Newsletter, April 29, 2025 View this email in your browser
The Endangered Species Act (ESA) is currently at risk under a new proposal under the Trump Administration. A draft rule submitted by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) could alter language weakening protection for endangered wildlife. Under the ESA, agencies have interpreted “harm” to include damage to specie’s habitat. But the administration is trying to remove language in the rule to make it easier for developers and industry to build or extract in areas where listed endangered species live. This would loosen restrictions on industrial activities like coastal development and oil exploration that can damage an endangered animal’s habitat, even if the animal itself is not directly harmed. Habitat, like coral reefs, estuaries, and kelp forests, are where animals live to feed, breed and to survive. Developing or polluting habitat can kill prey populations or destroy refuge, adding to the threat of protected species. In many cases, species like green sea turtles require specific beaches to nest. Great hammerhead sharks use fragile estuaries and shallow bays to gestate and pup. Loss of important habitat means no baby turtles or baby sharks, increasing the risk of extinction.
ndangered sea turtles require undisturbed beaches to nest. Green sea turtle, Kona Hawai’i. Image ©DavidMcGuire,SharkStewards
On top of these threats to species protection, endangered sharks like hammerheads and oceanic whitetips are facing impacts from commercial fisheries in U.S. Marine Protected Areas, and opening up our coasts to oil drilling. A change in the ESA could reverse critical environmental safeguards and over 50 years of important species protection. Allowing habitat destruction could be the death knell for imperiled species across the United States and beyond, including great hammerhead sharks, green sea turtles and short tailed albatross.
This month we are campaigning the US Congress to support endangered marine life and marine protection.
Please join me by urging congress to maintain, not weaken environment and species protection. Help by signing a petition, writing a letter to your representative or joining us on an Endangered Species Day event.
Join us online or at our events and help save sharks and protect their habitat.
David McGuire, Director, Shark Stewards
Events
May 11, Endangered Species Day clean up, monitoring and shout out for the ESA. Aquatic Park Berkeley 10am-12 pm. Meet at the south end of the Park, inside gate.
May 31, June 1 SCUBA Show Long Beach. Meet us at our booth and learn how divers are protecting sharks via diving, science and activism.
June 6 , World Ocean Day – Endangered Species Day Live with The Dark Hobby Film, with film cast, experts. RSVP for information.
June 8 , World Ocean Day Cleanup Aquatic Park Berkeley 10 Am-12Pm
To keep sharks swimming, it is urgent we work together with communities and conservation. Please consider a donation, and join our team to keep sharks and marine ecosystems alive and thriving!
Read how our grants and your donations are applied. Like a shark, Shark Stewards is lean, mean, and highly efficient!
Shark Stewards is rated highest by Charity Navigator, Platinum-ranked by GuideStar, a member of 1% for the Planet, and a proud project of the Earth Island Institute, a federally registered 501(c)3 non profit.
With your support, we keep sharks swimming and the ocean healthy. We value your time, your passion, and any size donation.
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