Comment from Edmondson, Mark
Mark EdmondsonSupportIndividual
Summary: A local coastal property owner supports the proposed management plan to protect the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. The commenter argues that the sanctuary is necessary to protect marine mammals from ship strikes and starvation, citing recent whale strandings in their area.
www.regulations.gov,
using docket number NOAA-NOS-2023-0003.
The Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary deserves the highest level of protection available. As a direct coastal property and homeowner just to the south of the sanctuary, I see the shorebird and marine Mammal population traveling toward the Olympic Sanctuary. We have had 21 whales was ashore this Spring. Necropsy evidence shows starvation and trauma likely from interactions with Marine traffic. These animals are key to the health of our coastline and deserve the respite provided by NOAA designated sanctuary areas. Please keep and strengthen these sanctuary designations going forward.