WHEREAS, Laguna Ojo de Liebre (Scammon's Lagoon), Baja California, Mexico, is the major calving ground of the eastern Pacific stock of the gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus), which is a unique species of limited distribution with exceptional scientific, esthetic, and potential commercial values; and
WHEREAS, in the past few years a rapidly increased number of boats, both commercial and private, have been entering Laguna Ojo de Liebre during the calving season for the purpose of following and watching the gray whales; and
WHEREAS, it was feared that this repeated disturbance of female whales with newborn calves may increase calf mortality or cause whales to abandon the lagoon; and
WHEREAS, the American Society of Mammalogists at its 1971 meeting passed a resolution urging the Government of Mexico to ban boats and ships from the lagoon during the whale calving season; and
WHEREAS, in February 1972, L. Echeverria Alvarez, President of Mexico, declared the lagoon a whale refuge;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the American Society of Mammalogists highly commends President Alvarez and the Government of Mexico for their prompt, progressive, and exemplary action in declaring Laguna Ojo de Liebre a whale refuge.