Alaskan Offshore Drilling a Serious Threat to Belugas

​worldanimalnews.com/let-trump-and-his-fisheries-service-know-that-its-beluga-whales-that-need-protection-not-oil-company-profits/

Despite the multitude of scientists out there that claim we need to start shifting away from things like fossil fuels and oil drilling for the sake of the environment, we are still seeing stories like this where increased drilling is occurring which inevitably puts ecosystems at serious risk. The Trump administration has approved a major oil and gas company to expand its oil drilling territory in Alaska despite the fact that there are fewer than a couple hundred beluga whales left in this area.

Oil drilling consists of seismic blasts and destructive machinery that most assuredly disrupts land and marine life in the area, particularly the extremely threatened beluga whales. The seismic blasts are known to reach over 250 decibels which affect the belugas and other marine life significantly by throwing off their communication, hunting ability, and mating rituals. These blasts will further damage and already dwindling population of belugas ultimately pushing them to extinction in the area if this oil drilling is not stopped.

This allowance of oil drilling is in direct violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act and Endangered Species Acts which are now taking the Trump admin to court to prevent further damage to the belugas habitat. This lawsuit will look to block the advancement of further drilling and expansion of the territory in which the drilling occurs in an effort to protect the already endangered belugas. 

This is just another lawsuit in a long line of active suits against the Trump administration for their repeated ignorance when it comes to protecting our planet's wildlife. His administration has repeatedly demonstrated a lack of compassion and understanding of the perils these animals face and in fact, has almost attempted to worsen their situations in the wild by removing protections, failing to act on suggested protections, or in this case, allowed further ecosystem drilling in favour of the fossil fuel industry. His admins denial of science is pushing several species to the brinks of extinction and sadly, he doesn't show any signs of stopping. 

Follow the link at the top of the page to the original story by World Animal News and take a minute to lend your name to the signature demanding his admin. stop further drilling in this part of Alaska where belugas are in immediate danger.

HAPPY VEG