Humpback whale losing 'threatened' status (to clear the way for tarsand laden tankers) [View all]

[Joe Shlabotnik]

The Canadian government is downgrading the protection of humpback whales off the coast of B.C. under the Species at Risk Act.

The move is being made as the government readies for a decision on the approval of the pipeline, which would feed oil onto a tanker shipping route that overlaps with what environmental groups describe as "critical habitat" for the whale.

Karen Wristen, executive director of the Living Oceans Society, said the decision "has absolutely no basis in science and is simply a political move to clear the way to approve the pipeline."

In January, the Living Oceans Society, along with Ecojustice, ForestEthics Advocacy and the Raincoast Conservation Foundation, launched a lawsuit attempting to block cabinet approval of the pipeline. They argued that the report being used as the basis for approval was flawed, in part because it failed to consider protections for the humpback whale required under the Act.

More at:http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/humpback-whale-losing-threatened-status-despite-northern-gateway-concerns-1.2617633