Sea Shepherd call on supporters to help push whale sanctuary expansion
Sea Shepherd is calling on their supporters to send comments to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in support of its proposal to expand the Hawai’ian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. This sanctuary, currently covering approximately 1,370 square miles within the shallow and warm waters surrounding the main Hawai’ian Islands, includes one of the world’s most important humpback whale habitats. Your comments in support of the whales are greatly needed, as comments against the proposal have been submitted by fishermen and others opposed to the expansion of this protected marine area.
NOAA has proposed a new, ecosystem-based management plan which would expand the size of the sanctuary to 1,601 square miles. You can read the details of the proposal and submit your comments here.
Sea Shepherd supports NOAA’s plan because:
- The size of the sanctuary would increase by 235 square miles – to 1,601 square miles
- The sanctuary would include critically important and bio-diverse areas, including stands of healthy coral, and populations of marine mammal species such as whales and monk seals
- Multiple species and habitats would be protected
- Restrictions on extractive industries and pollutant discharge would be more specific
- Legal protections for marine species and habitats would be broader and better defined
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS OPEN UNTIL 11:59PM ET ON JUNE 19th.
Sea Shepherd encourages you to send your comment telling NOAA that you support the sanctuary plan.
Visit this page and click “Comment Now” in the upper right-hand corner to submit your comment.
