On
1-21-04, the Center for Biological Diversity, Ocean
Advocates and other environmental groups submitted
a petition to NOAA Fisheries to protect Puget Sound's
Cherry Point herring under the Endangered Species
Act. Once Washington state's largest herring population,
it has declined by 90% in the past 30 years due to
industrial development and pollution.
The
Cherry Point herring is a distinct population of
Pacific herring that spawns along the open shoreline
north of Bellingham. Two major oil refineries and
an aluminum smelter near Cherry Point have directly
impacted its spawning grounds through dock construction
and operation, outfall discharge, vessel traffic,
and disease and foreign species introduced from ship
ballast water. More than 70 spills have dumped tens
of thousands of gallons of crude oil and poisoned
water over the spawning grounds since the Cherry
Point refineries were built in 1973. One large oil
spill during spawning season could completely wipe
out the population.
In
addition to the Center and Ocean Advocates, the coalition
includes the Northwest Ecosystem Alliance, Public
Employees for Environmental Responsibility, People
For Puget Sound, and Friends of the San Juans.
For
more information.