House Passes Bill Pushing North Atlantic Right Whale Toward Extinction
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. House of Representatives today passed H.R. 9436, a bill that would delay federal protections for critically endangered North Atlantic right whales from entanglement in fishing gear. Protections are already on hold through the end of 2028. The bill would extend that pause another seven years.
Following is a statement from Francine Kershaw, senior scientist at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council):
“Congress is putting the North Atlantic right whale back on the fast track to extinction. Delaying these protections for another seven years is a direct rebuke of deliberative policymaking, of respect for science, and of the fundamental commitment this country has made, through its laws and traditions, to protect our most endangered species. Solutions to protect whales while maintaining fishing opportunities exist. Stalling today will only lead to a more dire situation for whales and the fishing industry in the future.”
BACKGROUND:
More than 86 percent of living North Atlantic right whales carry scars from fishing gear entanglements, and since the delay in protections Congress put in the fiscal year 2023 funding bill took effect, nine whales have died or are likely to die from entanglement injuries. A federal court has ruled the current regulations violate the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act, a problem H.R. 9436 defers rather than resolves. The bill would also sideline the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team, the stakeholder body Congress created to develop solutions with the fishing industry.
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NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, law and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Beijing and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd).