Ordinarily, the experience of seeing a 25-foot-long salmon on a campus lawn might inspire you to call your psychologist or ophthalmologist. On Monday, Oct. 14, however, that same experience might inspire you to call your congressional representative.
At least that's the hope of the Northwest Ecosystem Alliance NWEA, which is bringing its road show featuring "Fin," a giant walk- through salmon, to Yale as part of its effort to raise awareness about the plight of imperiled species; to alert the public about congressional attempts to weaken the Endangered Species Act; and to promote support for the Endangered Natural Heritage Act, a set of principles developed by a coalition of conservation, scientific and community groups to improve species conservation efforts.
"A century ago, salmon thrived in the Northwest," says Joe Scott, president of the NWEA board. "Today most of the native stocks have been pushed to the brink of extinction. Their last hope and the hope of thousands of fishermen and women who depend upon healthy salmon runs is the Endangered Species Act -- the lifeline for species in trouble." By contrast, he adds, the Endangered Natural Heritage Act would improve species conservation efforts, close loopholes in the Endangered Species Act, ensure the recovery of listed species, reduce the need to list species in the future, and provide incentives to private landowners.
"Fin," a fiberglass structure weighing 1,300 pounds, will be on display 9:30 a.m.-noon outside the Peabody Museum of Natural History, 170 Whitney Ave.; it will also be on view 1-4 p.m. that day on Cross Campus lawn, between Wall and Elm streets. Inside the structure is a mural depicting the habitat of the salmon, as well as that of 100 other endangered species.
This is the second year that the NWEA is bringing its Endangered Salmon Adventure tour to universities, state fairs and parks throughout the country. Yale will be the ninth stop on this year's tour, which began on Sept. 30 and will conclude Oct. 31.