Posted on 12/16/2004 6:20:59 PM PST by AM2000
SEATTLE (Reuters) - Killer whales in the Pacific Northwest's Puget Sound should be protected as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act, government scientists said on Thursday.
"Our recovery efforts are already under way for these killer whales," Bob Lohn, head of the National Marine Fisheries Service's northwest regional office, said in a statement.
The orcas, a pod of 84 that spends several months of the year in the frigid waters of Washington state's Puget Sound, are currently protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Designating the pod as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act will extend protection for the orcas to include the habitat, and not just the whales, Lohn said.
Several pods of orcas can be found along the Northwestern coast of the United States, feeding on salmon and sea lions. Tour boats regularly take visitors out to view the orcas.
After public hearings, the proposed listing of the whales as a threatened population could be finalized a year from now, the agency said.
"Designating the pod as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act will extend protection for the orcas to include the habitat, and not just the whales, Lohn said."
In other words, the taking of private property without $ compensation.
What difference could this possibly make? It's not like we're hunting them or even having dead Orcas washing up on the beaches.
There are no "Puget Sound Orca", as if that is some different sort of Orca. There are Orcas in Puget Sound, the San Juans, and the whole of the inland passage up through Canada and Alaska. The pods move around. They're not even really sure where they all go from time to time. Sometimes they just seem to go away, only to show up again some months later.
Makes you wonder what this is really all about, since obviously it isn't about Orcas.
Right, but with this designation they will not have to wait for any actual provable damage, all you have to do is allege a potential threat and you can start shutting things down.
Its the old situation of the 60s radicals adopting a cause that can't reject them as an attempt to implement their leftist policies.
But there's the rub... what's to shut down? There is really darn little that we do that has much effect on Orcas. The MMPA already says we can't get boats close to them. Beyond that, there's not much we could stop doing or start doing that would impact them one way or the other.
There was a spill in one of the tributaries last summer. Lets shut down all fuel shipments into the Sound. Small boats leak a disproportionate amount of oil and gas. Lets shut down Shil Shoal marina (and the others). And those Military ships... We Don't need them!!
Its not hard do imagine what they might demand in two or 5 years.
But Orcas are so cuddly (gag) how could deny them this protection! Then the precedent is set, and every tiny tributary of even minor streams can be designated protected habitat if the local frog population drops (even if the countryside nearby is awash with frogs). Any sub-population will qualify. It then becomes not an Endangered Species act, but a Endangered INDIVIDUAL animal act.
Slippery Slope.
Yah, I understand, and you're right in that reason and logic play no role in any of this.
Nevermind that Puget Sound has been largely the same, in terms of Marina usage, military activity, and pretty much every other measure for the past sixty years. In fact, in years past there were many more ships moving in and out of Bremerton, for example.
Human activity just doesn't affect Orcas very much, and I'm sure this fact really annoys the greenies.
I actually know several Orcas, personally, and they (honestly) know me, or at least they used to. For several years we would vacation in Orlando 3 or 4 times a year and had annual passes to SeaWorld, as well as the Disney parks. My favorite thing on vacation was to send the family off to the shows and rides while I sat in the Killer Whale stadium BETWEEN SHOWS to read my "vacation book."
I got to know the trainers quite well and, through them, got to know the whales. Whenever we'd come back and go to that area of the park the whales would react and play with us on our first visit. The trainers told us that was the way they reacted when a trainer who had left the park would come back for a visit. They remembered us and were happy to see us.
It's rather startling to have the largest animal in captivity in the world squirt water on you and realize he understood it as a joke. We saw one birth and were present for the work up for four more. The trainers used to tell us they could tell when the whale would be born by when we left Orlando. It was guaranteed within three days! We learned the commands for some of the simpler behaviors (like 'do a jump') and some of the whales would even respond to us giving them.
Now that's cool.
Killer Whales are not endangered. They roam the world and this pod is only one (changeable) family group among thousands. This is a total crock. And the whales I know would eat the enviro whacko's trying to use them this way and laugh about it afterwards.
Interesting story. I agree WRT your take on orcas. They and dolphins (cetaceans in general) are remarkable animals. I particularly agree about the clear sense of humor that they exhibit from time to time. This alone suggests a higher order of intelligence. They're amazing critters to be around.
If only they had opposable thumbs, things might have turned out very differently. :-)
I am an environmentalist. I'm a charter member in the Cousteau Society. I live on the water and will fight vigorously for the cleanliness of my sound and my beach. But I also understand the difference between real science and junk science.
BTT!!!!!
The government marine scientists have increased their knowledge pool from the recently promoted and transfered lynx hair scientists.
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