Secretary Gale Norton
U.S. Department of Interior
1849 C Street N.W.
Washington, DC 20240

December 23, 2002

Dear Secretary Norton:

One of the world's most magnificent wild species is endangered, and we're writing to ask for your immediate help to save it.

This natural treasure is the beluga sturgeon (Huso huso) - source of coveted beluga caviar. As members of the food industry and lovers of seafood, we have long enjoyed the privilege of offering to consumers the best the ocean has to offer. However, sometimes demand can be so high for one kind of seafood that its very popularity can drive it to collapse.

The global caviar market has placed a premium on sturgeon, provoking overfishing and rampant illegal trade. We are concerned that the beluga sturgeon population in the Caspian Sea has plummeted by more than 90 percent in the past twenty years.

We commend the United States Fish & Wildlife Service's recent proposal to list beluga sturgeon under the Endangered Species Act. We strongly support the listing and believe it will help protect beluga sturgeon right away by generating public awareness and by halting imports of beluga caviar. By taking this step forward, the U.S. government will allay the immense pressure on beluga sturgeon and improve its prospects for survival. We recognize that protecting this species now will help ensure that future generations might be able to enjoy beluga caviar again. We urge you to:

1) List beluga sturgeon as an endangered species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act , which would end the legal importation of beluga sturgeon and beluga caviar into the United States; and

2) Pursue a halt in international trade in beluga caviar through uplisting beluga sturgeon to Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. An Appendix I listing would end international trade in beluga sturgeon and caviar.

This is a critical situation that will require a sustained commitment from governments, food professionals, chefs and ultimately, consumers around the world for many years to come. As chefs and retailers of seafood, some of us have removed beluga caviar from our offerings and replaced it with sustainable varieties. All of us are dedicated to ensuring lasting and diverse seafood supplies for future generations. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
The Undersigned

Chefs and Food Professionals in Support of Beluga Sturgeon Endangered Listing
Original Signatures on File with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Cameron Bolender Mesa, AZ Ferdinando Divina Phoenix, AZ Derek McCarthy Healdsburg, CA Betty Evans Hermosa Beach, CA Timothy L. Wilson La Jolla, CA Jeanette Holley Los Angeles, CA LeRoy Blanchard Los Angeles, CA Suzanne Goin Los Angeles, CA Tony Baker Monterey, CA Jill Silverman Hough Napa, CA James Ulcickas Newport Beach, CA Deborah Wagman Newport Beach, CA Kerry L. Heffernan Oakland, CA Cynthia Walter Pacific Grove, CA Lisa Capozzi Palo Alto, CA Marc Zammit Palo Alto, CA Andrea Linton Petaluma, CA Rebecca Ets-Hokin Tiburon, CA David Hance Ukiah, CA Mitzie Cutler Woodland Hills, CA Thomas Arbuckle Rancho Cucamonga, CA Daniel Long Redwood Shores, CA Brian Streeter Rutherford, CA Ken Frank Rutherford, CA Darrell Corti Sacramento, CA M. Alicia Oldfield Sacramento, CA Marilyn Biggica San Deigo, CA Lance Shelton San Diego, CA Andrew Spurgin San Diego, CA Mark Franz San Francisco, CA Katherine Withers Cobbs San Francisco, CA Larry Bain San Francisco, CA Amaryll Schwertner San Francisco, CA Josiah Citrin Santa Monica, CA Scott Snyder Santa Rosa, CA Paul Wade Seal Beach, CA Mark S. Tydell Seal Beach, CA RJ Harrington, Jr. Boulder, CO Jeffrey Saudo Denver, CO Richard Warner Pueblo, CO Stephen T. Parker Sedalia, CO Jacques Wilson Steamboat Springs, CO David F. Breton Danbury, CT Jacques Pepin Madison, CT Eddy Joseph Noel Monroe, CT James Petrizzo Old Saybrook, CT Carole Peck Woodbury, CT Brad Wilcox Washington, DC Nora Pouillon Washington, DC Andrew Rosen Aventura, FL Susan P. Ferry Key West, FL Colin Roche West Palm Beach, FL Rick Scalise West Palm Beach, FL William Lyman Alpharetta, GA Chris McCook Athens, GA H. Lamar Thomas Athens, GA Arva Caren Weinstein Athens, GA Ricky Warren Atlanta, GA Kurt D'Aurizio Atlanta, GA Louis Lindic Atlanta, GA Scott Serpas Duluth, GA JB Balesky Peachtree City, GA David P. Geyer II Tucker, GA Paul Heerlein Kealakekua, HI Amy Ford Chicago, IL Edward Zita Chicago, IL Michael Kornick Chicago, IL Matthew Koury Chicago, IL Elaine Sikorski Evanston, IL Kyle S. Cooper Gurnee, IL Terry D. Bird Herrin, IL John Luchtel Lisle, IL Alison Reich Northfield, IL Lewis B. Shuckman Louisville, KY Kevin Kinsey Houma, LA Lee Sands New Orleans, LA Paul Rockwell Prairieville, LA D. Chris Douglass Boston, MA Robert M. Davis Cambridge, MA Brian Hill Chestnut Hill, MA Robert Patchel Falmouth, MA Mark Orcutt Plymouth, MA Curtis Hugh Eargle Baltimore, MD Otis Monroe Chestertown, MD Leonardo M. Pugeda Potomac, MD Howard U. Smith III Falmouth, ME Robert Smith Ogunquit, ME Jimmy Schmidt Detroit, MI Rajeev Patgaonkar East Lansing, MI Rick Halberg Northville, MI Lance Pearn Troy, MI Francesco Costanzo Warren, MI Mark Haugen Edina, MN Sally Eason Canton, NC Gwen Higgins Chapel Hill, NC Brett Fennings Chapel Hill, NC Silvio Guzzo Bradley Beach, NJ Mark Kulkowitz Cape May, NJ Louis S. Ferretti Deptford, NJ June Jacobs Jersey City, NJ Roger Bilin Westwood, NJ Francis Schott New Brunswick, NJ

