Wildlife

Expansion Projects Expected to Create More Than 100 Jobs for Wisconsin Families

May 28, 2009 -- LA CROSSE – Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle today announced $21.5 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding that will improve and protect important Wisconsin environmental resources, and create jobs for hardworking Wisconsin families.

Wisconsin is receiving $13,946,000 to make improvements at four U.S. Geological Survey centers, the most of any state for these types of projects. Wisconsin is also receiving $7,439,000 from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to build visitors centers, improve infrastructure, and bolster conservation at its national wildlife refuges and hatcheries.    » read more »

Endangered lynx will need more room to roam as climate changes, groups contend

May 27, 2009 -- Missoula, Montana -- Citing the impacts that global warming will have on the endangered Canada lynx, four conservation groups have filed a legal challenge in Federal District Court in Missoula against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) challenging the agency’s selection of designated lynx habitat.

The Sierra Club, the Alliance for the Wild Rockies, Native Ecosystems Council and the Center for Native Ecosystems argue that the land area that FWS intends to designate as critical habitat for the lynx is not sufficient to protect the wild cat, making this the first such challenge to rely on concerns over global warming’s impacts to habitat.    » read more »

Oslo, Norway - 05/25/2009 - Members of the Pure Salmon Campaign coalition, a diverse group of stakeholders from key farmed salmon production and consumption nations including Canada, Chile, Scotland, Ireland and the United States, urge Marine Harvest to eliminate its destructive environmental impacts by separating farmed fish from wild fish populations and finding new sources for fish feed.    » read more »

May 26, 2009 -- AUGUSTA – Maine Governor John E. Baldacci today ceremonially signed LD 66, An Act To Amend Maine’s Endangered and Threatened Species List by Removing the Bald Eagle. The bill was ceremonially signed during a ceremony at Capitol Park with Lawrence the Bald Eagle present.

“When you look at this bald eagle, you really get a sense of strength, awe and beauty,” Governor Baldacci said. “Those characteristics are a perfect representation of this great country.”

Bill sponsor Sen. Bruce Bryant (D-Oxford) was in Capitol Park for the ceremony, as was his brother and co-sponsor, Rep. Mark Bryant (D-Windham), and a number of supporters of the legislation.    » read more »

May 22, 2009 -- U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill announced today that the Department of the Interior is providing the State of Missouri with a total of $1,190,996 in federal grants to fund conservation and recovery initiatives for imperiled fish and wildlife throughout the state of Missouri.

Grants are distributed through the State Wildlife Grant (SWG) program. This project was selected to receive federal dollars for the development and implementation of programs that benefit fish and wildlife, including species that are not hunted or fished. The grants will support both planning and implementation activities and will assist in conservation of the highest priority Missouri wildlife, plants and habitat.    » read more »

WASHINGTON (Friday, May 22, 2009) – The U.S. Senators from Vermont and New Hampshire have introduced the Upper Connecticut River Partnership Act of 2009, legislation that would help conserve the largest ecosystem in New England.    » read more »

Obama Administration agrees to amend their Fiscal Year 2010 Budget proposal after Murray, Cantwell, Dicks and West Coast Congressional members call to restore program and funding

May 21, 2009 -- (Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Congressman Norm Dicks (D-WA 6th) announced that the Obama Administration has agreed to amend their Fiscal Year 2010 Budget to reinstate the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (PCSRF) and restore $50 million in funding for the program.    » read more »

U.S. Dept. of Interior to Distribute Funds via State Wildlife Grant Program

May 22, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) today announced New Jersey will receive more than $1.1 million from the U.S. Department of Interior’s State Wildlife Grants Program to help preserve and protect wildlife.

“Protecting our treasured natural resources and habitat is essential to the ecological and economic health of our state and the country. These funds will be used to protect New Jersey wildlife and their habitats,” Sen. Lautenberg said.    » read more »

May 20, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee today passed the Gulf of the Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries Boundary Modification and Protection Act, legislation introduced by Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein (both D-CA).

The bill will permanently protect the coastal waters and estuaries of Sonoma County and portions of Mendocino County by extending the boundaries of existing marine sanctuaries. Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) has reintroduced a companion bill, which the House passed last year.    » read more »

Largest Number of Stocks Rebuilt Since 2001

May 19, 2009 -- NOAA’s Fisheries Service reported to Congress today that four stocks — Atlantic bluefish, Gulf of Mexico king mackerel and two stocks of monkfish in the Atlantic — have been rebuilt to allow for continued sustainable fishing. This is the largest number of stocks to be declared rebuilt in a single year since the fisheries service declared the first stock successfully rebuilt in 2001.    » read more »

Sydney, Australia - 05/19/2009 - Conservation groups today welcomed the announcement by Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett to establish a Conservation Zone over the entire Coral Sea within Australian waters and called on the Minister to ensure sufficient resources for his Department to carry out a full and prompt assessment of the area.

The conservation groups believe the Minister’s announcement signals a clear intent by the Government to permanently protect this tropical marine jewel in its entirety, a decision that would make the Coral Sea the largest protected area on Earth.    » read more »

May 18, 2009 -- President Obama’s fiscal 2010 budget proposal at the Department of Interior contains an historic $50 million in new investments to connect children and families to the great outdoors. The budget targets $30 million for educating young hunters and anglers, as well as $20 million in new funding for Youth Careers in Nature. This DOI initiative, dubbed the 21st Century Youth Conservation Corps, will bolster environmental education, recreation, and service programs throughout the Department, and engage thousands of youth in the outdoors.

Kevin Coyle, Vice President for Education and Training at the National Wildlife Federation, said:

“President Obama’s budget makes a bold and necessary investment to connect today’s children with the great outdoors.    » read more »

Federal funds are major infusion for Commonwealth's program to boost Chesapeake Bay crab population, aid commercial fishermen

May 19, 2009 -- RICHMOND – Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine announced today the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has approved $7.5 million of federal funds for the state's ongoing program to boost the Chesapeake Bay's blue crab population and aid struggling commercial fishermen.

With the first part of Virginia's multi-faceted, three-year blue crab disaster relief plan already underway, the new infusion of federal fishery disaster funds will help ensure the continued success of the statewide effort to reduce harvest pressure on the blue crab, and to continue an innovative marine debris clean-up program using out-of-work crab dredgers.    » read more »

Committee Also Approves Black Carbon Study and Wildlife Conservation Measures

May 19, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), Water and Wildlife Subcommittee Chairman, along with EPW Ranking Member James Inhofe (R-OK), and subcommittee ranking member Mike Crapo (R-ID), last week applauded Committee passage of The Water Infrastructure Financing Act, which provides the foundation for our nation’s drinking water and wastewater infrastructure.    » read more »

May 19, 2009 -- WASHINGTON - Senate Appropriations Chairman Daniel K. Inouye and Senator Daniel K. Akaka announced last week that the State of Hawaii will receive $4,486,000 to fight invasive plant species across the islands. The United States Department of Agriculture is distributing the funding as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Specific projects on both state and private lands will be selected by the State government.    » read more »