SIGN NOW: Tell the EPA to protect endangered orcas, people, and our oceans from cruise ship pollution!

Two new Southern Resident orcas were just confirmed, being born into the same pod as the beloved matriarch Marina who tragically died a few short years ago. This is hopeful news, but sadly, the mortality rate for calves within the first year of birth is as high as 50%.

Cruise ships are dumping wastewater and other toxic pollution into our oceans. Indigenous communities rely on ocean resources, including the fish that cruise ships can scare away with their noise. They also endure the pollution and climate-warming emissions from these greedy corporations.

With communities being directly harmed by Big Polluters’ dirty actions and this fragile orca population already clinging to survival, we must STOP rampant cruise ship pollution once and for all. Demand immediate action from the Environmental Protection Agency to protect our oceans, people, and the planet! >>

Comments

Dear EPA,

Over the years, cruise companies have polluted our air, water, and climate -- much of this pollution is legal, but cruise companies are also responsible for significant illegal pollution. In 2020, the cruise industry was thrust into the spotlight for knowingly putting public health at risk from COVID-19. Thousands of people contracted the virus while on cruise ships, and hundreds died. The cruise industry has repeatedly made choices that put the health of people and the planet at risk.

Southern Resident killer whales are at serious risk. The cruise industry is dumping its exhaust gas scrubber wastewater into the marine waters where orcas live. This practice is exacerbating the threats to this iconic species. The Southern Resident killer whales are sounding the alarm bells; only one in three survive birth. They are starving due to the lack of salmon. They are stressed and hungry, and the cruise industry is only making matters worse.

Scrubbers were supposed to be one of the solutions to clean up the cruise industry’s dirty smokestacks. Instead, these scrubbers merely convert the industry’s dirty air pollution into toxic water pollution. Most scrubbers used by the cruise industry are open-loop and emit acidic wastewater that is warmer than ambient seawater. It contains heavy metals, PAHs, particulate matter, and nitrates, all of which are very harmful to the marine environment and the marine creatures that inhabit it. All of our oceans are at risk from the cruise industry’s polluting emissions, and they need to stop immediately.

The world’s largest cruise company -- Carnival Corporation -- was on criminal probation for five years as part of a record-setting $40 million fine and plea agreement for illegally dumping oily waste into the ocean for nearly a decade, as well as obstruction of justice for hiding its criminal activities from regulators. Carnival was allowed to restart cruising in the US in 2021 despite its continued and ongoing pollution during its probation. Without this prosecution, we would likely have no knowledge of Carnival’s ongoing environmental crimes. To properly monitor and enforce environmental and public health laws on cruise ships, we need independent federal observers for all large cruise ships in the US.

I am calling on you to protect public health and the environment. Please commit to addressing the negative impacts the cruise industry has on passengers, crew, communities, oceans, and marine wildlife through improved and increased regulation and oversight of the industry.

Sincerely,

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