Expand Marine Sanctuaries to Block Offshore Oil
http://action.seaturtles.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=12202
California's National Marine Sanctuaries preserve one of the world's most productive marine ecosystems from the devastating impacts of the oil and gas industry. The Gulf of the Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary boundaries are now up for review, and your help is needed today to support this historic chance to expand their reaches northward and safeguard offshore habitats for future generations.
If approved, the currently proposed expansion would increase the area of these sanctuaries over 150%! Leatherback sea turtles, blue whales, seals, sea lions and seabirds all rely on this area for their survival.
Take action now to expand California's National Marine Sanctuaries before the March 1, 2013 comment deadline!
Use the link below this petition to submit your own personal comment letter through the Federal eRulemaking Portal.
Support Boundary Expansion of Cordell Bank and Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuaries (NOAA-NOS-2012-0228-0001)
Dear Sanctuary Superintendent Ms. Maria Brown,
I strongly support a northward expansion of the Gulf of the Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries to protect California's endangered marine life from future threats of the offshore oil industry. The proposed area offshore of the Sonoma and Mendocino Coasts includes critical upwelling zones that support one of the most biodiverse marine ecosystems in the world. Pacific leatherback sea turtles, white sharks, blue whales, and coho salmon are just a few of the endangered and charismatic creatures that rely on this marine habitat for their continued existence.
The rich diversity and health of the Farallone Island rookeries and Cordell Bank reefs depends on the cold nutrient-rich source water originating from the Point Arena upwelling center. This area's natural resource and ecological qualities should become part of the National Marine Sanctuary system as soon as possible. The ocean upwelling system within the proposed northern expansion of the boundary change is critical to the economic and biological well-being of the Northern California Coastal region.
Sincerely,
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= new reply since forum marked as read
I've always had a soft spot for turtles, had an Eastern Painted Turtle for a pet when I was a kid. It seems that my Dad's friend spotted it trying to cross the road on a nearby mountain, so picked it up and gave it to my Dad because he had kids.
My teacher at the time had a friend overseas in the service (probably Vietnam 
), so he had all the kids in his class write this guy a letter and I remember I told him all about my turtle. 
But my Dad was an animal lover (must be where I got it from 
) ad eventually had us let the turtle go. It was in a huge nearby park that's a protected artist's colony, lots of woods and streams, and the turtle kept dipping his head in the water, seemed happy there, so I didn't feel so bad. I've often pictured my turtle still living happily there. 
