By Emma Helverson / For The Herald
As Southern Resident killer whales are facing imminent extinction, Gov. Bob Ferguson has inexplicably sidelined a leading scientist who could help save them.
In one of his final acts as governor, Jay Inslee reappointed Dr. Timothy Ragen to the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission, recognizing his critical contributions to science-based conservation policy. However, just days after taking office, Gov. Ferguson made the stunning decision to revoke Dr. Ragen’s appointment without explanation, an action that threatens to undermine science-driven fish and wildlife policy when it is needed most.
The decision raises an uncomfortable question: Why dismiss a scientist of Ragen’s caliber at such a crucial moment? This move is particularly troubling given that Gov. Ferguson professed a commitment to science-based fish and wildlife management during his campaign.
Ragen’s credentials speak for themselves. As the former executive director and scientific program director for the U.S. Marine Mammal Commission, he has played pivotal roles in the recovery of species such as the Steller sea lion and the Hawaiian monk seal. His extensive experience in converting scientific data into effective policy is particularly vital now to address the Southern Resident’s primary challenge — the depletion of large, abundant chinook salmon — and the cascading ecological consequences that follow.
We are extremely fortunate that Ragen has been willing to volunteer as a pivotal expert on the sttae’s Fish and Wildlife Commission, which oversees statewide fish and wildlife management, including shaping policies that will determine the fate of the Southern Resident orcas and wild salmon. Despite Ragen’s unquestioned expertise and an enormous outpouring of support from scientists, conservation groups and the public, Gov. Ferguson has not provided any public explanation for abruptly removing Ragen and refusing to consider him for reappointment.
Even with ongoing region wide conservation efforts, research shows the Southern Resident killer whales continue to face the looming threat of functional extinction within four decades absent substantial fisheries management reforms taking place. Sound policy must address the whale’s complex prey and energy requirements throughout their range. It must also address science demonstrating human-caused impacts, such as overfishing, hatchery impacts and climate change, which are depleting the abundance, size and genetic diversity of the salmon on which the whales and so many other species depend on. Addressing these challenges requires bold leaders who understand the intersection of marine ecology and policy.
Further, the survival of these species is a shared responsibility between the United States and Canada. Washington’s ability to develop effective conservation policies to recover the Southern Residents and wild salmon will require effective collaboration across borders; the kind of expertise Ragen brings to the table from his work at the U.S. Marine Mammal Commission.
Underscoring public support for his reappointment, 70 leading marine mammal scientists, fisheries ecologists, and conservation policy experts from the U.S., Canada, and beyond delivered a letter to Gov Ferguson urging the swift reappointment of Ragen. The depth of accolades from his peers — scientists who have dedicated their careers to marine conservation — speaks volumes about his integrity, professionalism and effectiveness as a leader.
The governor has an opportunity to correct this misstep and signal to Washingtonians that he stands with them on the environment and against extinction. The Southern Resident killer whales do not have time for political maneuvering. We need immediate, expert guidance to secure their future. Restoring Ragen to the commission will ensure Washington remains a leader in science-driven conservation; not a cautionary tale about the tragic consequences when experts are cast aside and politics are allowed to trump sound governance.
Emma Helverson is executive director of the Wild Fish Conservancy, a Washington state-based conservation nonprofit.
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