New Whale Species Only Found in US Waters Could be Extinct Soon; Scientists Write to Biden Administration

A new whale species called Rice's whale discovered in US waters on the Gulf of Mexico last year is on the brink of extinction. This is according to more than 100 scientists who sent a letter to the Biden administration last week to protect the Gulf of Mexico whale from extinction. There are only several dozens of Gulf of Mexico whales left in the US waters as of October 2022.

The marine animals are threatened by various anthropogenic factors related to human activities, including excessive maritime traffic, abandoned fishing gear, and hazardous processes from the oil and gas industry. The new whale species is listed "critically endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in its Red List of Threatened Species.

Gulf of Mexico Whale

Rice's whale, also called as the Gulf of Mexico whale (Balaenoptera ricei), is a new species of baleen whale (Balaenoptera) which only lives and can be found in the northeast region of the Gulf of Mexico, located off the coast of South US. It is reportedly the only whale species endemic to US waters after officially being named in 2021 when it was discovered.

Details of the Gulf of Mexico whale was published in the journal Marine Mammal Science in January 2021 by scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the US and the National Museum of Nature and Science (NMNS) in Japan. The 2021 study initially examined a washed-up whale first thought to be from the Bryde's whales (Balaenoptera brydei) species.

However, morphological and genetic assessment of the dead whale shows that it belongs to the newfound species of Rice's whale which can grow up to 40 feet (12 meters) long. The marine mammal can also have one of the most complex vocal repertoires amongst all known whale species. The marine researchers estimate that there are only 51 Rice's whales remaining.

Open Letter to Biden Administration

On October 13, more than 100 scientists are calling on the Biden administration to protect the Rice's whale population from extinction. The international scientific team expressed their concern by sending a letter to senior US government officials. Since there is already an existing law entitled Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), no marine mammal species have gone extinct in US waters.

Yet, federal government estimates reveal about 50 individual animals remain as the Gulf of Mexico whale faces threats from fossil fuel exploration and other environment-damaging human activities, according to the non-profit organization Earth Justice.

Due to this threat, the letter was sent to Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. The scientists reportedly sound the alarm of the potential extinction of the unique American whale species. Furthermore, the scientists observed that Rice's whale is the only large whale species that stays in US waters all year-long.

Brink of Extinction

The Gulf of Mexico whale is considered to be the most endangered whale species on Earth, according to Senior Scientist Dr. Peter Corkeron at the New England Aquarium, as cited by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

Amid the brink of extinction, Dr. Corkeron adds Americans have a "special responsibility" of working together to save the newfound whale species clinging from existence.