The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About081322 Landmark Court Victory for Southern Resident Orcas and Wild Chinook!________________________________ ALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them. ________________________________ <https://default.salsalabs.org/Xd0ae5c18-e5a4-4c65-be60-499c12d80654/e1f9ba72-dc83-4f20-90cd-07d9d1ee41b3> <https://default.salsalabs.org/Tc94f5da9-c63a-4045-b35d-79a7b1721059/e1f9ba72-dc83-4f20-90cd-07d9d1ee41b3> <https://default.salsalabs.org/Tee965319-d1a1-46dc-8361-ab04e4ef8e2b/e1f9ba72-dc83-4f20-90cd-07d9d1ee41b3> <https://default.salsalabs.org/d0ae5c18-e5a4-4c65-be60-499c12d80654/feef8908-c50b-4d7a-aa92-f611ae29eb48.png> Southern Resident Killer Whale J19 “Sachi” leaping in Puget Sound, August 2022 (Wild Orca, Taken under NMFS permit # 26288, wildorca.org <https://default.salsalabs.org/T9e389459-08f4-476f-bdb7-9f543b 0fb5d1/e1f9ba72-dc83-4f20-90cd-07d9d1ee41b3> ) CELEBRATING A LANDMARK COURT VICTORY FOR SOUTHERN RESIDENT ORCA AND WILD CHINOOK RECOVERY We are thrilled to share and celebrate with you a landmark court victory and watershed moment for the recovery of the Northwest's critically endangered Southern Resident orcas and the wild Chinook they depend on. <https://default.salsalabs.org/Tb48b1980-6f48-458e-99b5-3f040055a3bd/e1f9ba72-dc83-4f20-90cd-07d9d1ee41b3> On Monday evening, the Honorable Richard A. Jones, U.S. District Judge issued a stunning summary judgement <https://default.salsalabs.org/Tebe78003-adfc-4c57-b067-911356eedb19/e1f9ba72-dc83-4f20-90cd -07d9d1ee41b3> in favor of Wild Fish Conservancy’s lawsuit <https://default.salsalabs.org/T167f497c-5f56-4a91-b6cf-a566ba4d4fb3/e1f9ba72-dc83-4f20-90cd-07d9d1ee41b3> challenging the federal agency NOAA Fisheries for authorizing Southeast Alaska’s commercial troll harvest at levels NOAA acknowledges are pushing Southern Resident killer whales and wild Chinook closer to extinction. Despite this acknowledgment, NOAA authorized the fishery to continue citing speculative mitigation the agency claimed would offset this ongoing harm. This landmark Court decision overwhelmingly agreed NOAA violated the law by improperly relying on uncertain future mitigation measures in the form of hatchery production that lack specificity, are not enforceable, and ultimately were not reasonably certain to occur. In short, NOAA was unable to justify legally and scientifically that the mitigation would actually work, while we know with certainty that the fishery is contributing to the decline of the Southern Resident orcas and wild Chinook they depend on. The Court also found NOAA failed to evaluate the harm those same hatchery increases will cause to wild Chinook. NOAA recognizes hatcheries and associated impacts as one of the top four factors contributing to the decline of wild salmon, along with overharvest, habitat loss, and hydroelectric dams. Finally, the Court found NOAA violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in part by implementing the increased hatchery production without any NEPA procedures, which would include opportunities for public input and an evaluation of alternatives, such as reductions in harvest. <https://default.salsalabs.org/d0ae5c18-e5a4-4c65-be60-499c12d80654/7512a5a4-6a02-4394-8e2c-0e8ec29eb500.png> Scientists have identified lack of large and abundant Chinook salmon as the primary cause of the decline of the Southern Resident killer whale population. Photo by: Conrad Gowell <https://default.sal salabs.org/T4b9abab5-917e-47a9-9f7b-07d197d3ddb3/e1f9ba72-dc83-4f20-90cd-07d9d1ee41b3> We commend the Court for this groundbreaking decision expected to lead to reductions in overharvest and far more wild Chinook returning to rebuild in rivers throughout the coast. Reducing harvest on the whale’s primary prey is the only scientifically proven