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Pedro Nava's Resolution Calling on Congress, the President, and California to Take Action to Protect the California Gray Whale Passes First Hurdle
Source: Assemblymember Pedro Nava

Assemblymember Pedro Nava, Chair of the Joint Committee on Emergency Services and Homeland Security and the legislature's representative on the California Ocean Protection Council announced that his AJR 49 calling on the United States Congress, the President, and the California Fish and Game Commission to take action to protect the California Gray Whale passed the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee today on a 9 to 3 vote.

"I am pleased that my colleagues on the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee have joined me in asking Congress, President Bush, and the California Fish and Game Commission to take immediate action to protect the California Gray Whale," said Nava. "This magnificent marine mammal is again facing a number of threats to its existence and it is imperative that we act to provide it with as much protection as possible so that it will be here for future generations."

This measure would request the United States Congress and the President of the United States to call upon the National Marine Fisheries Service to undertake an immediate and comprehensive assessment of the California gray whale, and requests the California Fish and Game Commission to change the status of the gray whale to endangered. This revised listing will provide comprehensive protections for the Gray Whale as it travels from the Northern Pacific Ocean to its feeding grounds in the Arctic.

The California Gray Whale was at time placed on the endangered and threatened species list, but was removed in 1994 after its population recovered. However a major collapse of the California Gray Whale occurred in 2000, eliminating up to a third of the species. Current threats to the Gray Whale's survival include climate change, oil and gas exploration and leases in the Bering and Chukchi Sea feeding grounds, noise from seismic operations, military and non-military sonar, liquefied natural gas terminals planned along the whale's migration route, bottom trawling, pollution, and other changes in ocean conditions.

"California's coastline and the marine environment are precious and need to be protected for our children and grandchildren. This resolution will send a strong message to Congress and the President that we need to take action now to save the California Gray Whale," said Nava.

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