The National Marine Fisheries Service finalized protection of 41,914 square miles of protected critical ocean habitat off the shores of Washington, Oregon and California for the endangered Pacific leatherback sea turtle. The final rule establishes critical habitat in areas where leatherbacks feed on jellyfish after swimming 6,000 miles across the ocean from nests in Indonesia. This is the first permanent safe haven for leatherbacks designated in continental U.S. waters and is the largest area set aside to protect sea turtle habitat in the United States or its territories.
The final protection comes in response to a petition submitted in 2007 by Oceana, Turtle Island Restoration Network and the Center, followed by two years of delay by the agency, missing multiple legal deadlines specified in the Endangered Species Act.
The National Marine Fisheries Service finalized protection of 41,914 square miles of protected critical ocean habitat off the shores of Washington, Oregon and California for the endangered Pacific leatherback sea turtle. The final rule establishes critical habitat in areas where leatherbacks feed on jellyfish after swimming 6,000 miles across the ocean from nests in Indonesia. This is the first permanent safe haven for leatherbacks designated in continental U.S. waters and is the largest area set aside to protect sea turtle habitat in the United States or its territories.
The final protection comes in response to a petition submitted in 2007 by Oceana, Turtle Island Restoration Network and the Center, followed by two years of delay by the agency, missing multiple legal deadlines specified in the Endangered Species Act.
January, 2012
Steller Sea Lion Protections Upheld
The United States District Court for the District of Alaska upheld protections for the Western Population of Steller sea lions. The new measures were put in place by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to reduce competition between large-scale commercial fisheries and endangered Steller sea lions in the Aleutian Islands.
These majestic marine mammals compete with large-scale industrial fisheries for food and continue to struggle for survival in the western Aleutian Islands. The court decision came after Oceana and our allies pressured the federal government to address the declining Steller sea lions’ population by limiting bottom trawling in important areas.
The United States District Court for the District of Alaska upheld protections for the Western Population of Steller sea lions. The new measures were put in place by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to reduce competition between large-scale commercial fisheries and endangered Steller sea lions in the Aleutian Islands.
These majestic marine mammals compete with large-scale industrial fisheries for food and continue to struggle for survival in the western Aleutian Islands. The court decision came after Oceana and our allies pressured the federal government to address the declining Steller sea lions’ population by limiting bottom trawling in important areas.
October, 2011
California Bans Trade of Shark Fins
California Governor Jerry Brown signed a law making it illegal to sell, trade, possess, or distribute shark fins in California. With the governor’s signature, the law completes a West Coast ban. California joined the ranks of Washington State, Oregon and Hawaii, who have all passed similar bans. The coastwide ban on the shark fin trade will help protect global populations of at-risk shark species that are being targeted in unsustainable and unregulated fisheries worldwide.
California Governor Jerry Brown signed a law making it illegal to sell, trade, possess, or distribute shark fins in California. With the governor’s signature, the law completes a West Coast ban. California joined the ranks of Washington State, Oregon and Hawaii, who have all passed similar bans. The coastwide ban on the shark fin trade will help protect global populations of at-risk shark species that are being targeted in unsustainable and unregulated fisheries worldwide.
September, 2011
California Senate Passes Shark Fin Trade Ban
The California Senate passed a ban on the sale, trade, possession, and distribution of shark fins in the state, completing a sweeping West Coast ban on the trade of shark fins. Oceana was instrumental in the passage of this bill to protect the ocean’s apex predators. Washington, Oregon, Hawaii, Guam and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands have also passed similar bills.
The California Senate passed a ban on the sale, trade, possession, and distribution of shark fins in the state, completing a sweeping West Coast ban on the trade of shark fins. Oceana was instrumental in the passage of this bill to protect the ocean’s apex predators. Washington, Oregon, Hawaii, Guam and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands have also passed similar bills.
August, 2011
Antibiotic Use Diminished in Chilean Salmon Farming
Oceana Chile obtained official government statistics that show the direct results of Oceana’s campaign to reduce the use of antibiotics in the Chilean salmon farming industry, which began in 2008.
Oceana found that the total use of antibiotics per ton of salmon produced decreased by 19% from 2007 to 2010. Oceana campaigned for a ban on the quinolones family of antibiotics, which are not permitted for use in livestock in some countries as a result of public health concerns. Although the Chilean government did not introduce a formal ban on quinolones, the use of this family of antibiotics per ton of farmed salmon produced was reduced by 96% from 2007 to 2010.
Oceana Chile obtained official government statistics that show the direct results of Oceana’s campaign to reduce the use of antibiotics in the Chilean salmon farming industry, which began in 2008.
Oceana found that the total use of antibiotics per ton of salmon produced decreased by 19% from 2007 to 2010. Oceana campaigned for a ban on the quinolones family of antibiotics, which are not permitted for use in livestock in some countries as a result of public health concerns. Although the Chilean government did not introduce a formal ban on quinolones, the use of this family of antibiotics per ton of farmed salmon produced was reduced by 96% from 2007 to 2010.
July, 2011
Chile Bans Shark Finning
The Chilean National Congress unanimously passed a nationwide ban on shark finning. Oceana drafted the bill and campaigned for its passage.This groundbreaking decision came on the heels of a very similar ban passed by the United States Congress lin December 2010, and puts both countries at the forefront of shark conservation.
The Chilean National Congress unanimously passed a nationwide ban on shark finning. Oceana drafted the bill and campaigned for its passage.This groundbreaking decision came on the heels of a very similar ban passed by the United States Congress lin December 2010, and puts both countries at the forefront of shark conservation.
July, 2011
Court Rules in Favor of Oceana on Bycatch
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled in favor of Oceana in a suit that will require commercial fisheries from North Carolina to the Canadian border to monitor and report the amount of bycatch, or untargeted marine life, they discard. The decision is a triumph against one of the biggest problems facing our oceans today. Tons of fish are wasted and thousands of marine mammals, sea turtles, sharks and sea birds are injured or killed every year as bycatch.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled in favor of Oceana in a suit that will require commercial fisheries from North Carolina to the Canadian border to monitor and report the amount of bycatch, or untargeted marine life, they discard. The decision is a triumph against one of the biggest problems facing our oceans today. Tons of fish are wasted and thousands of marine mammals, sea turtles, sharks and sea birds are injured or killed every year as bycatch.
