Protect Cook Inlet white whales!

Protect Cook Inlet white whales!

I pledge to...

<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://ori.wufoo.com/forms/beluga-whale/">https://ori.wufoo.com/forms/beluga-whale/</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />&nbsp;Protect Cook Inlet white whales!<br /><br />Beluga WhalePlease read the letter and fill out the information at the bottom. Letters complete with names, locations and your comments will be printed and presented to the Dr. Jane Lubchenco in Washington on March 7, 2009.&nbsp; (Time has been extended&nbsp;until July 30th, 2009) Dr. Jane Lubchenco<br />NOAA<br /><br />Dear Dr. Lubchenco,<br /><br />Just when NOAA does right for Cook Inlet Beluga Whales and their precious habitat by designating this population of white whales "endangered", the Governor of Alaska says the state will sue to overturn the responsible protective steps taken by NOAA-NMFS. With trouble ahead, I write to support your vigorous defense of ocean wildlife both in Cook Inlet and in all American ocean waters. I write to speak up for whales and ecosystem-based management.<br /><br />I truly believe that these beluga whales are in trouble. The low numbers and shrinking population causes Cook Inlet beluga whales to be much more vulnerable to all natural sources of mortality, such as disease, predation and stranding. Limiting their range to portions of Cook Inlet, the belugas are particularly vulnerable to human caused sources of whale weakening and mortality as well. Oil drilling tailings are not regulated. Sewage insufficiently treated; non-point source and storm overflows are untreated. Heavy metals, petro-chemicals and endocrine disruptive chemicals bio-accumulate in the fat tissues of belugas and are magnified when passed from mother to calf.<br /><br />Such persistent pollutants can affect the fertility and reproductive rate of whales. Meanwhile, ship traffic through Cook Inlet is increasing with Anchorage exceeding the projected tonnage growth rate of 2.5 percent per year. NMFS is right to object to the Port of Anchorage expansion project that proposes to fill approximately 135 acres of intertidal and shallow subtidal habitat in Knik Arm, including habitat used preferentially by Chinook and coho salmon and also used by Cook Inlet beluga whales. Surely the Port can be expanded without destroying critical habitats.<br /><br />Alaska's marine ecosystems and fisheries are particularly vulnerable to the immediate impacts of global warming temperature variations and carbon-loading of the atmosphere. A third to one half of increased atmospheric carbon goes into the ocean causing acidification of seawater and further challenging marine invertebrates in Cook Inlet, a vital part of the beluga's food pyramid. <br /><br />Scientists have calculated that ocean acidification could serve as a high-powered amplifier, allowing some undersea sounds to travel as much as 70 percent farther. As a result of atmospheric carbon absorbed into sea water, the whistling and chirping "sea canaries" of Cook Inlet will be further stressed by the sounds of human activity. Acidification making undersea sounds more pervasive could further interrupt beluga mating and feeding habits. <br /><br />Taking adaptive environmental management steps to avert these problems will not only save belugas, it will benefit Alaska's economy by increasing seafood value and tourism.<br /><br />Thank you for doing everything in your power to better their home waters and to protect Cook Inlet white whales. <br /><br />Sincerely,<br />

[Your name]