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Dear Humanitarian: We are writing
you to ask that you contact your H.R. 1769, an amendment to the Marine Mammal
Protection Act (MMPA) that failed to pass last year, has been reintroduced in
the US House of Representatives by Representative Brian Baird (D-WA).
Promoted as a measure to protect endangered salmon living in the These salmon are in desperate need of help, but killing sea lions will not solve the problem. The US Army Corps of Engineers found that sea lions only consume approximately 3 percent of the salmon runs. Habitat degradation and the Bonneville Dam, which prevents salmon migrations, are the actual two leading causes of the decline. It is unreasonable to think that wild animals can be trained to avoid their natural prey. The Bonneville Dam fish ladders concentrate the salmon, exposing them to sea lions. It is likely that new sea lions will take the place of those who are removed – killing them will merely provide an annual body count. The bill also removes the requirement to allow for proper public consultation. The proposal would exempt the issuance of the lethal removal permits from public comment procedures currently provided by the National Environmental Protection Act, a cornerstone piece of American legislation that ensures government transparency and public accountability for federal actions. Fortunately, Representative Jim McDermott
(D-WA) has introduced H.R. 1507, the Salmon Economic Analysis and Planning
Act (SEAPA). This bipartisan bill calls for independent and unbiased
economic and scientific analyses to create a sound recovery plan that would help
the 13 endangered stocks of salmon and steelhead found in the WHAT YOU CAN DO: Please call or fax your elected Representative ASAP, asking him or her to oppose H.R. 1769. Point out that this amendment will not save the salmon, that it will severely undermine the safeguards of the MMPA, and that it will remove transparency in government decision-making. Also respectfully request that he or she show support for H.R. 1507 by becoming a cosponsor of the bill. Let him or her know that the measure will provide Congress with the necessary scientific and economic information needed to create a salmon recovery plan that is good for the salmon. To find your Representative, click here, or call the Capitol Hill operator at (202) 224-3121 and request to be connected to their offices. For more information about issues affecting animals in the ocean, click here. Please share our “Dear Humanitarian” eAlert with family, friends and co-workers, and encourage them to contact everyone listed above, too. As always, thank you very much for your help Sincerely, Cathy Liss Sign up for SAPL eAlerts to receive the latest legislative news on what you can do to help us protect all animals. http://www.saplonline.org/action.htm |