Tell NOAA: Save the Rice’s Whale!

Protect the Rice’s Whale – Maintain Endangered Species Act Listing

I am writing to urge the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to maintain and fully preserve federal Endangered Species Act protections for the Rice’s whale. The Rice’s whale – the Gulf of Mexico’s only year-round resident whale and one of the rarest animals on Earth – is on the brink of extinction. For years, protections under the Endangered Species Act have played a critical role in safeguarding this species from industrial activity within its habitat. These protections are especially vital given the lasting impacts of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil disaster, which devastated Gulf ecosystems and is estimated to have killed approximately one in five Rice’s whales. Today, scientists believe only about 51 individuals remain. I am deeply concerned by NOAA’s initiation of a status review that could lead to the removal or weakening of these protections. According to a recent Federal Register notice, this review will assess whether the Rice’s whale is accurately listed as a distinct species or potentially part of a broader population, which could result in delisting or downlisting from endangered to threatened status. At a time when federal policy is increasingly focused on expanding offshore oil and gas development, this raises serious concerns about the future of this already imperiled species. Rice’s whales are a distinct and highly vulnerable species, and the scientific evidence supports their continued protection under the Endangered Species Act. Given their extremely small population size and the ongoing threats they face, it is imperative that NOAA uphold their current listing and maintain all associated protections. I respectfully urge NOAA to ensure that any review is guided by the best available science and to preserve strong protections that are essential to preventing the extinction of the Rice’s whale. Thank you,