Don't Allow Whales to be Slaughtered off the Washington Coast!
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is inappropriately considering allowing gray whales to be slaughtered off the coast of Washington. Pierced with harpoons and riddled with numerous bullets, these magnificent creatures will suffer extreme pain if NMFS permits the hunt.
The hunt threatens not only a recovering population of Eastern North Pacific gray whales, but the few remaining individuals left in the endangered Western North Pacific and also the Pacific Coast Feeding Group populations. There is a very strong chance that whales within these smaller groups will be killed because it is virtually impossible to tell the difference between the populations, particularly given that hunts are often chaotic and conducted in tumultuous ocean conditions.
There is far too much scientific uncertainty about the impact a hunt would have on gray whales and the environment. Additionally, NMFS is not adequately considering the cumulative impacts of all the other threats to gray whales - such as navy sonar and other underwater noise, climate change, ocean acidification, oil and gas development, ship strikes and pollution.
The proposed hunt in Washington is just the first step toward a dangerous precedent that would undermine the global moratorium on whaling. Whale watching is a meaningful and economically lucrative alternative that helps maintain the gray whale's iconic role in numerous cultures.
Gray whales have been known to migrate up to 22,000 kilometers, nearly 14,000 miles, crossing the jurisdictions of multiple countries. So this is an issue of international concern.
Please sign this petition to submit your official public comment opposing the hunt of gray whales and requesting that NMFS deny any permits to hunt gray whales in Pacific Coast waters.
Dear NMFS,
I am writing to oppose opening U.S. waters for whale hunting. The proposed hunt threatens not only a recovering population of Eastern North Pacific gray whales, but the few remaining individuals left in the endangered Western North Pacific and also the Pacific Coast Feeding Group populations. There is a very strong chance that whales in these smaller groups will be killed because it is virtually impossible to tell the difference between the populations - particularly under chaotic hunt and tumultuous ocean conditions.
There is far too much scientific uncertainty about the impact a hunt would have on gray whales and the environment. Your own scientists acknowledge that the hunt alternatives proposed "are likely to have an adverse impact" on gray whales. Additionally, NMFS is not adequately considering the cumulative impacts of all the other threats to gray whales - such as navy sonar and other underwater noise, climate change, ocean acidification, oil and gas development, ship strikes, and pollution.
The proposed hunt is just the first step toward a dangerous precedent that would undermine the global moratorium on whaling. Whale watching is a meaningful and economically lucrative alternative that helps maintain the gray whale's iconic role in numerous cultures. Holding a "ceremonial hunt" is another manner to represent the cultural importance of whales, while ensuring that no whales are killed.
As a concerned citizen and stakeholder, I strongly oppose the hunt of gray whales and request that NMFS deny any permits to hunt gray whales in our Pacific Coast waters.
Thank you.
Se flere underskriftsindsamlinger: 