Yamaha donated five F40 four-stroke outboards to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service’s Protected Resource Division.
Yamaha will provide and install the motors on boats used in the California marine-mammal stranding and large-whale entanglement response networks. The group is made up of representatives from SeaWorld Rescue, Pacific Marine Mammal Center, Marine Animal Rescue, Channel Islands Marine and Wildlife Institute and Northcoast Marine Mammal Center.
“Yamaha’s commitment to the health of our nation’s fisheries and all coastal resources is the driving force behind the donation of these outboards,” said Ben Speciale, Yamaha Marine Group president in a statement. “The teams that will be using the outboards for marine mammal rescue contribute greatly to the Calif. Coastline and we are proud to support their efforts.”
“It’s important that the marine mammal rescue teams can navigate the Calif. coastline safely as they respond to calls and reports. Yamaha has enabled these teams to complete their tasks with greater efficiency,” said Penny Ruvelas, Long Beach Office Branch Chief, Protected Resources Division, in the statement.
Yamaha is also working with industry and conservation organizations like the American Sportfishing Association and the Coastal Conservation Association to phase out the use of large-mesh gillnets used in commercial sword-fishing on the West Coast.
