Action Alerts

Protect the endangered Rice’s whale from extinction

What's At Stake

The Trump administration has been chipping away at key protections for the highly endangered Rice’s whale, despite the species being on the brink of extinction. Now, they are seeking comments on whether to go even further. Join Earthjustice in demanding the Trump administration protect the species from extinction. 

Rice’s whales live along the coasts of Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida and are the only large whale species that lives year-round in United States waters. And because of fossil fuel exploration development and other human activities, it is also one of the most endangered large whale species in the world: scientists estimate that as few as 51 remain. 

As part of its efforts to cater to the oil and gas industry, the Trump administration has already taken aggressive steps to undermine protections for imperiled species, including invoking the “God Squad” to exempt oil and gas activities in the Gulf from the Endangered Species Act in favor of increased offshore drilling. Now, the administration appears poised to go even further, mischaracterizing the science to justify a “review” to reconsider whether the whales are worthy of any Endangered Species Act protections at all. 

Without strong opposition, this review could eliminate crucial protections for the Rice’s whale, presenting a clear and existential threat to its survival as a species.  

Read More

NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service is currently seeking public comments on whether Rice’s whale should keep its endangered status. This is our opportunity to speak up and demand greater protections for these whales and say no to sacrificing them for the benefit of fossil fuel executives. 

These actions fall in with a series of attempts by the administration to turn over the Gulf of Mexico’s public waters to the fossil fuel industry and to gut the Endangered Species Act’s success in protecting species at risk. Earthjustice is engaged in numerous lawsuits and advocacy efforts to protect endangered species in the Gulf by enforcing the Endangered Species Act as well as fighting on Capitol Hill to protect this powerfully effective law from legislative threats.

It is obvious that Rice’s whales need increased protection if we’re going to have any chance of saving them in the years ahead. Yet, the Trump administration is solely focused on filling the pockets of fossil fuel companies at the continued expense of the American people and wildlife in the Gulf.  

The Rice’s whale’s recovery depends entirely on our actions. Please join in helping us save the Rice’s whale today. 

A Rice's whale.
A Rice's whale. With likely fewer than 100 individuals remaining, the Rice's whale is one of the most endangered whales in the world. (NOAA Fisheries)

12 Days Remain

Delivery to National Marine Fisheries Service

Important Notice

Your message will be delivered to the official comment docket for NOAA-NMFS-2026-1222. All information submitted may be placed in the public record. Do not submit confidential information.

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Your Actions Matter

Your messages make a difference, even if we have leaders who don't want to listen. Here's why.

You level the playing field.

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Throughout each of the public comment periods we alert you to, Earthjustice’s attorneys are researching and writing in-depth, technical comments to submit — detailing how the regulation could and should be stronger to protect the environment, our communities, and our planet.

We need you to join us — your specific experiences, knowledge, and voice are crucial to add to the Administrative Record through the comment periods.

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Your actions aid our litigation. Taking action and submitting comments during a comment period is substantively important.

It’s the law.

Federal agencies must pause what they’re doing and ask for — and consider — your comment. Read more.

Many of us may have never heard of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), but laws like these require our government to ask the public to weigh in before agencies adopt or change regulations.

Regulations essentially describe how federal agencies will carry out laws — including decisions that could undermine science, or weaken safeguards on public health.

Public comments are collected at various points throughout the federal government’s rulemaking process, including when a regulation is proposed and finalized. (Learn about the rulemaking process.) These comments become part of the official, legal public record — the “Administrative Record.”

When the public responds with a huge outpouring of support for environmental protections, these individual messages collectively undercut politicians' attempts to claim otherwise.

What this means is each of us can take a role in shaping the rules our government creates — and ensuring those rules are fair and effective.