Protect the Rice's Whale in the Gulf of Mexico

Among the least known marine mammals found in the U.S. is the Rice’s whale, a baleen whale that prefers warm and tropical waters. Only recently discovered as a unique species, the Rice’s whale is exclusively found in the Gulf of Mexico where it frequents deeper water during the day and shallower water at night. 

Unfortunately, the Rice's whale is critically endangered; the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) describes the current population as less than a hundred, while the Marine Mammal Commission estimates there are only 51 individuals remaining. Among the threats facing Rice’s whales are vessel strikes, marine debris, entanglement in fishing nets, seismic surveys and other oil and gas operations. As year-round residents of the Gulf of Mexico, the Rice’s whale lives in a region with considerable human activity, including ever expanding oil and gas development.

With the Rice’s whale in dire predicament, federal agencies have proposed actions to protect and recover the species. In July, 2023, NOAA announced plans to designate 28,000 square miles of critical habitat for the Rice's whale under the provisions of the Endangered Species Act. Such habitat designation would allow for regulations, such as a vessel speed limit, to help ensure the survival of the species.

Unfortunately, under the Trump administration and current Congress, proposals to recover the Rice's whale have been sidelined, with federal leaders reversing policies to advance marine mammal protections and doubling down on oil and gas development. 

These federal attacks include proposed legislation that would weaken protections for Rice's whale, as well as a proposed House FY 26 budget amendment to impede the agency’s ability to designate Critical Habitat for the endangered Rice’s Whale (Section 606 of CJS). Fortunately, this harmful budget rider was removed from the FY26 Interior. Energy & Water, and Commerce appropriation bills. Surfrider will continue to urge Congress to pass a clean FY 2026 budget that does not include such harmful riders.

The Rice's whale is also threatened by the Trump administration's dangerous federal offshore drilling proposal, which calls for even more oil and gas leasing in the Gulf of Mexico. As part of our Drilling is Killing campaign, we are urging the Department of Interior to cancel plans for new oil and gas lease sales in the Gulf and other regions. We are also fighting to pass federal legislation to permanently protect U.S. waters from new offshore drilling.

We must not allow this unique whale to go extinct!