 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Seattle (UPI) Feb 12, 2011 A U.S. environmental agency has rejected a four-year plan for Chinook salmon in Puget Sound because it might not leave enough fish for killer whales. The problem is that no one is sure how many Chinook the orcas need to maintain a healthy population, The Seattle Times reported. This month, members of the J pod of killer whales were spotted off Vashon Island, suggesting they may spend more time in the sound in winter than scientists previously believed. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has now asked Washington state and Indian tribes that fish in the area to submit a two-year plan, state officials said. The agency also asked them to join in studies of Chinook and killer whales for the next two years. Recent studies have also suggested the whales need more Chinook in summer than previously thought. Scientists had also believed they left Puget Sound entirely in the winter, although they did not know where they go. Fishermen say the NOAA is putting the entire burden on them. "You can't bring back orcas just on the backs of fishermen," said Joel Kawahara, who fishes commercially in Washington and Alaska. "What about improving habitat? What about the effects of the dams on the Columbia River?"
Share This Article With Planet Earth
Related Links Follow the Whaling Debate
New Zealand rangers put down stranded whalesWellington (AFP) Jan 21, 2011 New Zealand wildlife rangers put down 10 pilot whales stranded in a remote New Zealand bay Friday after reluctantly determining there was no way to save them, conservation officials said. The whales were the surviving members of a pod of 24 found early Friday trapped in mud and mangroves at Parengarenga Harbour, 320 kilometres (200 miles) northwest of Auckland, the Department of Conservation ... read more |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2010 - SpaceDaily. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
YahooMyWeb
Google
Facebook
