The alarming decline of endangered West Coast orcas continues.
Despite the fact that only 73 individuals remain and another orca was
recently declared missing and presumed dead, the U.S. Navy’s moving forward
with a plan for seven years of war games in their habitat. The military’s
proposal calls for surface and underwater warfare, explosives and bursts of
sonar along the California, Oregon and Washington coasts. We need you to do
everything in your power to make sure that doesn’t happen.
The proposed rule would allow the Navy to harm or harass marine mammals in general nearly two million times over the next seven years.
Call and email the NMFS today and demand they address these issues
and help protect our ocean’s precious wildlife.
West Coast Regional Office
Phone: (503) 230-5400
Michael Milstein, Public Affairs Officer, West Coast Regional Office
(503) 231-6268
[email protected]
(206) 526-6150
John Ewald, Director of Public Affairs for NOAA Fisheries, Office of
Communications
(301) 427-8029
[email protected]
Jasmine Blackwell, Public Affairs Officer, NOAA Fisheries Public Affairs
(301) 427-8013
[email protected]
Right now these killer whales are being put in harm’s way by the Navy’s
plans to practice warfare in their coastal habitat, from Washington to
California. These activities can deafen and kill marine mammals, as well as
mask vital sounds needed for communication and feeding. In this case the
Navy is seeking a permit to harm and harass these animals up to two million
times over the next seven years. What’s more, the proposed rule would allow
the Navy to harm or harass marine mammals in general nearly two million
times over the next seven years. That’s extreme — and unacceptable.
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) should prevent the Navy from
disturbing these orcas by requiring mitigation measures and entirely
prohibiting testing and training in the Salish Sea and throughout orcas’
proposed critical habitat. NMFS has a duty to protect wildlife, and it
should ensure the strictest avoidance and mitigation possible. That means
requiring more robust closures to protect important habitats, setting
overall limits on the amount of military activities, and implementing better
wildlife-monitoring systems than ineffective lookouts.
Thank you for everything you do for animals!
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