CDP: Wildlife Clips: December 9, 2022
US House Passes Ocean Bills To Protect Reefs, Marine Animals And Ecosystems. According to Maui Now, “The US House passed a package of oceans bills included in the annual National Defense Authorization Act that would help conserve coral reefs, protect marine mammals and enable better understanding of marine ecosystems. “From warmer temperatures and acidification to non-point-source pollution, trash, overfishing and beyond, our oceans are on an unsustainable pat and desperately need our help to save them,” said US Rep. Ed Case (D-HI), who is a member of the House Committee on Natural Resources with jurisdiction over federal ocean programs and the House Committee on Appropriations and of its Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science, which oversees and funds many such programs.” [Maui Now, 12/8/22 (+)]
House Approves Defense, Water Projects Bill. According to Politico, “The House on Thursday afternoon sent the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act to the Senate floor for consideration next week. The legislation, which passed the House 350-80, carries a number of energy and environment riders, including authorizing billions of dollars for water infrastructure projects and environmental cleanups (E&E Daily, Dec. 7). "This bill represents compromise after months of hard work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle and in both chambers of Congress. Whatever our disagreements may be, there’s a lot to be proud of in this bill," said House Armed Services Committee Chair Adam Smith (D-Wash.).” [Politico, 12/8/22 (+)]
Maine Lawmakers: End Tax Breaks For Companies That Pull Lobster. According to Politico, “Two lawmakers in Maine want to change laws to prevent the state from offering tax breaks or contracts to companies that stop selling lobster after sustainability organizations raised concerns. The Marine Stewardship Council and Seafood Watch removed their endorsements of the U.S. lobster fishing industry this year, citing concerns about risks to rare North Atlantic right whales from fishing gear. Some retailers, including supermarkets and meal kit companies, responded by pledging to pull lobster from their inventories.” [Politico, 12/8/22 (=)]
Departments
Ap| Protections Sought For Coyotes In Mexican Wolf Territory. According to the AP, “Environmentalists want the U.S. government to list coyotes as endangered in parts of Arizona and New Mexico where the rarest subspecies of gray wolf in North America is found. A coalition of groups argue in a petition submitted Thursday to U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that small statured Mexican gray wolves are often mistaken for coyotes and that protecting coyotes would in turn cut down on wolf deaths. Environmentalists say illegal killings are the leading cause of death for the endangered animals.” [AP, 12/8/22 (=)]
There's A Ray Of Sunshine In Latest Monarch Butterfly Count. According to Politico, “Good news, monarch butterfly fans. Preliminary results from the latest survey of 183 overwintering sites in California pegged the monarch butterfly population at over 300,000. This marks the second year in a row that the Xerces Society's Western Monarch Thanksgiving Count has found a significant increase. The alarming 2020 monarch butterfly count, by contrast, found an estimated population of only about 2,000.” [Politico, 12/8/22 (=)]
Miami-Dade Scores Federal Grant For Coastal Resilience Around Biscayne Bay. According to Florida Politics, “A federal grant of $330,000 is incoming to Miami-Dade County to help cover the cost of restoration projects around Biscayne Bay. Mayor Daniella Levine Cava’s administration announced the grant award from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Combined with more than $437,000 from the county, Cutler Bay, South Florida Water Management District and volunteer donors, the funds will go toward rejuvenating coastal wetlands, mangroves and forests, a Miami-Dade press note said. Levine Cava called the grant “a wonderful recognition” of the county’s “ongoing success” in improving coastal resiliency.” [Florida Politics, 12/9/22 (=)]
AP| Tribal, Federal Leaders Cheer Klamath River Dam Removals. According to the AP, “Tribal, state and federal officials on Thursday cheered a plan for the largest dam removal in U.S. history along the Klamath River near the California-Oregon line as a major step toward restoring a once-thriving watershed that tribal communities have long relied on. “Clean water, healthy forests and fertile land made the Klamath River Basin and its surrounding watershed a home to tribal communities, productive agriculture, and a place where abundant populations of migratory birds, suckers, salmon and other fish could thrive,” U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said. ‘We must take urgent and necessary action to protect this special place.’” [AP, 12/8/22 (=)]
AP| California’s Commercial Dungeness Crab Season Delayed Again. According to the AP, “The start of the commercial Dungeness crab season in California has been delayed further to protect humpback whales from becoming entangled in trap and buoy lines. The state Department of Fish and Wildlife said Wednesday that commercial crabbing will be delayed until at least Dec. 30. The situation will be reassessed on or before Dec. 22. It’s the third delay for the start of the commercial season, which traditionally begins Nov. 15 for waters between the Mendocino county line and the border with Mexico. The crab industry is one of California’s major fisheries and the shellfish is especially popular around the holidays.” [AP, 12/8/22 (=)]
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