Via the Ocean Conservancy:

Right Whales Swimming in the Face of Danger

As of last Friday, scientists reported that between 30 and 50 North Atlantic right whales were swimming in the Bay of Fundy off the coast of New Brunswick, Canada. Typically, they would have migrated south by this time of year. The problem with the right whales staying in these northern feeding grounds longer than usual is that the Canadian lobster fishing grounds are opening this week in precisely this area, putting right whales in the middle of danger. Because there are only about 350 North Atlantic right whales left, the loss of even one animal contributes to the risk of extinction.

Please take action today to help these right whales. Urge the Canadian Minister of Fisheries to delay opening the fishing grounds until the right whales have left the area and will no longer be in danger.

—————-

Tagged: animals animal+rights action+alerts ocean+conservancy fishing whales environment environmentalist canada

Via The Ocean Conservancy:

Sharks at Risk: Take Action to Help

When you think of sharks – you may think of magnificent ocean creatures that are sleek, fast, and invulnerable. But, sharks are in fact exceptionally vulnerable to fishing because they grow slowly and produce few young, much like humans. Yes, in many areas, particularly our South Atlantic, sharks are the target of fisheries. Sought primarily for their valuable fins but also their meat, it can be a lucrative business. But sharks just can’t recoup quickly enough to keep pace with intense fishing and many shark species are now seriously overfished, requiring decades even centuries in the case of the dusky to recover.

Two shark species – dusky and sandbar – were in such bad shape in 2002, that the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) decided to close a key shark fishing area for most of the year to help the populations of these species to rebuild. But, now NMFS has proposed a premature re-opening of this closure to shark fishing for the month of July, equating to a potential increase in fishing effort of 63%. This move would be devastating to the already depleted populations and could well put the dusky shark on a path to extinction.

Please respond to this alert by November 15 and tell NMFS not to weaken protections for severely depleted sandbar and dusky sharks off the Atlantic Coast. In your response, please also demand that the agency conduct a thorough environmental impact assessment so that decision makers and the public are fully aware of the impacts associated with changes to management measures.

————-

Tagged: environment environmentalism action+alerts the+ocean+conservancy sharks endangered conservation fishing animals animal+rights

Via The Ocean Conservancy:

Help Protect Sawfish

Smalltooth sawfish used to be common along the coast from Texas to North Carolina and found seasonally as far north as New York. Today this imperiled species is rarely found outside Southwest Florida. Fishing gear entanglement and habitat destruction have devastated sawfish populations. Scientists estimate that the U.S. population has declined by 99%.

In 1999, The Ocean Conservancy petitioned the federal government to list the smalltooth sawfish as endangered; in 2003, the species was finally listed. Our staff and the rest of the government’s sawfish recovery team have worked ever since to develop a sound plan to bring sawfish back from the brink of extinction. The plan promotes research into sawfish habits and needs, reduction in the number of sawfish accidentally caught in fishing gear, safe handling and release of animals that are captured, and protection of the coastal habitats (particularly mangroves) that are essential to sawfish. These proposed actions are critical to preventing sawfish extinction and yet will not be carried out without strong and vocal support from the public.

Please take action today and tell the federal government that you strongly support full implementation of the sawfish recovery plan.

Via The Ocean Conservancy:

Only 300 Remain… You Can Help

Finally, The National Marine Fisheries Service has proposed rules that would slow ships and protect the remaining 300 North Atlantic right whales from the risk of being struck by these vessels. Thank you to all the ocean advocates who took action and helped contribute to this success.

While this is a huge victory, there is more we need to do to ensure that these new rules are effective at slowing down ships and saving the lives of endangered right whales. Please take action once again and urge the National Marine Fisheries Service to adopt the most protective options available when implementing this new rule. We need your help to make sure these proposed rules become effective on the water before we lose another right whale to a ship strike — the species’ leading cause of death.

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: The Ocean Conservancy – livingoceans [at] oceanconservancy.org
Date: Jun 21, 2006 4:00 PM
Subject: Victory in Hawaii – Marine Protected Areas Need Your Help

The Ocean Conservancy eNewsletter

It’s been a great month for The Ocean Conservancy as we helped remove a provision harmful to sanctuaries from the Magnuson-Stevens Act, celebrated World Oceans Day nationwide and were the primary sponsors of Capitol Hill Oceans Week. Here is the latest.

Victory For The Northwest Hawaiian Islands

In a sweeping decision, President Bush last week stunned the conservation community laying to rest all further debate about the future of the Northwest Hawaiian Islands. By declaring the mostly pristine 1,200-mile archipelago a “National Monument,” the President bestowed the nation’s highest level of protection upon the area and made it the largest marine reserve in the world. The Ocean Conservancy fought hard for this designation and we are, frankly, pleased with the President’s decisive action, but … our work to establish more and larger Marine Protected Areas continues.

Read more about the Northwest Hawaiian Islands >>

Marine Protected Areas: Saving the Last, Best Places in the Oceans

The Ocean Conservancy puts great emphasis on designating large areas of our oceans as Marine Protect Areas (MPAs), because healthy, biologically diverse and vibrant ecosystems are important in their own right, but they can also be an insurance policy against the ravages of storms, human development and pollution, even against the effects of climate change. The Northwest Hawaiian Islands was an unqualified victory for all who love the oceans, but it was just one step in the marathon of strides it will take to truly protect and preserve our special ocean places.

Take action for MPAs today >>

Introducing The Ocean Conservancy’s Platinum Plus® MasterCard®

You can support The Ocean Conservancy every time you shop with an affinity credit card from MBNA. For every purchase you make using the card, MBNA makes a donation to The Ocean Conservancy at no additional cost to you. To date, MBNA has contributed more than $490,000 to The Ocean Conservancy’s important work promoting healthy and diverse ocean ecosystems.

Apply today >>

Coming in Blue Planet: A Gulf of Mexico Special Report

Coming soon, Blue Planet magazine travels to the Gulf of Mexico for a special report on the dwindling red snapper population, a look at a new consumer movement known as “sustainable seafood,” and a face-to-face with the great barracuda. All that, and a surprise or two, coming in the next Blue Planet.

To subscribe to Blue Planet, join The Ocean Conservancy today >>

Today is World Oceans Day, and the Ocean Conservancy asks that you

Speak up for the Oceans on World Oceans Day

World Oceans Day was established during the Rio De Janeiro Earth Summit in 1992 to raise awareness of the important connection between people and the oceans. You can speak up for the oceans, today, on World Oceans Day by urging the U.S. Government to make ocean protection a national priority.

Additional action alerts:

Help Protect Right Whales, Before It’s Too Late

Please take action today and demand that the National Marine Fisheries Service implement emergency measures to help save the remaining right whales before it’s too late.

…and…

Save Red Snapper for a Healthier Future for the Gulf of Mexico

Please take action to help rebuild severely depleted red snapper populations essential to a healthly Gulf of Mexico marine ecosystem.

You can also sign up for their eNewsletter here.