Govind Tekale
Several conservation groups have initiated legal action against the Trump administration for removing protections designed to shield the critically endangered Rice’s whale from deadly ship collisions.
The Center for Biological Diversity, Friends of the Earth, Turtle Island Restoration Network, and the Sierra Club sent a formal notice to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) on March 20, 2025. The notice challenges BOEM’s February decision to revoke a 2023 “notice to lessees and operators” that provided crucial safeguards for the whale species.
Critical Population Status
The Rice’s whale is one of the most endangered marine mammals on Earth, with only about 51 individuals remaining. These whales live exclusively in the Gulf of Mexico, making them particularly vulnerable to threats from human activities in the region.
“It’s atrocious that the Trump administration illegally tore away Rice’s whales’ only protections from ship strikes in their western and central Gulf of Mexico habitat,” said Kristen Monsell, oceans legal director at the Center for Biological Diversity. “These whales are on the brink of extinction and the few dozen left alive desperately need more protections from speeding vessels and other offshore oil drilling activity, not less.”
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Protections Removed
The revoked protections included recommendations that:
- Oil and gas vessels travel at no more than 10 nautical miles per hour through Rice’s whale habitat in the western and central Gulf of Mexico
- Vessels avoid the area during nighttime and periods of low visibility
Similar protective measures remain in place for the eastern Gulf, but recent scientific evidence shows the whales are regularly found throughout the Gulf of Mexico, not just in eastern waters as previously believed.
Legal Challenge
The conservation groups argue that BOEM’s decision violates the Endangered Species Act. According to their notice, the agency justified the rollback solely as a response to Secretary Burgum’s Order “Unleashing American Energy,” which was issued on Trump’s inauguration day.
“It cannot be overstated: Trump is dealing a death blow to the critically endangered Rice’s whale in the name of Big Oil handouts,” said Hallie Templeton, legal director for Friends of the Earth. “Unfettered oil and gas activity will only maximize profits, at an irretrievable cost.”
The National Marine Fisheries Service has determined that the Rice’s whale population can withstand no more than one human-caused death every 33 years if it is to recover. The agency previously found that oil and gas activities in the Gulf pose significant threats to the whale through vessel strikes, noise pollution, marine debris, oil spills, and seismic surveys.
“When big oil is present, the marine environment suffers,” said Joanie Steinhaus, Ocean Program Director at Turtle Island Restoration Network. “The Rice’s whale is coming face-to-face with extinction, it is all of our responsibility to ensure our future has them in it.”
The conservation groups have demanded that BOEM reinstate the protections within 60 days, or they will proceed with a federal lawsuit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Rice’s whale and why is it endangered? +
The Rice’s whale (Balaenoptera ricei) is a critically endangered marine mammal found exclusively in the Gulf of Mexico. With only about 51 individuals remaining, it’s one of the most endangered whale species in the world. The population has declined primarily due to human activities including vessel strikes, noise pollution, habitat degradation, and threats from offshore oil drilling operations.
What protections were removed by the Trump administration? +
The Trump administration revoked measures that recommended oil and gas vessels travel at no more than 10 nautical miles per hour through Rice’s whale habitat in the western and central Gulf of Mexico. The protections also advised vessels to avoid the area at night and during other times of low visibility to prevent deadly ship collisions with the endangered whales.
Why are conservation groups suing the administration? +
Conservation groups are suing because they believe the removal of these protections violates the Endangered Species Act. They argue that BOEM failed to fulfill its legal obligation to protect endangered species and that the decision was made solely to support oil and gas industry interests without scientific justification or adequate explanation.
How do vessel strikes affect Rice’s whales? +
Vessel strikes can be fatal for Rice’s whales. Given their critically low population of only 51 individuals, even a single death poses a significant threat to the species’ survival. The National Marine Fisheries Service has determined that the population can withstand no more than one human-caused death every 33 years if it is to recover.
What was the government’s reason for removing the protections? +
According to the conservation groups, BOEM justified the removal of protections as a response to Secretary Burgum’s Order “Unleashing American Energy,” which was issued on Trump’s inauguration day. The order directed federal agencies to remove regulations that might impede energy production, particularly oil and gas development.
What happens next in this legal challenge? +
The conservation groups have given BOEM 60 days to reinstate the protections for the Rice’s whale. If the agency does not comply within this timeframe, the groups plan to proceed with filing a federal lawsuit to challenge the decision under the Endangered Species Act.
