The federal government has recently labeled the beluga whales in Alaska's Cook Inlet protected under the Endangered Species Act.
Although the beluga whales in this location have been part of a ten year recovery program, their species keeps failing to repopulate. While there are five beluga whale populations in Alaska, the Cook's Inlet population is the only one considered by the federal government to be endangered.
The issue, it seems is oil and gas exploration in the Cook Inlet, due to an estimated $1.3 billion dollars worth of energy resources.
Now that the species has been identified as endangered, researchers will now begin the difficult process of identifying how to recover the species in the very near future.
With many concerned with the price of gasoline, how should we continue to explore this area while still respecting the beluga whale population?
We'd love to hear your thoughts. Please send comments if you have a moment.
Thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection.
Best regards.
Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GRI
2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors
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