Encourage the State of Alaska to list Beluga Whales on the Endangered Species Act.

Over a year ago dthe NOAA recommended that Alaska's cook Inlet Beluga Whale be place on the Endangered Species Act. The number of whales in the inlet waters has gone down to an estimated 302 animals as of last april and is at an inherant risk of going instinct within the next 100 years. The Cook Inlet Beluga is a sub-species of the Beluga Whale which inhabits mostly Arctic waters and St. Lawrence River in Canada. It is a small toothed whale and like most Cetecans is subject to toxic wastes in the waters. The NOAA was partially successful in getting the support of the community and 150,00 signatures, yet ultimately the State of Alaska opposed the listing. want to get 10,000 signatures so we can get more protection for this lesser known Whale. The Scientific field does not know entirely why this whale is not recovering since the subsistence hunt was curtailed in 1999. Defenders was

successful in getting things started for this whale, however the State of Alaska opposed it. We need to encourage the state to seek further protection and thats what my petition is about.