Become a CGWC Member Name: Website: Email: Simply join our Member List and a Membership Kit will be sent to the email you provided.

Press Clips For Immediate Release  Contact: John Mann July 15, 2008 (805) 483-9808 California Resolution Calling for Increased Protection for California Gray Whale Submitted to President Bush and the United States Congress SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Pedro Nava,  Chair of the Joint Committee on Emergency Services and Homeland Security and the legislature’s representative on the California Ocean Protection Council announced today that his Assembly Joint Resolution 49 calling on the United States Congress, the President, and the National Marine Fisheries Service to take action to protect the California Gray Whale cleared its final hurdle by passing  the California State Assembly yesterday on a bi-partisan 56 to19 vote.  The resolution has been sent to President Bush, the Congress of the United States and the National Marine Fisheries Service. “I am pleased that my colleagues in the Assembly and Senate have joined me in asking Congress, President Bush, and the National Marine Fisheries Service to take immediate action to protect the California Gray Whale,” said Nava. “This magnificent marine mammal is again facing a number of threats to its existence and it is imperative that we act to provide it with as much protection as possible so that it will be here for future generations.” AJR 49 requests the United States Congress and the President of the United States to call upon the National Marine Fisheries Service to undertake an immediate and comprehensive assessment of the California Gray Whale, and requests that they change its status to endangered. This revised listing will provide comprehensive protections for the Gray Whale as it travels from its breeding grounds in Mexico to its feeding grounds in the Arctic. The California Gray Whale was placed on the endangered species list in 1970, but was removed in 1994 after it was believed that the population had recovered. However new scientific evidence indicates that historic populations were up to five times their current numbers. The Gray Whale experienced a population collapse in 2000 in which  up to 1/3 of the population died off and recent  observations indicated that they may be in the midst of another die off. Current threats to the Gray Whale's survival include climate change, oil and gas exploration and leases in the Bering and Chukchi Sea feeding grounds, noise from seismic operations, military and non-military sonar, liquefied natural gas terminals planned along the whale's migration route, bottom trawling, pollution, and other changes in ocean conditions that have drastically reduced their food supply. “California’s coastline and the marine environment are precious and need to be protected for our children and grandchildren.  This resolution will send a strong message to Congress and the President that we need to take action now to save the Gray Whale,” said Nava. Assembly Joint Resolution 49 to Protect the California Gray Whale Passes First Hurdle California Chronicle - Friday, April 02, 2008 Assembly Joint Resolution 49 to Protect the California Gray Whale Passes First Hurdle. Read More... Pedro Nava's Resolution Calling on Congress Edhat.com Santa Barbra - Friday, April 02, 2008 Pedro Nava's Resolution Calling on Congress, the President, and California to Take Action to Protect the California Gray Whale Passes First Hurdle Read More... Gray Whale is In Danger American Chronicle - April 25, 2008 by Pedro Nava California´s Gray Whale is in danger. The California Fish and Game Commission has erroneously listed the Gray Whale population as "recovered." Read More... Whales play larger role than thought. MendocinoBeakon - Friday 06, June, 2008 By FRANK HARTZELL of the MenocinoBeakon A Santa Barbara State Assemblyman is asking state and federal authorities to reopen the question of protecting California gray whale habitat based on studies that found whales have a greater role in the ocean food system than previously thought. Read More...