Endangered Whales in Focus at Bourne Forum

BOURNE – The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration hosted a meeting Wednesday night at the Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School in Bourne to discuss endangered whales.

 

Federal regulators were present to take public input about preventing the deaths of North Atlantic Right Whales.

 

It was one of multiple meetings on the issue in New England. Mike Asaro, Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Branch Chief, has been present at every event to hear thoughts from attendees.

 

“The turnout’s been good, the feedback we’ve gotten from fishermen has been great,” Asaro said.

 

“It’s why we’re here; it’s what we look for. So it’s been a good discussion each night we’ve had one of these meetings,” he said.

 

The whales can die due to speeding in waters or being entangled in certain types of fishing equipment.

 

The meeting also focused on NOAA’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement, which looks to amend the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan.

 

“This is the beginning stages of (the Impact Statement). So we come port to port, get feedback from fishermen. And then after the meetings, we’ll work on that, and then once we finish it, it will be open for comment again to get more feedback from the industry and the public,” Asaro said.

 

For more information, visit www.noaa.gov.