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12/23/2005: "Comments Due On Orca Plan Jan. 3"

Public comments on a draft conservation plan for orca whales are due Jan. 3. Last November, NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service announced its decision to list the three Southern Resident orca pods as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. NOAA Fisheries developed a draft conservation plan that identifies measures to help restore the population and provides goals to measure success.

The draft plan calls for public information and education programs as well as ways to respond to orcas that are stranded, sick, injured, isolated, pose a threat to the public, or exhibit nuisance behaviors. Draft Plan