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,