Press Category: Species Protection

Aug 22, 2007 Sierra Legal on behalf of the Wilderness Committee, Environmental Defence, and Georgia Strait Alliance, last week started a court case in Federal Court against the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans’ decision to release the National Recovery Strategy for the Nooksack Dace without including the location of its critical habitat. The following provides background to this case. Background…

Scientists say feds ignored evidence to avoid protecting habitat AUGUST 23, 2007 VANCOUVER, BC – Environmental groups have filed a lawsuit against the federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans for refusing to identify critical habitat – contrary to scientific advice – and, thus, gravely weakening the recovery strategy for the Nooksack dace, an endangered fish that lives in small streams…

Federal Government could face lawsuit over further delays May 23, 2007 VANCOUVER, BC – After nearly a year of unlawful delays, the latest caused by the Canadian military, environmental groups issued a warning to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) today to release the Recovery Strategy for BC’s famous resident killer whales, or face a lawsuit. The Southern Resident Killer Whales…

The Species at Risk Act (SARA) was first introduced into the House of Commons in February of 2001. The new Act is the result of numerous cross-Canada consultations and built on the policy of previous legislative proposals over a nine-year period. The overall goal of the Species at Risk Act is to prevent wildlife species from becoming extinct or lost…

June 26, 2007 VANCOUVER, BC – After a year’s delay and a threat of legal action, the federal government has released the long-awaited recovery strategy for BC’s endangered Southern resident killer whales and threatened Northern resident killer whales. Environmentalists, who prompted the recovery strategy’s release by threatening a lawsuit, offered cautious praise. They noted that the most essential component of…

October 3, 2002 For immediate release Victoria, BC — TheSouthern Strait of Georgia National Marine Conservation Area (NMCA), announced today in Ottawa, will add significant protectionfor the marine environment of British Columbia’s south coast, according to a leading BC marine conservation group. The Georgia Strait Alliance applauds Prime Minister Jean Chretien and Heritage Minister Sheila Copps for setting in motion…

Conservationists Fight Determination that Southern Residents Are “Not Significant” December 18, 2002 News release Today a coalition of environmental groups filed suit against the National Marine Fisheries Service to fight the Bush administration’s determination that Puget Sound’s Southern Resident killer whales are not ‘significant,’ precluding protection for the whales under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. The lawsuit was filed in…

Canadian groups make plea to protect transboundary whale population MEDIA RELEASE November 17, 2003 SEATTLE – Canadian conservation groups are joining their American allies in U.S. federal district court today in an attempt to protect the endangered ‘Southern Resident’ population of killer whales that share the international waters between British Columbia and Washington State. A coalition of American conservation groups…

Festive news for imperiled Killer Whales MEDIA RELEASE For immediate release  December 18, 2003 VANCOUVER, BC – Canadian conservation groups are overjoyed by yesterday’s U.S. Federal Court decision that will greatly improve the Southern Resident orca whales’ chance of survival. United States District Court Judge Robert Lasnik overturned a controversial July 2002 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) decision that found…

Festive news for imperilled Killer Whales December 16, 2004 VANCOUVER, BC – Canadian conservation groups are overjoyed by today’s announcement by the U.S. Federal government to list the Southern Resident population of Killer whales (Orcinus orca) under the US Endangered Species Act (ESA). Last year Sierra Legal, the Georgia Strait Alliance and the Western Canada Wilderness Committee joined their American…