Please protect Chile's Blue Whales
Dear President Bachelet,

First of all I would like to congratulate the Chilean government on its role at the recent International Whaling Commission meeting, where Chile advocated with conviction for whale conservation. This marine mammal lives along the Chilean coast too, and motivates me to write this letter.

As you know, 4 years ago it was discovered that a large number of blue whales visit the Gulf of Corcovado and Chiloé each year to feed and raise their calves. Their presence has made the zone one of the most crucial marine conservation areas in the Southern Hemisphere and urgent action must be taken to ensure that both the blue whales and their ecosystem are protected.

In an effort to fulfill this goal, Centro Ballena Azul and the Universidad Austral de Chile, with the support of CONAMA and WWF, proposed a conservation area encompassing the waters adjacent to the Island of Chiloé to be declared a Multiple Use Marine and Coastal Protected Area. This Protected Area would facilitate the development of an effective overall conservation strategy for the blue whale population and the marine ecosystem upon which they depend. In addition, it would provide the opportunity to design an action plan benefiting both the zone's productive activities and residents and ensuring a positive, long-term impact on conservation.

Although this proposal has received the support and approval of public and private institutions at many levels (the Chilean Senate, the National Environmental Commission, and the Coastal Use Commissions of the Lakes and Aysén Regions), as well as the national and international scientific community, the final decision whether to protect the blue whales and their habitat now lies in your hands.

I write to respectfully request that you sign the decree to protect the Gulf of Corcovado and Chiloé in order to ensure that this critical environmental area is conserved for the future and as a sign of Chile's strong commitment to whale conservation.

Sincerely,

Appeal to Helen Clark, Prime Minister of New Zealand

Hector's and Maui's are New Zealand's marine Taonga (treasure). However, they are rapidly facing extinction due to human impacts. The substantial decline in Hector's dolphin numbers and distribution over the past 30 years and the considerable and continuing threats facing the species necessitate urgent action from the New Zealand government.

By law, the New Zealand government is required to protect its native flora and fauna. However, the government has never developed an action plan for the recovery of Hector's and Maui's dolphins.

If protection measures are not adequate then Maui's may become extinct within your lifetime.

For these reasons I call on you to immediately:

* Implement an effective action plan for the recovery of the species

* Introduce a total ban on set nets within the New Zealand Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)

* Introduce a total ban on trawling in near shore waters shallower than 100 metres in depth

* Identify, manage and mitigate all other potential threats to Hector's and Maui's to ensure their future recovery.


Apelação a Helen Clark, ministro principal de Nova Zelândia

O Hector e Maui são Taonga marinho de Nova Zelândia (tesouro). Entretanto, está enfrentando rapidamente a extinção devido aos impactos humanos. O declínio substancial em números do golfinho do Hector e a distribuição sobre os 30 anos passados e as ameaças consideráveis e continuando que enfrentam a espécie necessitam a ação urgente do governo de Nova Zelândia.

Pela lei, o governo de Nova Zelândia é requerido para proteger sua flora e fauna nativa. Entretanto, o governo nunca desenvolveu uma planta de ação para a recuperação de golfinhos do Hector e do Maui.

Se as medidas da proteção não forem adequadas então Maui pode tornar-se extinct dentro de sua vida.

Para estas razões eu convido-o a imediatamente:


*Executar uma planta de ação eficaz para a recuperação da espécie


*Introduzir uma proibição total em redes do jogo dentro da zona econômica exclusiva de Nova Zelândia (EEZ)


*Introduzir uma proibição total em trawling em águas próximas da costa mais rasa de 100 medidores dentro - de profundidade


*Identificar, controlar e mitigate todas ameaças potenciais restantes ao Hector e ao Maui assegurar sua recuperação futura.