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Daily Archives: 07/12/2015
Tell your Senators to protect southern resident orcas and Chinook salmon today!
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by Elizabeth Ruther, Defenders of Wildlife Endangered southern resident orcas could soon be starved to extinction. Known as the “fish-eating orca,” these whales have relied almost exclusively on Chinook salmon for thousands of years to survive. But increased human activity has disrupted this balance and decimated the Chinook salmon population – and if we don’t act soon, southern resident orcas will be in real danger of running out of food. ACT NOW: Tell your Senators to save the last of the southern resident orca whales! Hydroelectric dams, over fishing and habitat destruction have all contributed to the endangered status of Chinook salmon. The Columbia-Snake River basin once produced more salmon than any other river system in the world. But today, less than 5% of the historic number of fish returns to the watershed to spawn. Without a healthy population of Chinook salmon, it is doubtful that the southern resident orca population will ever recover. These whales are struggling against pollution, marine noise, vessel traffic and a shortage of food. With their population in jeopardy, southern resident orcas were finally added to the Endangered Species List in 2005 – since then, they’ve lost close to 10% of their population with fewer than 80 of these whales left in the wild. That’s why it’s so important that we defend the Endangered Species Act (ESA), for animals like the southern resident orca and the Chinook salmon. Because of human activity, these two species are now forced to rely on ESA protections to survive. Tell your Senators to take action before it’s too late! Scientists agree that restoring abundant populations of wild Columbia and Snake River Chinook salmon must be our top priority to help save and recover the southern resident orca. Orcas are culturally and economically important to Washington State. Southern resident orcas attract between $60-$75 million dollars per year in tourism, and healthy population levels have been linked to maintaining a healthy marine ecosystem. Yet despite their significance, not enough is being done to ensure the survival of the remaining population. It’s up to Washingtonians like you, who care so much for our wildlife, to stand up for these amazing creatures. Ask your Senators to step up and fight for our southern resident orcas! Thank you for all you do. Sincerely,
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Blue Sharks in danger … sign the petition
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Days to save whales
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97 Vaquitas left
Black market trade is killing vaquitas. Take action today to tell Hong Kong to stop the illegal trade that’s killing the last 97 vaquitas.
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There are only 97 vaquita porpoises left in the world, all living in Mexico’s Gulf of California. And these tiny porpoises are being senselessly killed due to a black market demand for endangered species.
Illegal trade of the endangered totoaba fish, whose swim bladder is considered a delicacy by many in Hong Kong, is putting TWO endangered species at risk: the totoaba, and the vaquitas caught and killed in the fishermen’s nets.
Your words matter. When 470,000 people from all across the globe asked the Mexican government for help, Mexico’s president immediately took action, expanding the vaquita’s protected zone and banning destructive gillnet fishing for two years.
Mexico’s actions are an important first step, but a recent undercover Greenpeace investigation discovered a vast smuggling operation of totoaba bladders from Mexico to Hong Kong. As long as the totoaba trade remains lucrative for smugglers, the vaquita will not be safe. Mexico has taken action and now Hong Kong must do its part too.
Tell Hong Kong authorities to stop the illegal trading of endangered animals before it’s too late.
Greenpeace is committed to stopping destructive fishing all over the world, whether it’s caused by illegal smugglers catching vaquita or giant industrial tuna trawls decimating Pacific fisheries. With your help, we want to turn 20% of our oceans into protected marine reserves by 2020.
You can be part of the solution. By taking action right now, you will help pressure the Hong Kong authorities to STOP the devastating trade of totoaba swim bladders, and to take tangible steps to cut the link to destructive fishing immediately.
Thank you,
Phil Kline
Senior Oceans Campaigner, Greenpeace USA
P.S. There are only 97 vaquitas left in the world. Take action now to tell Hong Kong to help save this critically endangered porpoise.
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