Fw: They're Endangered - Help Protect Sawfish

[Guest guest]

" The Ocean Conservancy "

They're Endangered - Help Protect Sawfish

 

 

Sawfish are in real trouble. They're among the most endangered

fish in the world and they need your help. The federal

government has issued a recovery plan for the U.S. population of

smalltooth sawfish but it needs public support to succeed.

Please help. Take action today and tell the government that you

applaud their efforts to protect sawfish and their habitat.

 

Take Action

 

http://www.oceanconservancy.org/site/R?i=p-Q7Z5VZc0vs0nKayRhw7Q..

 

Smalltooth sawfish used to be common along the coast from Texas to

North Carolina and found seasonally as far north as New York. Today

this imperiled species is rarely found outside Southwest

Florida. Fishing gear entanglement and habitat destruction have

devastated sawfish populations. Scientists estimate that the

U.S. population has declined by 99%.

 

In 1999, The Ocean Conservancy petitioned the federal government to

list the smalltooth sawfish as endangered; in 2003, the species was

finally listed. Our staff and the rest of the government's

sawfish recovery team have worked ever since to develop a sound plan

to bring sawfish back from the brink of extinction. The plan

promotes research into sawfish habits and needs, reduction in the

number of sawfish accidentally caught in fishing gear, safe handling

and release of animals that are captured, and protection of the

coastal habitats (particularly mangroves) that are essential to

sawfish. These proposed actions are critical to preventing sawfish

extinction and yet will not be carried out without strong and vocal

support from the public.

 

Please take action today and tell the federal government that you

strongly support full implementation of the sawfish recovery plan.

 

http://www.oceanconservancy.org/site/R?i=n_C7gRB_vasqJvGhPivlMA..

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Kathleen McGoldrick

Vice President, Constituency and Outreach