Protect the endangered Gulf of Mexico whale from extinction
- by: Earthjustice
The Rice's whale, also known as the Gulf of Mexico whale, can be as big as a railroad boxcar and as heavy as a typical fire truck and is the only large whale species that lives year-round in the waters of the United States. And because of fossil fuel exploration development and other human activities, it is also the most endangered large whale species in the world. Fewer than 100 individuals of these rare whales remain. Join us in urging the Biden administration to protect the endangered Gulf of Mexico whale from extinction.
Continued oil and gas development in the Gulf of Mexico represents a clear, existential threat to the whale's survival and recovery. The BP Deepwater Horizon oil disaster alone wiped out nearly 20 percent of the Gulf of Mexico whale population. Today, government scientists have concluded that the death of even a single reproductive-age female would jeopardize the existence of this species.
Even day-to-day oil and gas operations negatively impact the habitat of these whales. Seismic air gun surveys create near-constant blasting sounds across the northern Gulf as fossil fuel companies search for oil and gas deposits beneath the ocean. These deafening blasts are masking vital whale calls that marine mammals depend on to communicate, navigate, and find food over large ocean areas. And since Gulf of Mexico whales spend a lot of time hanging out within 50 feet of the water's surface, they are especially at risk from ship strikes.
Gulf of Mexico whales can recover as long as conditions improve, but that all depends on our actions. Unless the Biden administration takes significant conservation actions, the U.S. is likely to cause the first extinction of a great whale species resulting from human activity. We cannot let that happen.
Sign and send a message today urge the protection of these whales and solutions for their recovery.
Continued oil and gas development in the Gulf of Mexico represents a clear, existential threat to the whale's survival and recovery. The BP Deepwater Horizon oil disaster alone wiped out nearly 20 percent of the Gulf of Mexico whale population. Today, government scientists have concluded that the death of even a single reproductive-age female would jeopardize the existence of this species.
Even day-to-day oil and gas operations negatively impact the habitat of these whales. Seismic air gun surveys create near-constant blasting sounds across the northern Gulf as fossil fuel companies search for oil and gas deposits beneath the ocean. These deafening blasts are masking vital whale calls that marine mammals depend on to communicate, navigate, and find food over large ocean areas. And since Gulf of Mexico whales spend a lot of time hanging out within 50 feet of the water's surface, they are especially at risk from ship strikes.
Gulf of Mexico whales can recover as long as conditions improve, but that all depends on our actions. Unless the Biden administration takes significant conservation actions, the U.S. is likely to cause the first extinction of a great whale species resulting from human activity. We cannot let that happen.
Sign and send a message today urge the protection of these whales and solutions for their recovery.
Dear Secretary Raimondo and Secretary Haaland,
The Gulf of Mexico whale, also known as Rice's whale, is the only great whale resident to the Gulf and one of the most endangered marine mammal species on the planet. I urge you to do everything in your power to protect this species and fund their recovery.
Continued oil and gas development in the Gulf represents a clear, existential threat to the whale's survival and recovery. The BP Deepwater Horizon oil disaster alone wiped out nearly 20 percent of the whale's population and government scientists have concluded that the loss of even a single reproductive female whale would jeopardize the existence of this species.
Even day to day oil and gas operations negatively impact the habitat of these whales. Seismic air gun surveys create near constant blasting sound across the northern Gulf as fossil fuel companies search for oil and gas deposits beneath the ocean. These deafening blasts are masking vital whale calls that marine mammals depend on to communicate, navigate, and find food over large ocean areas. And since Gulf of Mexico whales spend a lot of time hanging out within 50 feet of the water's surface, they are especially at risk from ship strikes.
Gulf of Mexico whales can recover as long as conditions improve, but that all depends on our actions. Your Administration is presently considering a new five-year program for offshore oil and gas leasing, as well as a new regulation and related permits and authorizations for seismic surveys in the Gulf of Mexico. It also continues to issue hundreds of permits every year for oil and gas exploration and development on existing leases. Continuing with business-as-usual seismic exploration or drilling in the northern Gulf jeopardizes the species' survival and recovery.
To prevent ships from striking the whales, I urge you to act quickly to develop and finalize emergency rules that would require vessels to slow down and take other measures to reduce the risk of a fatal collision when transiting the whales' habitat. Finally, aquaculture, offshore wind farms, and other new development should always be sited outside of their known habitat.
The Gulf of Mexico whale is a unique part of the Gulf's natural history and the only large whale species to reside year-round in the waters of the United States. Yet few on-water measures have been established to protect it. Unless the U.S. takes significant conservation actions, we are likely to find ourselves responsible for the first human-caused extinction of a great whale species.
I urge you to announce robust conservation measures to protect the Gulf of Mexico whale as well as dedicate agency resources to activities urgently needed for its recovery.
Sincerely,
[Name]
Ký thỉnh nguyện thưKý thỉnh nguyện thưThe Gulf of Mexico whale, also known as Rice's whale, is the only great whale resident to the Gulf and one of the most endangered marine mammal species on the planet. I urge you to do everything in your power to protect this species and fund their recovery.
Continued oil and gas development in the Gulf represents a clear, existential threat to the whale's survival and recovery. The BP Deepwater Horizon oil disaster alone wiped out nearly 20 percent of the whale's population and government scientists have concluded that the loss of even a single reproductive female whale would jeopardize the existence of this species.
Even day to day oil and gas operations negatively impact the habitat of these whales. Seismic air gun surveys create near constant blasting sound across the northern Gulf as fossil fuel companies search for oil and gas deposits beneath the ocean. These deafening blasts are masking vital whale calls that marine mammals depend on to communicate, navigate, and find food over large ocean areas. And since Gulf of Mexico whales spend a lot of time hanging out within 50 feet of the water's surface, they are especially at risk from ship strikes.
Gulf of Mexico whales can recover as long as conditions improve, but that all depends on our actions. Your Administration is presently considering a new five-year program for offshore oil and gas leasing, as well as a new regulation and related permits and authorizations for seismic surveys in the Gulf of Mexico. It also continues to issue hundreds of permits every year for oil and gas exploration and development on existing leases. Continuing with business-as-usual seismic exploration or drilling in the northern Gulf jeopardizes the species' survival and recovery.
To prevent ships from striking the whales, I urge you to act quickly to develop and finalize emergency rules that would require vessels to slow down and take other measures to reduce the risk of a fatal collision when transiting the whales' habitat. Finally, aquaculture, offshore wind farms, and other new development should always be sited outside of their known habitat.
The Gulf of Mexico whale is a unique part of the Gulf's natural history and the only large whale species to reside year-round in the waters of the United States. Yet few on-water measures have been established to protect it. Unless the U.S. takes significant conservation actions, we are likely to find ourselves responsible for the first human-caused extinction of a great whale species.
I urge you to announce robust conservation measures to protect the Gulf of Mexico whale as well as dedicate agency resources to activities urgently needed for its recovery.
Sincerely,
[Name]
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