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Protect Ocean Wildlife and Keep Tuna Dolphin-Safe!
Target: Dr. William Hogarth, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NMFS; Colin Powell, United States Secretary of StateSponsored by: Defenders of Wildlife
The Bush Administration is trying to weaken the definition of the dolphin-safe label on tuna cans and pouches despite broad bipartisan public support for the program. The proposed changes to this successful program would allow tuna caught using the harmful practice of chasing and setting nets on dolphins to be labeled "dolphin-safe.” This policy has the potential to devastate dolphin populations, especially three dolphin populations in the Eastern Pacific -- the northeastern offshore spotted, the eastern spinner, and the coastal spotted – which have all seen their numbers plummet as a result of dolphin-deadly fishing practices.
Other Marine Wildlife Is In Jeopardy! Scientists worldwide recognize that large-scale industrial fishing techniques -- such as purse-seining, longlining, and drift-netting -- are devastating our oceans and the countless wildlife species that live within them. Dolphins, endangered sea turtles, sharks, sea birds and other marine wildlife are all falling victim to the nets and lines of tuna fishermen and the pressure of overfishing, especially in the Pacific Ocean. (Visit savedolphins.org for more information)
Sea Turtles in Trouble: Sea turtles, abundant throughout the world's oceans for millennia, are being killed when they become entangled in fishing gear or caught as bycatch in fishing nets. All eight of the world's sea turtle species are now listed as threatened with extinction. Within the last decade, the Eastern Pacific populations of the critically endangered leatherback turtle have declined by 78%.
Sharks in Danger: Sharks, due to their low birth rate, slow maturation and growth patterns, and naturally small populations, are extremely vulnerable to pressures from fisheries and human exploitation. Pacific populations of Angel Sharks, Lemon Sharks, and Blue Sharks, to name a few, are all facing grave dangers from overfishing practices. (Visit savesharks.org for more information)
We need your help in convincing the Bush Administration to finally demonstrate leadership position on these issues at the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission and elsewhere. We cannot sit by passively as our dolphin-safe tuna label is rendered meaningless and our ocean resources are destroyed by overfishing. Sign Now! Once you have signed, tell your friends about this imminent threat to these magnificent marine mammals!
So many areas of the ocean have been over-fished and species are needlessly killed in commercial nets.
They are needlessly becoming polluted by industry, including the cruise lines! They are also being overfished in many areas.Leave it to the Bush Administration to put business and commercial wants in front of good environmental policy.
The health of the ecosystem which is our planet depends on all components of it being healthy and in balance.
We seem to be finding more and more ways to unbalance the ecosystems within the ocean which we rely on for the proper balance of the whole planet.
We as a species have no right to wipe out biodiversity on Earth -- not for sport, not for food, not for economic profit.
The Bush administration forms policy based on corporate interests, not environmental responsibility.
It may save our lives one day.
our very lives as a species depends on it, if for no other reason!
because that's where life started, and that's where it could end.
We are all surrounded by the oceans, and rely on them for life on this Earth to continue as we know it. Killing off the oceans, or pollutting them further will only create o9ceans of Death instead of Life
Every ocean species deserves to be protected. It's our duty to preserve the lives of our oceans creatures.
I am an inhabitant of this planet and I care.
The main thing is it needs to be preserved.
Humans are out of control with the greed of land the way it is, it looks as if the ocean is next. It has to stop.
The oceans are a crucial part of our eco-systems. We must protect them.
We are all inter-related.
Dolphins are awesome man!
It's the right thing, duh
we all share the same home/planet.
once they're dead, so are we.
Once resources are lost, you can't get them back.
Healthy oceans keep us healthy too. Look at the increases in global warming in just the last 10 years. This thoughtless use of non-renewable resources must stop.
This resource belongs to us and to the next generation
Healthy oceans and oceanlife represent a healthy Planet
we can't clean out the pollution once it gets too bad
They clean our air.
The entire planet depends on it
We are destroying them at an alarming rate
Dolphins are very intelligent. We need to protect all life, but especially dolphins.
The oceans are at the critical point of no return. Its either now or never.
Our "future" depends on the health of the seas. Water and life go hand in hand, If our oceans die so will humanity.
As was said in a movie I saw one "TO hunt a species to extiction is not logical" We cannot continue to slaughter the oceans of the life of the seas just for our amusement. Mr Bush, you have obviously never personally looked in the eyes of a dolphin or whale and see them looking back at you. With wonder amazement and intelligence. We are all "citizens " of this world and have a need to be here by the will of God or the will of nature.
It's part of the world and we don't have a right to destroy it.
I love the sea, and I hate to see it destroyed.
We rely on the oceans for our own well-being. Fail to protect them at our own peril.
This is what we are leaving for our future generations. God gave us many gifts, we need to nuture and protect them.
It's my responsibility
we seem to be depleting these wonderful resources faster than they can be replinished.
No just Ocean wildlife, all wildlife is important for the existence of human beings. We all depende on each oter.
our environments health reflects our own.
They provide us more species to admire and respect, and to add diversity to the imagination.
If we destroy the precious contents of the ocean we lose our animal friends and lose potential future medicin.
WE cannot expect to DESTROY what does NOT BELONG TO US without paying a price!