Endangered right whales could wait almost a decade for new US protections

New protections for endangered North Atlantic right whales could be delayed for nearly a decade under a plan that cleared a hurdle in Washington, supported by the fishing and lobster industries, according to a report from the Portland Press Herald. There are about 380 North Atlantic right whales left, and environmentalists warn they can drown after becoming tangled in fishing gear or be struck by boats. The federal government already paused new right whale rules until 2028, and on July 15 the House Natural Resources Committee voted to extend that moratorium to 2035. A vote in the Republican-controlled Congress could come as soon as this summer and is described as likely to pass. The Trump administration backed Rep. Jared Golden, a Maine Democrat, who introduced a bill with GOP Rep. Mike Lawler of New York to further postpone regulations. Supporters say the delay will allow more data, while Oceana and other groups warn deaths continue and note the population dropped about 25% from 2010 to 2020.