April 20, 2015 — The following was released by NOAA:
NOAA Fisheries proposed today to reclassify the humpback whale into 14 distinct population segments under the Endangered Species Act, providing a more tailored conservation approach for U.S. fisheries managers. Protection and restoration efforts over the past 40 years have led to an increase in numbers and growth rates for humpback whales in many areas.
The humpback whale is currently listed as endangered throughout its range. The proposed rule finds that ten of those 14 populations (see below) do not warrant ESA listing.
While commercial whaling severely depleted humpback whale numbers, population rebounds in many areas result in today's larger numbers, with steady rates of population growth since the United States first listed the animal as endangered in 1970.
Also under the proposal, two of the other four populations would be listed as endangered and the remaining two would be listed as threatened. If the proposal is finalized, the humpback whale populations that would no longer be listed under the ESA would remain protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
More information:
Press release
Complete web story
Federal Register Filing
Humpback Whales: Fact and Fiction
The public comment period for this proposed rule is open until July 20, 2015. You can submit comments online through the Federal eRulemaking Portal beginning tomorrow, or mail your comments to:
Office of Protected Resources
National Marine Fisheries Service
1315 East-West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Questions? Contact Jennie Lyons, 301-427-8013 or email jennie.lyons@noaa.gov.