Palin Fails to Stop Whale Protections

In 2006, the Center for Biological Diversity submitted a request to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration calling for Cook Inlet beluga whales to be protected as endangered species under the Endangered Species Act.

Today, the NOAA determined that the beluga whale is not recovering fast enough from initial protections and must be labeled "endangered" to ensure survival of the species.

The population of these beluga whales decreased 50% between 1994 and 1998. Currently their numbers stand at approximately 375 whales.

When the proposal to list the species as endangered was initially submitted, Governor Sarah Palin's administration openly questioned the science supporting increased protections. It is no coincidence that the Interior Department has proposed opening the Cook Inlet where these whales live to oil leases. This is just another example of Palin attempting to block protections for the environment for the benefit of oil and gas industries. She has previously sued the government to block listing of polar bears as threatened species for the same reasons.

To read a full story on the beluga whale situation, click HERE.