Friend,

In the past few months, two right whales were tragically entangled in fishing line and one newborn calf was found dead.1

The species is nearing extinction, and one of the major causes of death is fishing equipment entanglements -- but you have the opportunity to help right whales survive, Friend.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) updated its plan to protect whales -- but NOAA's proposal doesn't go far enough to save the species from fishing entanglements.

Submit a public comment today. Tell NOAA: Right whales need the strongest possible protections from fishing entanglements.

Lobster and crab fishing lines present obstacles for right whales.2 The ropes can wrap around their head and mouth, which prevents the whales from feeding properly and can eventually kill them.

Human activities, like fishing lines and vessel collisions, have caused the majority of right whale deaths in the past three years.3 If we continue on this trajectory, right whales could go extinct -- but there's still hope for the whales if we make a change now.4

To save right whales, NOAA needs to close critical right whale habitat to fishing. NOAA should also help fund the development and implementation of ropeless fishing technology and increase funding to monitor the whales' locations.

Tell NOAA to give right whales a fighting chance at survival.

To save right whales, we have to protect the species from the fishing technology that poses deadly obstacles in their habitat.

NOAA's proposed rules aren't strong enough to save the species. Environment Colorado's national network is calling on NOAA to increase the size and duration of habitat closures, support ropeless fishing technology, and more.

We need NOAA to take serious action before we lose this species.

Protect whales from fishing lines by submitting a public comment today.

Sincerely,

Hannah Collazo
State Director

1. Josh Chetwynd and Michaela Morris, "Statement: NOAA proposes important updates to right whale protections that seek to prevent species' extinction," Environment America, December 30, 2020.
2. Nora McGreevy, "North Atlantic Right Whales Now Listed as 'Critically Endangered,'" Smithsonian Magazine, July 16, 2020.
3. Nora McGreevy, "North Atlantic Right Whales Now Listed as 'Critically Endangered,'" Smithsonian Magazine, July 16, 2020.
4. Sophie Lewis, "Two percent of the world's right whales have recently died -- pushing the species closer to extinction," CBS News, August 2, 2020.