Hello All -
On April 22, 2009, Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) introduced the Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Amendments Act (S. 859), a bill to amend section 403 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. This bill would: - Define the term "entanglement" and add authorization for entanglement response as eligible for funding under the program; - Require the Secretary of Commerce to collect and update existing practices and procedures for rescuing and rehabilitating entangled marine mammals; - Establish an interest bearing fund in the Treasury for emergency response to marine mammal entanglement and stranding, and allow the program to solicit and accept gifts and other donations to increase the impact of the program; - Increase authorization for the program to $7 million for fiscal years 2009 to 2013; and - Increase the maximum grant for projects from $100,000 to $200,000. A copy of the bill can be found at: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills &docid=f:s859is.txt.pdf The U.S. Marine Mammal Stranding Network performs a critical science and conservation function by responding to live and dead stranded marine mammals, collecting biological samples, and rehabilitating injured or sick animals. Data collected from stranding events also help identify and protect against increasing threats to marine mammal populations. However, funds to support and expand stranding response efforts throughout the U.S. are limited. Please take a moment to send in letters of support for this legislation, addressed to Senator Cantwell, the lead sponsor of this legislation, Senator Rockefeller, the Chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, and Senator Hutchinson, the Ranking Member of the Committee. Your letter doesn't have to be very long, it just needs to say why marine mammal stranding and entanglement response is important and to convey your support for quick passage of this important legislation. I have included addresses to send the letters to, as well as a copy of Ocean Conservancy's letter to the Committee as an example. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Please send your letters of support to: The Honorable Maria Cantwell Chairwoman, Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and Coast Guard Subcommittee Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 The Honorable John D. Rockefeller, IV Chairman, Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation United States Senate Washington DC 20510 The Honorable Kay Bailey Hutchison Ranking Member, Committee on Commerce Science and Transportation United States Senate Washington DC 20510 Sample Letter, from Ocean Conservancy to the Committee on Commerce Science and Transportation: On behalf of Ocean Conservancy and our more than 500,000 members, volunteers and activists, I write to express our strong support for S.859 - the Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Amendments Act of 2009 - and to urge your committee to move forward with consideration of this important piece of legislation. This bill would expand the capabilities of the nation's marine mammal stranding network by providing additional authorizations for response to both stranded and entangled marine mammals, and by allowing necessary funding to be provided to marine mammal rescuers more expeditiously. When Congress passed the Marine Mammal Protection Act in 1972, it recognized the importance of marine mammals as a resource of great international significance, and determined that marine mammals should be protected and populations developed to the greatest extent feasible to maintain the health and stability of the marine ecosystem. While many marine mammals have benefited from these protections, others continue to be impacted by human activities such as commercial and recreational fishing, shipping and other vessel operations, coastal and nearshore construction, military sonar, oil and gas exploration and development, and increasingly, global climate change. The Marine Mammal Stranding Network is a largely volunteer network of marine mammal biologists and researchers that respond to strandings and entanglements of live and dead marine mammals. Throughout the United States, network members collect and share information from these events that help us better manage human activities so as to minimize impacts on marine mammals and other ocean wildlife. By including entanglement events as an activity that would fall under the Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program, this legislation would greatly enhance information collected from entangled marine mammals. Just this past winter, there were five entangled North Atlantic right whales off Florida and Georgia - highly detrimental to a critically endangered population of only about 400 whales. Efforts by local responders helped to disentangle these whales from their constricting lines, greatly increasing their chance for survival. Rescuers were also able to retrieve the gear entangling these whales and, in one instance, determine the source as Canadian lobster gear. Information on the source of gear recovered from entangled whales will direct management efforts more effectively to help prevent entanglements from occurring in the future. Ocean Conservancy strongly urges the passage of S. 859 by the Committee, and we look forward to working with you to continue to enhance protections for marine mammals and other ocean wildlife. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ --- Thank you for your help to highlight and promote the important work being done by U.S. marine mammal stranding network members. My apologies if you have already received this request from another posting. Vicki Cornish Vice President, Marine Wildlife Conservation Ocean Conservancy 1300 19th Street NW, 8th Floor Washington, DC 20036 Telephone: 202.351.0452 E-mail: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> www.oceanconservancy.org <http://www.oceanconservancy.org>
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