Defenders Statement on BOEM Rescission of Rice's Whale Recommendations

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has rescinded its Notice to Lessees and Operators, "Expanded Rice's Whale Protection Efforts During Reinitiated Consultation with NMFS," which included recommendations for safety measures that oil lessees and operations can take related to the critically endangered Rice's whale.

Defenders of Wildlife released the following statement in response:

"Steps like these weaken or undermine conservation measures to protect critically endangered species like the Rice’s whale” said Dan Moss, senior government relations representative for Defenders of Wildlife. “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, remaining. Actions like this recission do nothing to help protect this magnificent species, and increase the risk of its extinction."