The “Right Whale Coexistence Act” introduced to support survival and recovery of critically endangered species

A federal court bars use of entangling nets in vital right whale habitat

Legislation would provide desperately needed funding to protect the highly endangered North Atlantic right whale

In this action for declaratory and injunctive relief, Conservation Law Foundation (“CLF” or “Plaintiff”) challenges the Secretary of Commerce and the National Marine Fisheries Service’s (collectively, “NMFS” or “Defendants”) ongoing authorization and management of the American lobster fishery and their failure to prevent jeopardy and unlawful takes of endangered North Atlantic right whales (“right whales”) in violation of the Endangered Species Act (“ESA”), Marine Mammal Protection Act (“MMPA”), and Administrative Procedure Act (“APA”). See 16 U.S.C. §§ 1531-1544; 16 U.S.C. §§ 1361-1389; 5 U.S.C. §§ 701-706.

Federal government is legally required to take action

Distinct “v-shaped” spout patterns spray a dozen feet into the crisp ocean air—a sure sign that right whales have returned to calve off the coasts of Florida and Georgia. The few remaining whales come each spring, sometimes swimming close enough to spot from shore. Although listed as endangered in 1973, the North Atlantic population of…

The Conservation Law Foundation (“CLF”) and co-counsel Earthjustice hereby give notice pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 1540(g) of our intent to sue the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Secretary of Commerce, the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service, and the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries (collectively “NOAA Fisheries” or the “Agency”) for violations of the Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. §§ 1531 et seq., specified below. The alleged violations concern the effects of the American lobster fishery on the endangered North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) (“right whale”). We intend to file suit in United States District Court seeking appropriate declaratory relief, injunctive relief, and other relief no earlier than sixty days from the postmark date of this notice letter.

The Navy is pushing ahead with plans to build a massive submarine warfare training facility, consisting of 500 square miles of cables, nodes, buoys and other instruments, next to the only known nursery for the endangered North Atlantic Right Whale and on top of habitat for sea turtles and other endangered species.

Of right whales and dogs

Navy plans in Florida threaten whales' calving area

Right whales’ only known calving grounds threatened by Navy project