"Feds List Gulf Of Mexico Bryde’s Whales As Endangered"

"A rare baleen whale found in the Gulf of Mexico has gained protection under the Endangered Species Act. The Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s whale is a subspecies of the Bryde’s whale and one of the most endangered whales in the world, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

NOAA announced the decision to list the whale as endangered Friday (April 12.) The rule will go into effect May 15.

Threats to the species include energy exploration and development, oil spills and clean up efforts, vessel strikes, human noise and entanglement in fishing gear. There are less than 100 of the whales left in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico near the De Soto canyon, where the population resides."

Sara Sneath reports for the New Orleans Times-Picayune April 12, 2019.

Source: New Orleans Times-Picayune, 04/16/2019