Dear Friends of Cetacealab,
We need you to take a moment and help us with a very important task. A research project, called the "Batholiths" has proposed to conduct Seismic Testing along the inside passages of Northern and Central BC for September 2007. The vessel will tow an array 3 km long and blast sound every 20 to 30 seconds, for a 3 week period. The sound is of unimaginable power and has been compared to that of a shot gun blast MULTIPLIED by 10,000 times!!
These blasts have the potential to cause deafness or death to marine mammals, fish and invertebrates. This includes salmon, herring, octopus, squid, bears, wolves, sea lions, otters, dolphins and whales.
Our research indicates that the proposed timing of the seismic testing is the worst possible as it coincides with the peak abundance of humpback whales in our study area. The whales come into the inside channels to feed before they start their annual migration to Hawaii. Any disruptions may prevent them from successfully reaching their calving grounds or returning to these essential feeding locations next season. Our recent research findings suggest that we have a number of pregnant female humpback whales feeding in the narrow inside channels surrounding Cetacealab.
Northern Resident Orcas and Transient Orcas also frequent the area of the proposed seismic tests. Humpback whales and Orcas are considered a threatened species and are protected under the Species at Risk Act.
We have repeatedly tried to convince the scientists of the Batholiths project to abandon their plan, with no success. For this reason we would like to ask for your help. Relevant federal Canadian authorities will allow public input until October 31st, before they make a decision whether or not they will allow this project to go ahead.
Please help us to keep this area unique where all marine life has a chance to flourish.
If you have further questions please contact us.
info@whaleresearch.ca
For further information you can also check out these Websites:
http://cetacealab.org/blog/awareness.php?cat=27
http://www.raincoast.org/proj-mar-mammals/proj-mar-mam-2.shtml
Thank you for your time and energy to email this
letter. We truly appreciate it!
Regards,
Hermann&Janie
North Coast Cetacean Society
Hermann Meuter/Janie Wray
http://www.cetacealab.org