Lawsuit Launched to Protect Critically Endangered Rice’s Whale From Trump Administration
Vessel Strike Prevention Measures Unlawfully Repealed by InteriorWASHINGTON— Several conservation groups sent notice today of their intent to sue the Trump administration for stripping away measures aimed at protecting the critically endangered Rice’s whale from deadly ship and boat collisions.
The Center for Biological Diversity, Friends of the Earth, Turtle Island Restoration Network and the Sierra Club sent the letter to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management regarding a “notice to lessees and operators” that the agency issued in 2023 but revoked in February. The groups are seeking reissuance of the protections, which apply to oil and gas vessels.
“It’s atrocious that the Trump administration illegally tore away Rice’s whales’ only protections from ship strikes in their western and central Gulf of Mexico habitat,” said Kristen Monsell, oceans legal director at the Center for Biological Diversity. “These whales are on the brink of extinction and the few dozen left alive desperately need more protections from speeding vessels and other offshore oil drilling activity, not less.”
The revoked protections included a recommendation that oil and gas vessels travel at no more than 10 nautical miles per hour through Rice’s whale habitat in the western and central Gulf of Mexico. They were also advised to avoid the area at night and other times of low visibility. Similar measures are currently required of oil and gas vessels traveling through the whale’s habitat in the eastern Gulf.
BOEM issued the expanded protections after new scientific evidence showed that the whales are also regularly found in the western and central Gulf, not just the eastern Gulf as was previously believed.
“It cannot be overstated: Trump is dealing a death blow to the critically endangered Rice’s whale in the name of Big Oil handouts,” said Hallie Templeton, legal director for Friends of the Earth. “Unfettered oil and gas activity will only maximize profits, at an irretrievable cost. Prevention of this very scenario is what the Endangered Species Act is meant to sanctify. From ship speeds to seismic blasts, we will keep watchdogging and fighting to forestall a complete extinction event.”
Today’s letter states that BOEM violated the Endangered Species Act by rescinding the protections. BOEM said it issued its decision in response to Secretary Burgum’s Order “Unleashing American Energy.” No other explanation was provided.
The Rice’s whale is one of the most endangered whales in the world, with only an estimated 51 individuals remaining. Living entirely in the Gulf of Mexico, the whale is extremely vulnerable to ship strikes, noise pollution and the threat of oil spills from offshore drilling activities.
Contacts: Kristen Monsell, Center for Biological Diversity, (914) 806-3467, [email protected]
Shaye Skiff, Friends of the Earth, [email protected]