Dear MARMAM community, The Southern Resident killer whales (SRKWs) are one of the most endangered marine mammal populations in the world and are continuing to decline with only 73 individuals left in the wild. After being listed under the US Endangered Species Act in 2005, critical habitat was designated in the population's typical spring/summer habitat - the inland waters of the Salish Sea. A designation for the coastal portion of their range (Northern California through Washington coastal waters) was deferred due to lack of data. The information compiled since then overwhelmingly shows the importance of coastal habitat for the SRKWs. They rely on seasonal salmon runs as far south as the Central Valley in California, and spend a significant portion of the year off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California. The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the National Marine Fisheries Service to revise critical habitat and include coastal waters in 2014, and the proposed rule was finally released this fall. The SRKW community has continued to decline since their 2005 ESA listing, and are in dire need of additional protective measures.
The Center for Biological Diversity and Whale and Dolphin Conservation have collaborated to draft this scientist support letter for expanding SRKW critical habitat, <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdEkWckdGUNiRFNwps-q-KtCpsoroUqbJdIxqT5QkqhUaiTug/viewform?usp=sf_link> and we hope the MARMAM scientific community can show strong support for this revision and urge NMFS to finalize this proposal ASAP. The support of expert scientists will help ensure that the essential things SRKWs need to survive - available prey, better water quality, and safe passage conditions - are protected in their coastal range, and helps confirm the strength of the science this rule is based on. The letter and sign-on detail can be viewed/accessed here <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdEkWckdGUNiRFNwps-q-KtCpsoroUqbJdIxqT5QkqhUaiTug/viewform?usp=sf_link> Please contact colleen.wei...@whales.org with any questions, comments, or minor edits. Cheers, -Colleen --
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