WDCS has teamed up with the Humane Society of the United States, the International Fund for Animal Welfare, the Ocean Conservancy, and some of the world's top right whale scientists to ask Congress to properly fund the surveys, protection mandates, and research that are crucial to the continued survival of the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale. The President's proposed budget has not all drastically reduced funding for this species, but has completely eliminated any funds for the disentanglement program. With six right whales reported since January as entangled, we are gravely concerned about the underfunding in the proposed budget. We have asked Congress to restore the right whale budget to its FY05 level.


We are asking all interested and concerned citizens to immediately contact

The Honorable Barbara A. Mikulski, Chairman, Senate Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science (http://mikulski.senate.gov/contactme/mailform.html)

The Honorable Richard C. Shelby, Ranking Member Senate Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science (senator@shelby.senate.gov)

The Honorable Alan B. Mollohan, Chairman, House Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science (CongressmanMollohan@mail.house.gov)

The Honorable Rodney D. Frelinghuysen, Ranking Member, House Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science (http://frelinghuysen.house.gov/contactus/form.cfm)

Please ask them:

We ask the NOAA FY09 budget for critically endangered North Atlantic right whales be increased in order to fund research and conservation programs vital to the long-term recovery of this species. At least half of the amount should be restricted to funding disentanglement efforts and a competitive grants program that focuses on 1) innovative entanglement mitigation and monitoring, 2) reproduction and health research (health assessment, reproduction studies and monitoring, and non-invasive medical assessments), 3) monitoring of anthropogenic impacts (necropsy, carcass recovery, field monitoring, scar analysis).

Thank you for your continued support that allows us to work on your behalf to help save whales, dolphins and their environment. If you have any questions about WDCS’ work please contact us at contact@whales.org or call the office at 508 746 2522 where we will be delighted to talk with you.

Kind Regards,

The WDCS Team

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WDCS is the global voice for the protection of whales, dolphins and their environment.