SRES 456 ISCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Directing the United States to undertake bilateral discussions with Canada to negotiate an agreement to conserve populations of large whales at risk of extinction that migrate along the Atlantic seaboard of North America.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

February 14, 2008

Ms. SNOWE (for herself, Ms. COLLINS, and Mr. SUNUNU) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign RelationsCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Directing the United States to undertake bilateral discussions with Canada to negotiate an agreement to conserve populations of large whales at risk of extinction that migrate along the Atlantic seaboard of North America.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Whereas populations of large whales in the north Atlantic, including north Atlantic right whales, fin whales, and humpback whales, were substantially reduced, largely due to commercial whaling efforts that ended more than 60 years ago in the United States and more than 30 years ago in Canada, and rebuilding and protecting these species requires significant conservation efforts;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Whereas the United States and Canada share the goals of marine resource conservation through sound scientific research and seek to protect large whales at risk of extinction;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Whereas north Atlantic right whales, humpback whales, and fin whales are listed as `endangered' under the United States Endangered Species Act and `depleted' under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and north Atlantic right whales are listed as `endangered' and fin whales are listed as a species of `special concern' under Canada's Species at Risk Act;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Whereas north Atlantic right whales, humpback whales, and fin whales, migrate throughout the north Atlantic Ocean, including through the waters of the United States and Canada along the eastern Atlantic Seaboard;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Whereas the populations of large whales in the north Atlantic Ocean are affected by natural factors including availability of forage and oceanographic conditions such as water temperature, salinity, and currents, and additional research on these topics will facilitate whale conservation;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Whereas some fishermen in both the United States and Canada employ fixed gear types within the migratory range of large whales, thereby exposing the species to risks of entanglement, and ships transiting both United States and Canadian waters have been known to strike large whales resulting in injury or death of the cetaceans;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Whereas the United States has taken significant regulatory and advisory steps to reduce the impacts of its fishing and shipping activities on large whale species, including restrictions on fixed fishing gear, closures of areas to certain types of fishing effort seasonally, and advisory restrictions on vessel traffic;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Whereas effective regulations to ensure conservation and protection of these large whale species must be a transboundary, bilateral effort that equitably distributes the costs and benefits of whale conservation among regulated and other concerned parties in each Nation, including the United States and Canadian governments, the fishing and shipping industries, States, Canadian provinces, and interested nongovernmental organizations;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Whereas Canada and the United States have a history of cooperation on transboundary marine resource issues, including a joint effort by the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the United States' Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies and the New England Aquarium to assist entangled large whales in the Bay of Fundy and Gulf of Maine;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Whereas the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has long been involved with a series of bilateral discussions with Canada concerning the United States Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan, and the Canadian Species at Risk Plan; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Whereas encouraging collaboration between representatives of the United States and Canadian Federal governments, affected States and Canadian provinces, affected fishing and shipping industries, and non-governmental organizations will facilitate the parties' ability to develop a sound, scientifically supported, mutually acceptable agreement: Now, therefore, be itCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Resolved, by the Senate That--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) the United States should undertake bilateral discussions with Canada to negotiate an agreement for the conservation and protection of migratory or transboundary populations of large whales at risk of extinction in the northwest Atlantic Ocean;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) the agreement negotiated pursuant to paragraph (1) should contain mechanisms, inter alia, for reducing incidents of endangered large whales becoming entangled in fishing gear, being struck by ships, or otherwise adversely impacted by human activity;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) the mechanisms developed pursuant to paragraph (2) should ensure that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) the costs and benefits of whale conservation regulations are to the extent feasible fairly and equitably distributed among regulated and other concerned parties including the United States and Canadian governments, the fishing and shipping industries, States, Canadian provinces, and interested nongovernmental organizations;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) the full economic impact on fishing communities is considered in the development of such measures; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) the best available science on whale behavior, including diving, feeding, and migration, is used to develop conservation mechanisms;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) as any bilateral agreement is negotiated and implemented, the United States and Canada should consult with, inter alia, affected fishery management agencies, coastal States and provinces impacted by the agreement, and appropriate industry and nongovernmental organizations; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) until the agreement pursuant to paragraph (1) becomes operational, the United States should continue to undertake efforts to reduce the impacts of human activity on endangered large whales while taking steps, to the extent consistent with United States law, to minimize the economic impact of such efforts on affected industries.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink