Seabirds are often the first thing we see—and hear—on the coast. Flying above the waves, they make up the soundtrack of life on the water. These majestic creatures rely on tiny fish called forage fish for their survival, but they face stiff competition with the large, industrial fishing operators that also harvest these fish. Two […]
Tag: national marine fisheries service
Another Loss Brings West Coast’s Beloved Orcas to a 30-Year Low
Conservationists are mourning another tragic loss for the west coast’s beloved orcas, whose population is now the lowest it’s been in 30 years. These orcas, who are otherwise known as the southern resident killer whales, live in three distinct pods (J,K and L) that travel through Puget Sound, the Straight of Georgia and the Strait […]
No Calves This Year Means Right Whales Are Closer to Extinction
Scientists were already worried about the survival of North Atlantic right whales following a slew of tragic deaths over the past year. Now, even more concerns are being raised about the lack of calves this year. Once considered the “right” whales to kill, this species was nearly hunted to extinction. Today, there are estimated to […]
POLL: Should the Pacific Bluefin Tuna be given endangered species protection?
Pacific bluefin tuna have declined by a staggering 97 percent, but the Trump administration has declined to grant them much-needed federal protection that would have helped ensure their survival. Pacific bluefin tuna are slow-growing, taking years to fully mature, and long-lived, which makes them especially vulnerable to overfishing. The demand for them, particularly for sushi, […]
The World’s Most Endangered Porpoise Could Be Gone by 2018
Conservationists have been sounding the alarm for years over concerns that the world’s smallest porpoise is heading towards extinction, but things are looking even more dire with a prediction that they could disappear forever as soon as 2018. The vaquita only exists in a small area in the Gulf of California, off the coast of […]
The Tea Party Hits a New Low With Attack on Endangered Species
While conservationists and wildlife enthusiasts celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) last week, Tea Party members were busy working on a bill to gut the act, which will put the most vulnerable plants and animals at even more risk. The ESA was enacted in 1973 in an effort to protect the […]
Future of Great Whites in the Hands of California Leaders
We are alarmed by the recent decision by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) not to provide needed protections for U.S. West Coast great white sharks under the federal Endangered Species Act. NMFS declined protections despite current science estimates of only a few hundred sub-adult and adult white sharks at their primary aggregation sites. The […]
California’s Shark Fin Ban Officially in Effect! The Catch Is…
Let’s start with the good news: As of yesterday, July 1, California’s shark fin ban (passed in 2011) officially came into effect! California grocers that stocked shark fins and restaurants that offered shark fin soup on the menu had 18 months to move their product. During the 18 month interim, the Los Angeles Times reports […]
