Protect California's Sea Animals

Humpback whales feeding in Monterey Bay. Richard Fitzer.

Each summer, humpback whales flock to the California coast to eat herring, krill, and other small tasty fish. But these small fish are dwindling in numbers, in part due to ocean acidification, pollution, and fishing pressure.

We need to be smarter about how we fish and leave more small fish in the oceans for the big animals to eat.

Right now, there is legislation in the California State Assembly that highlights the importance of prey fish and calls for a scientific approach to fishing for them.

Speak up for California's ocean creatures, big and small.

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Dear California Senators, Assemblymembers, and Governor Brown:

I am writing to support protection of forage species- the base of the marine food web- through AB 1299. California needs this legislation that will establish a state policy to guide management of forage species by requiring that fisheries managers account for how much forage needs to be left in the ocean to support a healthy ecosystem.

Healthy and abundant populations of forage species are critical to the sustainability of wild fish, marine mammals, and seabirds, not to mention the sustainability and/or recovery of key fishery species like Chinook salmon, yelloweye rockfish, albacore tuna, California halibut, sablefish, and white seabass.

Threats to forage species include ocean acidification, pollution, fishing pressure, habitat degradation, global climate change, and demand for feeds in the agriculture and aquaculture industries.

Currently, there is no consistent state policy governing management of forage species.

Healthy fisheries and healthy oceans depend on a healthy food web, and forage species provide the foundation. I strongly urge you to vote in favor of this important legislation.

Oceana | Protecting the World's Oceans

Protect California's Sea Animals