Brian R. Murphy Athens, NY Christine Sheppard Bronx, NY David Silver Brooklyn, NY Shelley Boris Garrison, NY Mark Filippo Hartsdale, NY Etienne Merle Ithaca, NY Scott Murray Morrisonville, NY Waldy Malouf New York, NY John A. Halligan New York, NY Rick Moonen New York, NY Peter Hoffman New York, NY Patrick Martins New York, NY Denise Shoukas New York, NY Richard Smilow New York, NY Ulli Stachl New York, NY Gerard Veraldi New York, NY Douglas Gulija South Hampton, NY Ray McCue Staten Island, NY Dennis F. Young Stony Brook, NY Tony N. Sekine Westbury, NY Jay Lippin New York, NY Jorge Aduizola New York, NY Richard Grausman New York, NY Louis Silver New York, NY Katherine Alford New York, NY Georgia Downard New York, NY Deborah Mintcheff New York, NY Anthony Scotto Jr. New York, NY Michel Nischan New York, NY Bill Telepan New York, NY André Jammet New York, NY Renee Marton New York, NY Jean-Michel Bergougnoux New York, NY Eric Ripert New York, NY Wayne Nish New York, NY Katy Keck New York, NY Neil Murphy New York, NY Richard Turcsik New York, NY Ryan Ivey Akron, OH Mel Dacanay Canton, OH John Streit Cleveland, OH Chip Pritchard Kettering, OH Thomas Smith Worthington, OH Stu Stein Ashland, OR Larry Nelson Lincoln City, OR Kenneth Giambalvo Portland, OR Catherine Whims Portland, OR Greg Higgins Portland, OR Greg Schwab Portland, OR Carol Paul Acme, PA Thomas R. Hunter Allentown, PA Martha Neff Allentown, PA Blake Swihart Chester Springs, PA Robert Miller Lancaster, PA Mitchell Arment Myerstown, PA Weaver Lilley Philadelphia, PA Derek Davis Philadelphia, PA Judy Wicks Philadelphia, PA Tell Erhardt Upper Black Eddy, PA Randall E. Goldman Charleston, SC Michael Kramer Charleston, SC James Brailsford Columbia, SC Roger Mollett Austin, TX Tony Sansalone Austin, TX Gregory Dishman Austin, TX Nan Hanus Blanco, TX R. L. Ebrey Dallas, TX Joseph R. Apa Houston, TX Timothy Keating Houston, TX Dolores Snyder Irving, TX Terry Anderson West Columbia, TX Timothy Grandinetti Dulles, VA Vincent Deluise Flint Hill, VA Christopher La Tora Midlothian, VA Ben Southard Radford, VA David Merrill Vergennes, VT Cassandra Wright Bellingham, WA Holly Smith Kirkland, WA Johnathan Sundstrom Seattle, WA Laurie Lomard Seattle, WA Charlie Durham Seattle, WA Jerry Traunfeld Woodinville, WA Becky J. Kirchman Algoma, WI Gregory A. Wozniak Germantown, WI A.H. Sturgis Milwaukee, WI Donald Schmid Milwaukee, WI R.J. Rogers, Jr. Sheridan, WY Susan Fowells Portland, OR Patricia Unterman San Francisco, CA

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