recovery action moving forward that promises immediate access to Chinook for these starving whales. At the same time, science clearly demonstrates allowing more wild Chinook to reach spawning grounds provides the greatest chance of restoring the larger, more diverse, and more fecund life histories of wild Chinook the whales evolved to eat and which will be fundamental for their long-term recovery. The Court's decision is an enormous victory that is already being celebrated by communities throughout the Pacific Coast. Proving the merits of our case against the federal government, the State of Alaska, and the Alaska Trollers Association was a true David and Goliath accomplishment. As this legal case moves to remedy, we look forward to presenting science-based solutions that will meet the prey needs of the Southern Resident killer whales and wild Chinook recovery. Thank you to all our members, supporters, attorneys, staff, and colleagues who made this incredible victory possible. For a deeper dive into this case and the implications for wild Chinook and Southern Resident killer whale recovery, be sure to read our latest news post, Celebrating a Landmark Legal Victory for Southern Resident Killer Whales and Wild Chinook Recovery <https://default.salsalabs.org/Taedc2d2b-63a6-4a10-ba3e-48e450384929/e1f9ba72-dc83-4f20-90cd-07d9d1ee41b3> . <https://default.salsalabs.org/T4e7505cc-f207-44de-9f95-30f95aee8267/e1f9ba72-dc83-4f20-90cd-07d9d1ee41b3> Share this Update <https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwildfishconservancy.salsalabs.org%2Flandmark-court-victory-for-srkw-chinook> <https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwildfishconse rvancy.salsalabs.org%2Flandmark-court-victory-for-srkw-chinook> <https://www.pinterest.com/pin/find/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwildfishconservancy.salsalabs.org%2Flandmark-court-victory-for-srkw-chinook> <https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwildfishconservancy.salsalabs.org%2Flandmark-court-victory-for-srkw-chinook> <https://www.tumblr.com/widgets/share/tool?canonicalUrl=ht tps%3A%2F%2Fwildfishconservancy.salsalabs.org%2Flandmark-court-victory-for-srkw-chinook> <mailto:?&body=https%3A%2F%2Fwildfishconservancy.salsalabs.org%2Flandmark-court-victory-for-srkw-chinook> <https://default.salsalabs.org/d0ae5c18-e5a4-4c65-be60-499c12d80654/da3ed510-d0a2-4d4b-8b71-73859016d97c.jpg> We want to thank you and our entire community of members and supporters! This landmark accomplishment is just one example of what your support makes possible. We hope you'll consider making a donation today to support our continued work protecting and restoring the Northwest's ecosystems and the diverse species that depend on them. <https://default.salsalabs.org/T5eb9c918-823f-464f-aa0f-e57155cb4dac/e1f9ba72-dc83-4f20-90cd-07d9d1ee41b3> Wild Fish Conservancy PO Box 402 | Duvall, Washington 98019 425.788.1167 | info@wildfishconservancy.org Follow Us <https://www.facebook.com/wildfishconservancy> <https://twitter.com/intent/follow?screen_name=wildfishNW> <https://www.instagram.com/wildfishconservancy/> <https://www.youtube.com/user/wild fishconservancy?sub_confirmation=1> <https://www.linkedin.com/company/wild-fish-conservancy/about/> Having trouble viewing this email? View it in your web browser <https://wildfishconservancy.salsalabs.org/landmark-court-victory-for-srkw-chinook?wvpId=e1f9ba72-dc83-4f20-90cd-07d9d1ee41b3> Unsubscribe <https://wildfishconservancy.salsalabs.org/manage-your-subscription?eId=d0ae5c18-e5a4-4c65-be60-499c12d80654&eType=EmailBlastContent&sId=e1f9ba72-dc83-4f20-90cd-07d9d1ee41b3> or Manage Your Preferences <https://wildfishconservancy.salsalabs.org/manage-your-subscription?eId=d0ae5c18-e5a4-4c65-be60-499c12d80654&eType=EmailBlastContent&sId=e1f9ba72-dc83-4f20-90cd-07d9d1ee4 1b3>