A Whale of a Week...Northeast Canyons, Seamounts Marine National Monument, The Storm Whale in Winter
- Don Lichterman
- Jun 22, 2020
- 5 min read
We can restore our oceans in 30 years
New research shows that we can restore our oceans by 2050. Once struggling populations of several marine life species around the globe are rebounding. But threats like plastic pollution, climate change and overfishing still threaten our oceans. Join Oceana to help restore our oceans: https://bit.ly/2WNmRm0
Lawsuit to Save the Atlantic's First Ocean Monument
On Tuesday the Center for Biological Diversity and allies filed a lawsuit challenging President Trump's June 5 executive order allowing commercial fishing in Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, created by President Obama in 2016. The Antiquities Act lets presidents create national monuments to protect objects of historic or scientific interest, but not to revoke protections. The still-new monument is a 4,900-square-mile marine protected area off New England harboring critically endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtles, endangered North Atlantic right whales, sperm whales and numerous others — including fragile deep-sea corals that take centuries to grow. We moved fast to push back on President Trump's illegal order, and we'll keep pushing. Learn more and consider supporting this work with a donation to our Saving Life on Earth Fund.
Benji Davies reads The Storm Whale in Winter
Award-winning author and illustrator, Benji Davies, reads the story of The Storm Whale in Winter for WDC supporters. Benji’s books are available from all good retailers.
If you are purchasing on https://smile.amazon.co.uk, why not choose Whale and Dolphin Conservation as your nominated charity.
Find out more about Benji and his books at:
Whale and Dolphin Conservation are supporting efforts by local NGO, Fundacion Cethus, to carry out vital research and protect southern right whales as their numbers recover in Argentina. More at: https://uk.whales.org/whales-dolphins...
Take Action: Speak Up for West Coast Orcas
The alarming decline of endangered West Coast orcas continues. Despite the fact that only 73 individuals are left — and another was recently declared missing and presumed dead — the U.S. Navy's moving forward with a plan for seven years of war games in their habitat. Its proposal calls for surface and underwater exercises, explosives, and bursts of sonar along the California, Oregon and Washington coasts. These activities can deafen and kill marine mammals, as well as mask vital sounds needed for communication and feeding. In this case the Navy is seeking a permit to harm and harass these animals up to 2 million times over the next seven years. Act now: Urge the National Marine Fisheries Service to protect West Coast orcas and other marine mammals from deadly war games.
A young North Atlantic right whale swims close to her mom as they begin their annual migration north for summer.
The mother and calf will face countless threats along their journey, including the brutal and all too common: entanglement in fishing gear.
Researchers have observed entangled North Atlantic right whales dragging heavy fishing gear for hundreds of miles. With each passing mile, the gear ropes tighten around the whale, tearing through its skin, cutting deep into bones, and creating life-threatening injuries. The whale’s fins and tail fluke can end up totally or partially amputated. Eventually, the whale can perish from exhaustion and infection.
Only about 400 North Atlantic right whales remain, and they’re dying faster than they can reproduce. There’s no time to waste. That’s why Oceana is campaigning in both the United States and Canada – the entirety of these whales’ migration route – to win impactful policies that can save these whales. But our work depends on your support.
In honor of our Summer Membership Campaign, some of you will receive our exclusive Oceana reusable utensil pack.
You’re witnessing firsthand the first extinction of a great whale species in the Atlantic Ocean in over a century. Just earlier this year, a mother whale named Dragon was seen entangled off the coast of Massachusetts. Heavy fishing lines and a large buoy wrapped around her mouth, cutting through her skin and preventing her from feeding properly.
Dragon’s not alone. At least 30 North Atlantic right whales have died in the last three years, and of the ones that a cause of death could be determined, half of these died from fishing entanglement and ship strikes. Now, fewer than 100 breeding females remain.
But we have reason for hope.
This year’s North Atlantic right whale calving season just ended with nine new calves sighted off the U.S. Southeast coast.That’s not enough to save this species but seeing those baby whales is an encouraging reminder of what we’re fighting for.
We know what needs to be done. The U.S. and Canadian governments must work together to prevent entanglements in fishing gear and collisions with ships before we lose North Atlantic right whales forever.
With the support of Wavemakers like you, we’re calling on U.S. and Canada to take urgent action, including:
Reducing the amount of vertical lines from fishing gear in U.S. and Canadian Atlantic waters
Modifying fishing gear and practices to reduce the likelihood and severity of entanglements.
Requiring ships to slow down where North Atlantic right whales are known to frequent.
And thanks to your support, we’re making progress.
The Canadian government is implementing closures when right whales are nearby, and the U.S. government is reviewing its speed reduction zones to ensure they are effective. But there’s more to be done, and we can’t do it alone.
Our companies are known for creating products that enhance people's lives. Through Sunset Corporation of America and its companies, we’re equally dedicated to improving lives. Our commitment extends to helping local communities, fostering better educational systems, supporting the arts and culture, helping disadvantaged youth, protecting and improving the environment, animal welfare, wildlife issues and encouraging employee volunteerism.
The Sustainable Action Network (SAN), A Don Lichterman non-profit organization dedicated to building a global community raising awareness of corruption, injustice and the need for action across a full range of issues impacting people and animal/wildlife welfare around the world, such as conservation, climate change, campaign law, lobbying, government action and rescue work. SAN’s vision is to create safer world, free from political, environmental, and social oppression, where all the inhabitants of Earth can live in harmony within their own natural environments. Our commitment extends to helping local communities, fostering better educational systems, supporting the arts and culture, helping disadvantaged youth, protecting and improving the environment, animal welfare, wildlife issues and encouraging employee volunteerism.
CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY
ANIMAL RESCUES WELFARE, CRIMES & ABUSE
PROTECT OUR WILDLIFE
Whales & A Whale of a Week!
