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When the MLPA Killed a Blue Whale
In investigating the incident, Noyo News learned that the Pacific Star lacked the required "Marine Geophysical Survey Permit," and the required marine mammal observer at the time of the accident, and so was operating illegally.
story w/pics @ http://noyonews.net
When the MLPA Killed a Blue Whale
by David Gurney
On Oct. 19, 2009 an underwater mapping vessel on its last day of work for Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Initiative struck and killed a 72-foot female blue whale.
The MLPA "Initiative" denied any responsibility for the accident, and shifted blame to NOAA as the contracting agency. However, it was later learned that the primary mission of the research vessel Pacific Star was to gather data for California Seafloor Mapping Program (CSMP), to be used in designing California's marine protected areas.
The project was heavily funded by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the major financier of the MLPA "Initiative." The Packard Foundation has since removed its name from the CSMP website.
In investigating the incident, Noyo News learned that the Pacific Star lacked the required "Marine Geophysical Survey Permit," and the required marine mammal observer at the time of the accident, and so was operating illegally.
When I brought this up before the MLPAI's "Blue Ribbon Task Force" (BRTF) in November 2009, to ask for an independent investigation, Executive Director Ken Wiseman had me removed from the podium one minute before the previously announced three-minute public comment time period had expired.
After I had been removed from the microphone before finishing my public comment, Mr. Wiseman and program manager Melissa Miller-Henson went on for several minutes, explaining how the MLPAI was not at all culpable in the death of the blue whale.
***
When the MLPA Killed a Blue Whale
by David Gurney
On Oct. 19, 2009 an underwater mapping vessel on its last day of work for Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Initiative struck and killed a 72-foot female blue whale.
The MLPA "Initiative" denied any responsibility for the accident, and shifted blame to NOAA as the contracting agency. However, it was later learned that the primary mission of the research vessel Pacific Star was to gather data for California Seafloor Mapping Program (CSMP), to be used in designing California's marine protected areas.
The project was heavily funded by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the major financier of the MLPA "Initiative." The Packard Foundation has since removed its name from the CSMP website.
In investigating the incident, Noyo News learned that the Pacific Star lacked the required "Marine Geophysical Survey Permit," and the required marine mammal observer at the time of the accident, and so was operating illegally.
When I brought this up before the MLPAI's "Blue Ribbon Task Force" (BRTF) in November 2009, to ask for an independent investigation, Executive Director Ken Wiseman had me removed from the podium one minute before the previously announced three-minute public comment time period had expired.
After I had been removed from the microphone before finishing my public comment, Mr. Wiseman and program manager Melissa Miller-Henson went on for several minutes, explaining how the MLPAI was not at all culpable in the death of the blue whale.
***
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