Thriving Oceans

The International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed the Kittlitz’s murrelet as critically endangered species as a result of plummeting population numbers. According to the IUCN, “Threats include habitat loss and degradation (due to oceanic regime shifts and glacial retreat, possibly as a consequence of global warming); habitat degradation and repeated disturbance of birds due to recreational and commercial tour boat traffic; mortality in gillnet fisheries (documented in Prince William Sound; anecdotal accounts from elsewhere); mortality from petroleum contamination (7-15% of the Prince William Sound population died as result of the ExxonValdez oil spill).”

Attempts to afford protection were thwarted as the Alaska Department of Fish and Game rejected a March 5 petition by the Center for Biological Diversity to list the seabird under Alaska’s Endangered Species Act.  The reason cited for denying protection is a lack of data.

http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/144287