4yplEh249RLKOQ..

 

Sixteen months ago the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

(NOAA) proposed slower ship speeds to help prevent strikes to right whale

mothers and calves. The right whale is of particular concern because there

are only about 350 left in the world. NOAA has concluded that the " loss of

even a single individual may contribute to the

extinction of the species. " The rules in question, which mandate

that ships slow down around ports near proven right whale migration

routes, may also save other marine wildlife as well, like humpbacks

and fin whales.

 

Slower speeds save whales. So what's the slow-down in approving

these life saving measures? Politics, that's what.

 

Since February, the Bush administration's Office of Management and

Budget (OMB) has been dawdling over a rule that would slow ships on

the grounds of potential economic impact to the shipping industry.

NOAA officials estimate the cost of such a rule at about $100 million

a year -- less than a fraction of one percent of the $300 billion East

Coast shipping trade. Saving the right whale far outweighs these

potential economic impacts.

 

Take Action Now:

 

http://www.oceanconservancy.org/site/R?i=oSMGwaPRq171o-eAgIuPfw..

 

We cannot stand by and let another species disappear from the planet

because we failed to act. Right whales and other species need a safe

place to live. We can provide that safe place with sensible

regulations we know will work. Please urge the Bush administration to

act now.

 

Thank you for your support.

 

Sincerely,

 

Vicki Cornish

Vice President, Marine Wildlife Conservation

Ocean Conservancy

 

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Related Resources

 

NOAA proposes lower ship speeds:

http://www.oceanconservancy.org/site/R?i=MrYMkey5lTJ9rb5v4RG7zg..

 

NOAA Advance notice of proposed rulemaking on ship speeds:

http://www.oceanconservancy.org/site/R?i=OQZnHVFcvp3gNrLiFfBGdQ..

 

Draft Environmental Impact Statement:

http://www.oceanconservancy.org/site/R?i=JiW88LW0-rIW3-D44HP70A..

 

This past Sunday, The Washington Post featured an in-depth article

about the struggle to pass ship speed rules that could protect the

critically endangered North Atlantic right whale from extinction. Read

the story online:

 

http://www.oceanconservancy.org/site/R?i=Rz8cvWIHRJPOvFKpsGeiPw..

 

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