For Immediate Release
Contact: John Mann
July 15, 2008
(805) 483-9808
SACRAMENTO - Assemblymember Pedro Nava, Chair of the Joint Committee on Emergency Services and Homeland Security and the legislature's representative on the California Ocean Protection Council announced today that his Assembly Joint Resolution 49 calling on the United States Congress, the President, and the National Marine Fisheries Service to take action to protect the California Gray Whale cleared its final hurdle by passing the California State Assembly yesterday on a bi-partisan 56 to 19 vote. The resolution has been sent to President Bush, the Congress of the United States and the National Marine Fisheries Service.
"I am pleased that my colleagues in the Assembly and Senate have joined me in asking Congress, President Bush, and the National Marine Fisheries Service to take immediate action to protect the California Gray Whale," said Nava. "This magnificent marine mammal is again facing a number of threats to its existence and it is imperative that we act to provide it with as much protection as possible so that it will be here for future generations."
AJR 49 requests the United States Congress and the President of the United States to call upon the National Marine Fisheries Service to undertake an immediate and comprehensive assessment of the California Gray Whale, and requests that they change its status to endangered. This revised listing will provide comprehensive protections for the Gray Whale as it travels from its breeding grounds in Mexico to its feeding grounds in the Arctic.
The California Gray Whale was placed on the endangered species list in 1970, but was removed in 1994 after it was believed that the population had recovered. However new scientific evidence indicates that historic populations were up to five times their current numbers. The Gray Whale experienced a population collapse in 2000 in which up to 1/3 of the population died off and recent observations indicated that they may be in the midst of another die off. Current threats to the Gray Whale's survival include climate change, oil and gas exploration and leases in the Bering and Chukchi Sea feeding grounds, noise from seismic operations, military and non-military sonar, liquefied natural gas terminals planned along the whale's migration route, bottom trawling, pollution, and other changes in ocean conditions that have drastically reduced their food supply.
"California's coastline and the marine environment are precious and need to be protected for our children and grandchildren. This resolution will send a strong message to Congress and the President that we need to take action now to save the Gray Whale," said Nava.
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