FR Notice Initiation of a Status Review for the Rice’s Whale and Request for Information

The Nature Conservancy provides scientific data and information to support the status review of the Rice's whale. They highlight threats such as vessel traffic, underwater noise from seismic surveys, and marine heatwaves, urging the inclusion of the best available science in the review.

Alisha Wadhwa, a Digital Advocacy Intern, submitted a comment on behalf of 1,255 individuals urging the National Marine Fisheries Service to maintain the Rice's whale's status as a critically endangered species. The commenters argue that the whales require continued protection under the Endangered Species Act due to existential threats from oil and gas development in the Gulf of Mexico.

Alisha Wadhwa, acting as a Digital Advocacy Intern, submits a letter on behalf of over 16,000 individuals urging the National Marine Fisheries Service to maintain the Rice's whale's status as a critically endangered species. The comment argues that the whales face existential threats from oil and gas development and calls for increased conservation protections.

The commenter argues that Rice’s whales require strong and continued protections under the Endangered Species Act due to their critically low population and the threats posed by oil and gas activity. They emphasize that scientific data supports their status as a unique species and advocate for precautionary management of industrial activities to prevent extinction.

The Atlantic Scientific Review Group (AtlSRG) provides new scientific evidence supporting the classification of Rice’s whales as a distinct species. They emphasize the importance of incorporating recent genetic, morphological, and habitat data into the forthcoming status review to ensure accurate management of this vulnerable stock.

The commenter, representing a group of individuals (including a student and residents from various states), argues that the Rice's whale is a distinct species in need of full Endangered Species Act protections. They highlight threats from offshore drilling, including noise, vessel strikes, and oil spills, and urge the agency to consider these factors in the status review.

Barbara D. Dauerty argues that Rice's whales are a unique species that warrant continued and strengthened protections under the Endangered Species Act. She cites scientific data on their small population, distinct characteristics, and the significant threats posed by industrial activities like shipping and oil and gas development.

An individual commenter expresses urgent concern for the survival of the Rice’s whale and advocates for more stringent protections. They specifically call for a permanent ban on oil and gas drilling, full enforcement of vessel speed limits, and the restoration of federal protections removed in early 2025.

An individual commenter opposes the status review and potential stripping of protections for the Rice's whale, arguing that the whale's habitat is being threatened by oil extraction and a general reduction in oceanic protections.