A new lawsuit is challenging petroleum exploration in Alaska’s Cook Inlet, claiming that the seismic testing will do harm to the endangered beluga whales that live there.
The Native Village of Chickaloon, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Center for Biological Diversity, and Center for Water Advocacy are the plaintiffs in the lawsuit.
They are charging that the National Marine Fisheries Service didn’t perform its duty in issuing exploration permits to Apache Alaska Corp., including high-intensity seismic exploration.
“Each year, there are fewer and fewer of these whales left. Oil and gas drilling activities expose Cook Inlet beluga whales to earsplitting underwater noise that threatens their survival. All that noise in the marine environment makes survival impossible for these endangered whales,” Taryn Kiekow, an attorney for the NRDC, said in an announcement of the lawsuit.
Apache Alaska Corporation will spend 160 days a year, 24 hours each day, for the next 3-5 years, using explosives, air guns, and pingers, to conduct seismic exploration.
The noise from air guns in close distances causes hearing loss and death in whales, and over longer distances causes the whales to abandon their habitat and cease foraging. The noise blocks whale calls over thousands of miles, degrading their ability to communicate and breed.
“Belugas are sacred to my tribe and part of our tradition,” said Gary Harrison, traditional chief of Chickaloon Native Village. “Because so few of the whales remain, we no longer hunt them. Indigenous peoples are working to protect these whales, yet industry can come into the Cook Inlet and harass 300 beluga whales every year as they look for oil and gas. It’s simply wrong.”
“Our concern is that, with all the attention on the Arctic, Cook Inlet is falling through the cracks. With fewer than 300 beluga left in the Cook Inlet, it is hard to imagine that the ‘incidental harassment authorization’ could not significantly contribute to their extinction. This is a no-brainer for us,” said Center for Water Advocacy President Hal Shepherd.
“Cook Inlet is rapidly losing its belugas, and these smart, beautiful animals are unique and irreplaceable,” said the Center for Biological Diversity’s Alaska Director Rebecca Noblin. “The Fisheries Service should be doing everything in its power to protect them from dying off, not rubber-stamping every risky oil and gas project that comes along.”
The genetically distinct Cook Inlet beluga whales have dropped in number from 1300 whales not that long ago, to 284 in 2011.
The Cook Inlet beluga whale was placed on the endangered species list in October 2008.
Source: Center for Biological Diversity
Image Credits: Whale Playing and Beluga White Sea and White Beluga Whale via Shutterstock
fat beluga
I’d hump a beluga whale but dem tings are so fat, I’d probably hurt ma cock
dome head
maybe the beluga whales are bothered by the killer whales
dome head
someone is bothering someone
fat beluga
I’m back & fatter than ever, someone start a convo ok leggo
dome head
back
fat beluga
ey, who’s ur celeb crush? idekk
dome head
i dont have a celeb crush on beluga whales!!! thats what im saying…….
fat beluga
no, I mean a celeberty crush, dont you have one?
dome head
nope, no one
dome head
y are we talking about 1D?????????
fat beluga
idk things happen
Mrs. CM Punk
?????
dome head
??????????
fat beluga
fagasses everywhere, I’mma slit my throat
Mrs.CM Punk
you do that have fun
fat beluga
more fun than putting up with you
dome head
beluga whales have so cool coloured skin
Mrs. CM Punk
they are ugly
fat beluga
thats rude, they were born that way & GOD MAKES NO MISTAKES *lady gaga voice*
Mrs. CM Punk
moan belugas going up stream yessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
Mrs. CM Punk
yep veeeeeryyyyyyyyyyyy intereeeestinnnnnnnnnnngggggggg
fat beluga
why dont u y’all like 1D? reply here ok
Mrs. CM Punk
they are ugly
fat beluga
thats rude, they were born that way & GOD MAKES NO MISTAKES *lady gaga voice*
dome head
they r not my favourtie band, i dont like their songs so much, sorry fat beluga!!!!
fat beluga
THANK YOU FOR HAVING GOOD REASONS UNLIKE FAGASSES WHO DONT
dome head
lol
Mrs.CM Punk
TALK ABOUT YOURSELF YOU ARE A CRAZY FANGIRLLL YOU NEED HELP
fat beluga
i dont know how I’m the crazy one, as for, I’m not the one for hating on people for no dman reason 😉 be real with yo self
dome head
fans who is crazy about someone is normal like fat beluga is ccrazy for 1D. totally NORMAL!!!!
fat beluga
that’s just a name. DUMBASSES LIKE YOU CANT HANDLE IF PEOPLE LOVE SOMEONE ELSE. Me obsessing over a boyband, ain’t gon affect you’re life so sit yo ass down.
dome head
MEAN!!!!!!!!
Mrs.CM Punk
IM SITTIN CANT STAND THE HEAT GET OUT OF THE KITCHEN
fat beluga
lazy ass
Mrs.CM Punk
IM NOT HATING THEY JUST SUCK…….EACH OTHER FOR THAT MATTER OOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHH JUST DISSED YOUR GAY BOYS
fat beluga
that isnt a diss 😉 calling someone gay isn’t an insult, try something else you homophobe
Mrs.CM Punk
ONLY YOU WOULD MAKE THEM SOUND LIKE THEIR MEAT ON THE TABLE ……. YUMMMMM …………… MEAT
fat beluga
nice comback brb laughing @ u
Mrs.CM Punk
1D is stupid everyone but Zayn now HE makes me go crazy crazy till i see the white light lol ohhhhhhh
fat beluga
girl you’re already cray cray, & i dont know how you could hate someone bc they’re “stupid” according to you but ok
dome head
so interesting
Mrs. CM Punk
lol hi guys
dome head
lol
fat beluga
I’M THE ONLY FAT BELUGA E’RE SO STOP IT Y’ALL
Mrs. CM Punk
getting wet over SOMEONES beluga
dome head
Mrs. CM punk, u too
Mrs. CM Punk
Tracey you are inappropriate
Mrs. CM Punk
they only be kissing me
Mrs. CM Punk
go where exactly?
dome head
they are kissing everyone
dome head
beluga is at marine land!
Mrs. CM Punk
lets go
fat beluga
btw my new comment is an indirect to you
fat beluga
nigga’s be coming @ me. You bound too lose
Mrs. CM Punk
melons are yummy do you think that its head will fit???????? lol
fat beluga
I’d shove it up yaaa 😉
Mrs. CM Punk
I LOVE CM PUNK
dome head
their melon head is sooooo huge!!!!!!!! lol
Mrs. CM Punk
you wanna go fat thing lets go im gonna steal your fat man…. wow im a cheater
fat beluga
come @ me
dome head
weird!!!! OwO
dome head
beeeeeeeluuuuuugaaaaaaa whaleeeeeeeeeer!!!!!!!!
dome head
beluga whales are cute, right?
fat beluga
not really tbh
fat beluga
I’m laughing at Mrs. CM Punk, very original comment. 😉
Mrs. CM Punk
wow they are so fat… yummy in my tummy
fat beluga
I wonder how a beluga whale moans haha, I’ll find out soon enough…
fat beluga
they’re so lumpy ew but pleasurful
fat beluga
someone give me some water, I’m so thirsty for some beluga
fat beluga
*looks at a beluga whale*
*moans*
*gets wet*
fat beluga
true love is equal! no matter what species…
fat beluga
hopefully dem beluga’s ain’t racist <3
fat beluga
i want to date a beluga whale but idk if it’d work out anyway bc they’re white & I’m brown. sigh
fat beluga
i want to lick their melon heads
fat beluga
so fat yum
fat beluga
beluga whales are fat lol
kimberley
… You took the Bible verse out of context.