Dear MARMAM community – I’m writing to alert you to a comment opportunity on an important conservation matter.

Recently, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) proposed designating critical habitat for Rice’s whale in the Gulf of Mexico, under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Rice’s whale, as many are aware, is one of the most endangered baleen whales on the planet, with a population estimated at fewer than 100 individuals. Aside from the natural vulnerability that comes with small population size, the species faces a number of serious anthropogenic threats, including ship strikes, oil spills, and chronic ocean noise from seismic surveys and shipping.

NMFS’s proposed designation for the whale comprises shelf-break waters from Florida to Texas, between the 100 and 400m isobaths. This area was defined based on multiple lines of evidence: sightings from large-vessel surveys, acoustic monitoring from sites along the northern Gulf, studies of the whale’s prey and prey distribution, and analyses of habitat suitability.

Designating critical habitat is essential to species conservation under the Endangered Species Act, and it will be essential to recovery of this endangered whale. If you’re interested in the species, I strongly encourage you to submit comments to NMFS. To do so, please go to this submission page (https://www.regulations.gov/document/NOAA-NMFS-2023-0028-0001) and click the comment icon. The proposed critical habitat designation is here.

Thanks,

Michael

Michael jasny

Director, Marine Mammal Protection

NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL

4479 W. 5th Avenue

Vancouver, bc v6r1s4

T 604.736.9386
c 310.560.5536
mjasny@NRDC.ORG

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