TELL CANADIAN AND U.S. GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO PROTECT NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALES

URGENT: Highly endangered North Atlantic right whales are on the verge of extinction, and seven per cent of the population died in just the past three years. Only around 400 right whales remain. Without aggressive action now, this could be the first large whale to go extinct in the Atlantic Ocean in centuries.

Entanglements in fishing gear and collisions with ships are the leading causes of death – both of which are preventable.

The Canadian and U.S. governments must stand united in efforts to protect North Atlantic right whales from collisions with ships and entanglements in fishing gear.

Tell your federal government officials to take immediate action to protect North Atlantic right whales from extinction. Speak up now, before these iconic whales are gone forever.

Admiral

Karl

Schultz

U.S. Coast Guard

Mr.

Chris

Oliver

NOAA Fisheries

Mr.

Jonathan

Wilkinson

Department of Fisheries and Oceans

Minister

Marc

Garneau

Ministry of Transport

Dear Canadian and U.S. Government Officials,

North Atlantic right whales are one of the most endangered whales in the world, with only around 400 individuals left. Since 2017, a staggering 28 right whales have died in U.S. and Canadian waters and only seven new calves have been seen this year.

Fortunately, we know what the problem is. The two greatest threats to North Atlantic right whales are collisions with ships and entanglements in fishing gear. In 2019, researchers looked at the causes of 70 North Atlantic right whale deaths recorded between 2003 and 2018 in the U.S. and Canada. Where the cause of death could be determined, nearly 90% died as a direct result of fishing gear entanglements or ship strikes. Nearly 83% of right whales have been entangled in fishing gear at least once in their lives.

The U.S. and Canadian governments must save these whales. As the heads of the agencies and departments tasked with protecting endangered ocean wildlife and overseeing shipping and fishing, you have a legal and moral responsibility to act swiftly. Both countries already have the tools needed to change the trajectory of these whales from extinction to recovery.

That’s why I am standing with Oceana to call on you to take the following actions as soon as possible to protect North Atlantic right whales:

●	Reduce the amount of vertical lines used in fixed-gear fisheries in U.S. and Canadian Atlantic waters.
●	Implement effective fisheries closures that remove threats to right whales when they are present.
●	Modify fishing gear and practices to reduce the likelihood and severity of entanglements.
●	Enhance fisheries monitoring and require public tracking of fishing vessels.
●	Enact seasonal speed restrictions in areas where right whales are known to frequent and implement short-term restrictions in additional areas when they are detected.
●	Provide long-term funding and capacity building for research, monitoring and risk reduction.
●	Expand and strengthen response networks comprising researchers, environmental organizations, industry groups and stakeholders, and government decision-makers to help manage the crisis and start rebuilding the population.

Please stand up for North Atlantic right whales. Time is running out, and their survival depends on you.

Sincerely,
{user_data~First Name} {user_data~Last Name}

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