The Extinction of a Species: What happens when people sit back and industry stays focused on regulations.*

What Extinction Looks Like

Get involved.*

Talequah (J35) and her dead calf.

And now, another.

Following the recent death of a newborn calf carried over 1,000 miles for 17 days, another of the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales has died. The Washington Post writes on the looming extinction of an iconic Northwest species. Despite attempts to save "Scarlet" (J50) the 3 year old female has been declared dead, leaving 74 of the endangered species remaining.

Get involved. PCC markets has written on the problems and steps you can take as individuals while government agencies hold collaborative meetings, largely driven by the interests of corporations who see Puget Sound and the waters and tidelands of the northwest as a palate to generate profits from. At the expense of the very foundation on which the food chain is based.

(Coalition to Protect Puget Sound Habitat)

The Center for Whale Research put it this way: “The message brought by J50, and by J35 and her dead calf a few weeks ago, is that the [southern resident killer whales] are running out of reproductive capacity and extinction of this population is looming, while the humans convene task forces and conference calls that result in nothing, or worse than nothing, diverting attention and resources from solving the underlying ecological problems that will ultimately make this once-productive region unlivable for all.”

*In addition to steps in the PCC article, Pierce County will hold a meeting on its updated Shoreline Master Program on Monday, September 17th.. The Department of Ecology has told the County there are a number of regulations which must be dropped or added, many at the demands from attorneys from the shellfish industry. When people sit back, they will get what an industry and agencies feel is best for them. Get involved. Industry is.