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I am an elementary school teacher and marine life enthusiast. I
participate in whale watching excursions and, because of my
experiences on the water, I took the class to be an American
Cetacean Society naturalist volunteer. Every year, I teach my
students about the marine mammals we see off our coast as a science
unit and end the unit with a whale watching field trip through
Newport Whales or Dana Wharf Whale Watching. Nothing compares to
the experience of viewing whales and dolphin in the wild and the
field trips have had a profound effect on my students. People
protect what they love. It is my hope that by providing students
and the public with information and experiences related to ocean
wildlife, people will have a sense of stewardship for our oceans
and the animals that live in it. It worries me greatly that if
Whale Watching tour businesses are forced to purchase new engines
for their tour boats, they will have no choice but to close or it
will become unaffordable for the public due to increased cost.