It is encouraging to note that several States, including Washington, Oregon, and California, have recently initiated nongame wildlife programs that have resulted in substantial benefits to their citizens. The California legislature, for example, enacted a law in 1974 to provide a means for individuals and organizations to donate funds for supporting nongame species management. The California Department of Fish and Game has increased its nongame staff and appointed a citizen Nongame Advisory Committee to help develop and implement nongame programs.
Because most species of marine birds are not hunted by sportsmen in North America, this increased emphasis on nongame species may eventually benefit research and management programs for seabirds substantially.
Scientific Research
Even now, marine-bird research studies and inventories require the expenditure of several million dollars annually along our coasts. In Alaska a multimillion dollar Federal effort has been initiated to assess the environmental risks of developing offshore petroleum potential in the Gulf of Alaska and five other key areas of the State. These areas represent 60% of the nation's total continental shelf and support some of the largest marine-bird populations in the world. The program to examine life-forms and the physical environment of the petroleum lease areas will require 4 to 5 years to complete. Approximately $1.5 million has been allocated to conduct an environmental assessment of marine bird resources in the first 18 months alone.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is spending about $40,000 to determine the seasonal occurrence, density, and distribution of marine birds in coastal waters adjacent to new national wildlife refuges in Alaska being proposed pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971, and almost $200,000 to study and manage migratory birds—including marine birds—on existing refuges.
Although generated by external events (including requirements pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969) rather than by the resources themselves, these expenditures at least indirectly reflect a social concern for the welfare of marine birds.
Citizen Involvement (Social Indicator)
Another encouraging aspect of seabird conservation and its meaning to society is the increasing involvement of citizens in the issue. Although agencies have not been as responsive as many would like, administration of government at all levels has been shaken and stimulated by citizen participation. As Russell W. Peterson, Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality, has stated, "Citizen action is the essence of democracy. Citizen movements should be encouraged and expanded. The involvement of people is necessary to counterbalance the disproportionate influence of the professional lobbyists and public relations operators hired to further the special interests of their clients." Mr. Peterson further emphasized that government thrives much better on citizen concern and attention than on indifference and neglect.
Therefore, it is highly significant that the Pacific Seabird Group has many nonprofessional, as well as professional, members and that the 1975 International Symposium on Conservation of Marine Birds of Northern North America had strong citizen involvement and participation. As everyone recognizes, nothing works in government unless people, be they doctors, lawyers, college professors, students, environmentalists, or Indian chiefs, make it work.