Endangered Whales in Gulf of Mexico Lose Protection

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Endangered Rice's whales have lost some of their protections under one of President Donald Trump's executive orders that aims to reduce the regulatory burdens on America's energy industry.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, under the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), announced on Thursday that it had rescinded a notice to oil and gas companies to take extra precautions on ships.

Why It Matters Rice's whales are endangered, with a small population of just 51, according to the most recent survey conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) from 2017 to 2018.

A NOAA photo of a Rice's whale—the species has lost some of its protections in the northern Gulf of Mexico. A NOAA photo of a Rice's whale—the species has lost some of its protections in the northern Gulf of Mexico. NOAA What To Know The Notice to Lessees and Operators "Expanded Rice's Whale Protection Efforts During Reinitiated Consultation with NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service)" has been in place since August 2023.

The guidance, which applied to the entire northern Gulf of Mexico (renamed by Trump to the Gulf of America), required ships to have trained spotters to identify where whales were in the water, keep speeds low and avoid transit through the area when visibility was low whenever possible.

These protections came into effect under the Joe Biden administration after several environmental groups, including the Sierra Club, sued the National Marine Fisheries Service in 2020.

The decision to ax the order came as part of DOI carrying out the terms of Trump's executive order "Unleashing American Energy."

This order directs "the removal of impediments imposed on the development and use of our nation's abundant energy and natural resources by the Biden administration's burdensome regulations."

"By removing such regulations, America's natural resources can be unleashed to restore American prosperity," Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said.

"Our focus must be on advancing innovation to improve energy and critical minerals identification, permitting, leasing, development, production, transportation, refining, distribution, exporting, and generation capacity of the United States to provide a reliable, diversified, growing, and affordable supply of energy for our nation."

What People Are Saying Defenders of Wildlife senior government relations representative Dan Moss said: "Steps like these weaken or undermine conservation measures to protect critically endangered species like the Rice's whale.

"The Rice's whale is essentially 'America's Whale,' as the only great whale species which resides year-round in the Gulf of Mexico.

"It is also one of the most critically endangered whales on the planet with fewer than 100, and probably closer to 50, individuals remaining. Actions like this rescission do nothing to help protect this unique animal, and instead increase the risk of its extinction."

President of the National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA) Erik Milito said: "By restoring regulatory certainty, attracting investment, and creating high-quality jobs while maintaining high levels of environmental stewardship, these reforms will strengthen America's position as the global energy leader.

"NOIA looks forward to working with Secretary Burgum and DOI leadership to implement these critical policies and secure a stronger offshore energy future."

What Happens Next The effects of this move are yet to be seen—both in terms of how it impacts energy in the U.S. and the danger Rice's whales face.

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