Imperiled Gulf Fish One Step Closer to
Protection
The Alabama shad -- a large, silvery fish that lives partly in the Gulf
of Mexico and swims up Southeast streams to spawn -- occupies just a tiny
fraction of its historic habitat in Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Indiana and
Iowa. Its numbers are dwindling because of dams, dredging and water pollution.
The shad has languished for decades without federal protection despite being
named a "candidate" for that protection back in 1997. Luckily for the at-risk fish, the Center for Biological Diversity last week reached a settlement with the National Marine Fisheries Service that will force the agency to decide whether the shad warrants protection by this June. (In 2013 the agency declared that the species may deserve protection, but it's more than a year late in taking the next legal step toward that goal.)
"There's still time to recover this oceangoing fish in its historic Southeast habitat," said the Center's Jaclyn Lopez. "Endangered Species Act protection will help guide restoration efforts that will help the shad rebound."
Rare Cats Saved From Hunting and Trapping in New
Hampshire
 In response to outcry from the Center, Animal
Welfare Institute and other groups, New Hampshire's Game and Fish Department has
cancelled its planned bobcat hunting and trapping seasons. They would have been
the state's first such seasons since 1989, when New Hampshire protected bobcats
from the hunting and trapping that had driven their population down to only 200
animals. Bobcats aren't the only wild felines at stake here: Canada lynx, protected as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act, could be mistakenly shot or ensnared by bobcat hunters and trappers. Under the state's proposed rule to allow the hunting and trapping seasons to move forward, hunters would've been allowed to chase bobcats with hounds; trappers could've legally set unlimited numbers of indiscriminate traps. "We're so relieved the Game and Fish Department listened to our concerns, and that New Hampshire's bobcats and lynx are safe from hunters and trappers for yet another year," said the Center's Collette Adkins. Read more in The Keene Sentinel.
EPA Tightens Rules to Save Our
Skies
 Prompted by a legal threat from the Center, the
Environmental Protection Agency has made it official: Seventeen states -- plus
Washington, D.C. -- have failed to achieve ozone air-quality standards more than
8 years after the EPA tightened rules to reduce smog threatening public health,
wildlife and ecosystems. This federal decree triggers stricter standards for emissions and reporting in order to clean up unhealthy skies. The areas receiving a failing grade include six California counties; the greater metro areas of Atlanta, Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Houston, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh and St. Louis; the city of Sheboygan, Wis.; and the entire state of Connecticut. "Ozone silently attacks our lungs, needlessly increasing emergency room visits and deaths for the children and elderly who are the most vulnerable to air pollution," said Jonathan Evans, environmental health legal director at the Center. "The Clean Air Act saves lives, protects wildlife and clears up smoggy skies, but only when polluters are forced to clean up their act." Read more in our press release.  The Colorado House of Representatives has passed HB 16-1341, Colorado’s wildlife trafficking bill to protect ten key species from wildlife trafficking. The bill now moves on to the Colorado Senate where we expect increased resistance. If you haven't signed the petition, please do so. If you already have, then encourage your family, friends, neighbors, and everyone else committed to animal conservation to join us in signing the petition to make this bill Colorado law. Thank you all for your continued support!Wildlife trafficking is causing the poaching crisis that has put many of the world's most iconic species at risk. Thankfully, Colorado is considering legislation to strengthen conservation efforts in your state. HB 16-1341 would prohibit the sale of parts from some of the most imperiled and trafficked species of animals, including elephants, rhinoceros, tigers, lions, leopards, cheetahs, pangolins, marine turtles, sharks and rays. While this bill is far-reaching, it is also carefully crafted to exclude the trade of certain antique items and musical instruments, firearms and certain weapons. State-specific measures are crucial in the battle to protect trafficked animals. The United States is one of the world's largest consumers of these products, and records show that illegal ivory, sea turtle shells and other restricted animal products are being imported into Colorado. HB 16-1341 would help close loopholes in federal laws and protect animals by making anti-trafficking enforcement easier.. FOR COLORADO RESIDENTS ONLY: Please call or email your Colorado state representative today and urge support for HB 16-1341. You can look up your State Legislator using the following link: http://openstates.org/find_your_legislator/ and be sure to select your House Representative. You can say, "I'm a constituent, and I'm calling (or emailing) you to ask that you support HB 16-1341 to crack down on wildlife trafficking and poaching." Big win for NY animals! New York City animals (and the humans who care about them) just got a big win - Mayor de Blasio's new budget allocates $10 million for the creation of new full-service animal shelters in the Bronx and Queens! Previously, the two boroughs had no adoption centers for those wanting to add a furry or feathered friend to their family. We've been advocating for this change for years and are excited to see this first step towards building and maintaining new animal shelters. Help us celebrate and thank our elected officials for making it happen! This did not happen by chance - humane voters of NYC sent the message loud and clear that a first-rate city like NYC deserves first-rate animal shelters in every borough. Your efforts to hold elected officials accountable to their promises to build these shelters WORKED! With the help and tireless effort of community partners and leaders such as Council Members Paul Vallone and Corey Johnson, we're finally seeing progress to reduce inequality across the city, while strengthening our communities for both two-legged and four-legged New Yorkers. We want to show our gratitude! Homeless animals are now a priority in NYC - add your name to say thank you! You helped make this happen as a humane voter and as a member of the animal rights community - and all of us here at NYCLASS appreciate your efforts to shine a light on the lack of full-service animal shelters in every borough of our city. Thanks for being part of this victory! Major Win for Animals and All New Yorkers. NYCLASS: Mayor’s Budget a Major Win for Animals and all New Yorkers.  The funding, provided in the Mayor’s 2017 Executive Budget, will initiate the design, construction and siting of animal shelters in Queens and the Bronx, boroughs that currently lack dedicated animal shelters and the medical services and adoptions they provide. “NYCLASS believes that the greatest city in the world deserves a world-class animal shelter system – with full-service shelters in every borough,” said Allie Taylor, Executive Director of NYCLASS. “With this investment, Mayor de Blasio has stepped forward and honored his commitment not only to help reduce inequality across the city, but also to strengthen our communities for all New Yorkers, two legged and four legged. “This announcement is a major victory in our years-long effort to provide animals with humane living circumstances and New Yorkers with the basic access to the love and companionship a pet provides. “We want to thank all of our community partners and leaders such as Council Members Paul Vallone and Corey Johnson for their tireless work on this issue. All of us fought together to make this day a reality – and New Yorkers and animals across the city are grateful. We look forward to working with the Mayor and our Council supporters to ensure these shelters get the funding they will need in the future to open and operate successfully.”  |
