Contact: Gordon Helm FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
6/28/96
Right whales and sea turtles off Massachusetts will be the primary beneficiaries of a cooperative agreement aimed at improving protection of endangered marine animals. The agreement was finalized today by the federal National Marine Fisheries Service, and forwarded to the Massachusetts Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Environmental Law Enforcement and its Division of Fisheries and Wildlife.
The cooperative agreement makes the state a partner in research, data collection and enforcement programs that are required to both protect and recover marine species under the federal Endangered Species Act. The fisheries service has primary responsibility for most marine species. Through the cooperative agreement, Massachusetts' capabilities in these areas are coordinated with those of the federal service, improving the overall conservation effort.
"Massachusetts laws have resulted in strong conservation measures for endangered marine animals. Between our federal stewardship responsibilities and the stateþs laws, it really makes sense for the federal and state government to team up and protect these animals,þ says fisheries service regional director Andrew Rosenberg. He lists the state's endangered species act, natural heritage program, large whale stranding response network, leadership in large whale recovery planning, and strong regulatory support for these programs as examples of winning conservation strategies.
Although this agreement will extend to all marine species in state waters that are linked by the fisheries service under the federal Endangered Species Act, initial emphasis will be on right whales and sea turtles. Right whales are among the most endangered marine species, with worldwide populations estimated at several thousand and those in the North Atlantic estimated at 300. Cape Cod Bay and the Great South Channel southeast of Cape Cod are two "critical habitats" for right whales undertaking their summer migration to northerly feeding grounds. Sea turtles are also a high research priority, particularly to evaluate Massachusetts waters as nursery and foraging grounds for young turtles.
Massachusetts Governor William Weld and Senator John Kerry have both endorsed this cooperative agreement and have urged it be enacted as soon as possible.
In 1996-1997, research priorities under the cooperative agreement include: investigating plankton dynamics in Cape Cod Bay to determine the unique features that are a part of critical habitat for right whales and to assess the potential for impacts on these elements from human activities; evaluating the potential effects of aquaculture operations on areas used by whales and sea turtles; further definition of important habitat areas, especially with regard to young sea turtles; and development of a response plan for large whale strandings.