Protecting large whales

We are writing to correct an error in the Sept. 1 article, “Rope rule threatens lobster industry.” Contrary to the representation in that article, the Ocean Conservancy and the Humane Society of the United States filed a lawsuit earlier this year to have the National Marine Fisheries Service immediately publish a long-awaited plan to protect large whales from entanglement in fishing gear. Our lawsuit did not stipulate the content of the plan; it only succeeded in ending the deadlock.

Under the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act a final Take Reduction Plan was required to be published no later than two months after the public comment on the proposed plan closed in August 2005. Despite this requirement and the critical need for additional whale protection measures, the plan has languished for the past two years. As a result of our lawsuit, the final plan is required to be published by Oct. 1.

Our groups, along with numerous other stakeholders including fishermen and scientists, have worked for years to help NMFS create a plan to end the entanglement of endangered large whales in fishing gear all along the East Coast. Our goal is to keep that process moving, and we will continue to fight for the survival of endangered large whales – including the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale. With only about 300 animals left in existence, scientists have made clear that we cannot afford to lose even a single animal to death in fishing gear. There is no room for error or delay. We must use all tools at our disposal to save this species.

Vicki Cornish

director, Marine Wildlife Conservation

Ocean Conservancy

Washington, D.C.

Sharon Young

marine issues field director

The Humane Society of the United States

Bourne, Mass.