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Founded 1977
Save The Whales' purpose is to preserve and protect
the ocean and its inhabitants.

MEXICO ANNOUNCES PERMANENT
GILLNET BAN - VICTORY FOR VAQUITA

On June 1, 2017 the Mexican Government announced some great news. Gillnet fishing is permanently banned in the protection zone of the vaquita in the northern Gulf of California. The agreement is effective upon publication and was dated June 21, 2017.
A lot depends on how the new rules are implemented and effective enforcement, but this is a critical step for the long-term preservation of the vaquita. 
Importantly, it includes bans on night fishing and on transporting or possession of gillnets in the area, but it does exclude the active use of gillnets in the corvina and sierra fisheries.
This ban is essential for the vaquita to survive in its natural habitat, and is what scientist and conservationists have been requesting for many years. Congratulations to the Mexican Government; it's a boost to Save The Whales and many organizations who have been working for years to save this little porpoise.


AGGRESSIVE ORCAS ARE
STEALING FISHING BOATS CATCH
 
After decades of relatively calm existence between Bering Strait cod and halibut fishers, Alaska's orcas appear to be changing the rules.The orcas wait throughout the day for a fisher to accumulate a catch of halibut and then force their hand.  They stalk individual fishing boats and sometimes even force them back to port.
Harassment by orcas seems to be occurring in the Bering Strait, which is the body of water separating western Alaska from Russia.
Alaskan sources said that only recently has it become so bad that they avoid fishing there if whales are around.  A 2014 study of the financial impact estimated the cost to fishermen at around $500US daily but in Uruguay, a 2015 study of boats using similar fishing techniques found that the presence of killer whales in the fishing ground seems not to affect the catch.


DRINKING STRAWS 
KILL MARINE LIFE

Some facts on straws.
  • The Coastal Commission found that 254 different species of marine animals have been discovered as having ingested some form of marine debris.
  • It is estimated that plastic makes up around 90% of marine debris.
  • Chemicals inside plastic can react when exposed to UV rays. If a fish swallows that contaminated plastic and a human consumes that fish, that person is now exposed to toxins.
  • It is estimated that 175 billion straws are used each year in the United States.
  • It takes around 200 years for a single plastic straw to break down. Plastic does not disappear in the ocean environment, it just breaks down into smaller bits.
This is an easy way for an individual to cut straws out of daily use. When a server brings you a drink and straw, just say, "No straw, please."  
Glass straws are said to be a safe and study alternative to plastic straws. We see more whales dying from plastic ingestion. Strawesome states that 100,000 marine mammals and 1 million seabirds die every year due to plastic pollution. To cut down on straw usage, the sidebar tells how to purchase a Strawesome.

The video is upsetting and has some swearing.  It shows a straw being removed from a sea turtle's nostril. Copy this into your browser and return.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wH878t78bw

Thank you for reading our newsletter and for your support. Sign petitions and protect our marine sanctuaries, our oceans from seismic testings, and our environment from the killing of innocent wildlife; the list is endless. Our mission is to preserve and protect the ocean and its inhabitants. We can't do it without you.

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Save The Whales 
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Way to GO! 

cleaned up 45 pounds of trash from Locke-Paddon park in Marina, CA.
Thank you to Karen Harris, Katie Bennett and Steven Rayo for making a dif-ference for the environment and preventing trash from getting into waterways!




Clean Up

Please have your summer beach parties safely and remember the environment. Pack out all trash from beach celebrations. 
On your streets and in your neighborhoods, sweep up the trash. This will prevent trash from entering storm drains and flowing to creeks, rivers and the ocean! 

Thank you!


StrawsomeStraw

The Strawsome straw is 
handmade starting with a 
Clear Glass Straw and carefully adding an adorable spouting blue whale 
This straw is made in the USA and it's awesome. The super fancy (aka borosilicate). It can withstand temperatures below freezing and up to 1500 degrees Fahrenheit!
You'll even find this stuff in the windows of the space shuttle! It's also known as the same glass used in Pyrex®, but that's not nearly as exciting as space shuttle glass.
They have  crushed down and lab tested all of the glass used.
Unlike plastic, glass isn't a porous material so it won't leach into your mouth or drinks ever!
You can clean your straw in the dishwasher. 
Save The Whales
Contributions

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and click on Donate.

Snail Mail too!
 
 Save The Whales
  1192 Waring St.
  Seaside CA 93955 

Thank You!
Kelsey & Sarah Logo
Save The Whales, 1192 Waring Street, Seaside, CA 93955
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