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manta rays swimming in the shallow ocean with coral
Fort Myers, FL

Defenders of Wildlife Applauds Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for Tightening Protections for Listed Species

Defenders of Wildlife welcomes today’s action by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to end open permitting for the capture of ESA-threatened marine species in Florida waters for public display and exhibition purposes.
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NARW
WASHINGTON, D.C.

Legal Intervention Aims to Protect North Atlantic Right Whales From Deadly Ship Strikes

Conservation groups today filed a motion to intervene to help fight a lawsuit aimed at overturning a seasonal speed rule protecting North Atlantic right whales from deadly vessel strikes. The groups want to defend the rule against a lawsuit brought by a New York vessel owner fined for violating seasonal speed limits. The suit alleges that NOAA Fisheries lacked the statutory authority to issue the rule.
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sage grouse in snow at Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge
Washington, D.C.

Final Rescission of Public Lands Rule Reverses Modern Land Management, Threatens Wildlife Habitat

The Bureau of Land Management today announced a decision to roll back the Conservation and Landscape Health Rule, commonly referred to as the Public Lands Rule. The policy modernized how BLM manages our national public lands and represented the critical incorporation of ecological resilience into management alongside traditional resource extraction.

Press Releases

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Rice's Whale
Washington, DC

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The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has rescinded its Notice to Lessees and Operators, "Expanded Rice's Whale Protection Efforts During Reinitiated Consultation with NMFS," which
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Polar bears on ice
Anchorage, AK

Groups File First Environmental Lawsuit Vs. Trump Offshore Drilling Order

Today, groups concerned about the threats from offshore drilling filed the first environmental legal challenge against the new Trump administration. One group is challenging an
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National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska
Washington, D.C.

Defenders' Statement on Trump Nominee for Director of Bureau of Land Management

“The administration’s nomination of Kathleen Sgamma represents a threat to the conservation of our nation’s public lands and wildlife."
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Washington, DC

Defenders Statement on ‘Restoring Energy Dominance’ Hearing

The House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources today held a hearing taking aim at science and longstanding legal protections for U.S. coastal waters, as
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Brant fly in front of Mount Dutton Izembek National Wildlife Refuge
Washington, D.C.

Burgum Signs Orders That Will Destroy Wildlife, Protected Places

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum yesterday issued a series of secretarial orders that are an attack on the Endangered Species Act, migratory bird protections and federal
Senior Vice President, External Affairs
lsheehan@defenders.org
(202) 772-3244
Communications Director
mdewane@defenders.org
(202) 772-0217
Communications Specialist
jcovey@defenders.org
Communications Specialist
kirby@defenders.org
(202) 772-3268