Volume 235, February 24, 2023 | |
I was sailing north past Anvers Island, the largest island in the Palmer Archipelago of Antarctica, when two humpback whales surfaced, blew, and wheeled forward beneath the waves.
Whaling in Antarctic waters ceased in 2018. Today, humpbacks migrating from the Caribbean to New England, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland die from ship strikes and entanglements with lobster trap lines.
In Cape Cod Bay, lobstermen are testing ropeless trap gear with inflatable buoys that are activated when the lobster boat arrives on site. The trial period will run two more years before the government may decide to make ropeless traps mandatory.
In the meantime, we need Congress to pass the Stewarding Atlantic Fisheries Ecosystems by Supporting Economic Assistance and Sustainability (SAFE SEAS) Act. This will help cover the costs for lobstermen and women to acquire the new ropeless gear.
Help us pass the bill to expedite the deployment of ropeless lobster pots to save whales from gear entanglements, to avert a reason for increasing the cost of lobsters, and to free boat operators from having to steer around lobster pots to avoid propeller or rudder entanglements.
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Wherever you may be, you can help save whales.
Whales benefit us all. The government has a responsibility to protect whales with legislation and regulations. Unfortunately, our government is reluctant to act, especially if it costs money. Lawmakers act when their constituents push them to.
This is the time to take the helm, hands on the wheel to steer for the destiny of whales.
The passage of responsible legislation has become more difficult. We overcome adversity with more people stepping up and taking shorter turns at the wheel.
At the end of the watch, we tell the new watch what has happened and thank them. We stand down and sleep well, knowing competent people are at the helm and on the lookout.
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Whales need you to act locally in small ways.
You can help us go the distance to help whales by joining ORI’s Round-up Change Program.
Every time you make a purchase, your credit card will round-up to the dollar amount and hold the pennies for ORI. Only when at least $10 is saved over the course of a month, will it be gifted to ORI. If less than $10 is accumulated in a month, then no funds are transferred, and the accumulation process begins again at zero.
At the Ocean River Institute, the many mice of small gifts can make a whale of a difference during the long watch.
Spare change to save whales.
Connect a credit card to round-up to dollar amount.
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We could not have done any of this without the generous support of people like you.
It's a new year with daunting challenges ahead.
Enable ORI to employ interns with more hours.
Consider a modest gift, today. Thank you.
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Publications:
"Speak for the trees: President Biden should protect public forests." Illuminem, December 18, 2022
"Slowing Water for Greener Neighborhoods." Illuminem, December 9, 2022
"Top Gun at COP27. It's not the plane. It's the pilot." The Environmental Magazine, November 29, 2022
"Biden’s game-changing administrative actions for climate at COP27." illuminem Voices, November 19, 2022
"Taking action to improve plight of right whales." Boston Herald, November 9, 2022
"Revival Coffee in Somerville takes up the Natural Lawn Challenge." The Somerville Times, August 27, 2022
"For eco groups, less lawn fertilizer is key to water crisis." By Dustin Luca, Salem News August 12, 2022
“More carbon capture, better water retention and greener emerald bracelets for Dedham.” The Dedham Times, August 12, 2022.
“Emerald Bracelets to Solve Three Of The World’s Greatest Environmental Problems.” by Rob Moir, The Environmental Magazine, June 21, 2022
"Of Mousy and Elephantine Cycles, Managing the CLIMATE CRISIS after Glasgow COP26." The Eden, March 2022
“Lincoln resident promotes natural lawn care,” Concord Journal, Aug 3, 2021
“Zumi’s host Natural Lawn Care for Healthy Soils Challenge,” Ipswich Chronicle Transcript, Aug 10, 2021
“Peabody peak capacity generator need not burn fossil fuels,” The Salem News, Aug 5, 2021
“30% preserved or restored by 2030,” The Salem News, Sep 29, 2021
“Pogie deaths, a Mystic River mystery,” Boston Herald, Oct 4, 2021
“Remember the right whales with a special day,” CommonWealth, Oct 29, 2021
“Retreating Arctic Sea Ice, Sea Ice Formation, and the Stronger Flow of the Gulf Stream” Seven Seas November 2021
"Rob Moir, PhD, Science Advocate," Bloomberg Business, April 11, 2022
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For healthy oceans, green watersheds, and diverse abundant wildlife. | | | | |