Environmental group sues Coast Guard over blue whale deaths

An environmental group that believes the deaths of three blue whales that were in SoCal feeding on krill last year resulted from the giant mammals being struck by ships is suing the Coast Guard, the Ventura County Star reports:

The lawsuit filed by the Center for Biological Diversity in U.S. District Court cites the deaths of three blue whales in the Santa Barbara Channel in 2007. Those whales, two of which died off Ventura County's coast, were confirmed or suspected of having died after colliding with ships.

"We think that if that sort of ship strike-induced death continues at that rate, an endangered species can't tolerate that kind of thing," said Andrea Treece, a attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity. "What we're asking in this lawsuit is for the court to command the Coast Guard to consult with the National Marine Fisheries Service."

The NMFS is responsible for investigations and rescues involving marine mammals and endangered marine species, NMFS spokesman Jim Milbury said.

Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer William Epperson did not comment on the lawsuit but said the agency works with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which oversees NMFS.

For his part, NMFS spokesman Milbury called the Coast Guard an "excellent partner" in the effort to protect the whales, but environmentalists want more safeguards in place. The full story is here.

-- Veronique de Turenne

Photo: Stephen Osman / Los Angeles Times

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