Comment from American Cetacean Society
American Cetacean SocietySupportOther
Summary: The commenter advocates for maintaining and strengthening protections for the Rice's whale under the Endangered Species Act. They argue that the species faces insurmountable risks from vessel strikes, noise, oil spill effects, and fisheries interactions, and that robust protections are necessary for the species' survival and the health of the Gulf ecosystem.
The Rice’s whale (Balaenoptera ricei) is a unique endemic species of rorqual whale confined to the Gulf of Mexico. More specifically in the Northeastern part of the Gulf . This species was only described in 2021 (Rosel et al., 2021), as separate from the Bryde’s whale (B. brydei). Early status reviews done in 2016 hinted at fewer than 100 individuals. Later population surveys in 2017-2018 estimated about 50 individuals. NOAA Fisheries correctly lists the Rice’s whale as endangered.
The immediate threats for the small beleaguered population are many (i.e., vessel strikes; noise from vessel traffic and energy exploitation; lingering effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010; fisheries interaction [entanglement]). Each in and of themselves would be disastrous. The combined threats pose an insurmountable risk for such a small vulnerable world population in the Gulf. One that this small population is not likely to survive.
All available science points towards increased risks if regulations and protections are loosened or eliminated altogether. The need to protect the Rice’s whale is paramount.
We implore NOAA Fisheries to consider continuation of maintaining and strengthening protections under the Endangered Species Act (ESA. These protections will also help the Gulf’s ecosystem as a whole, benefiting both marine life and fishery industry.