A proposal to postpone federal protections for endangered North Atlantic right whales until 2035 has advanced through Congress with backing from the fishing and lobster industries. The House Natural Resources Committee voted on July 15 to extend a moratorium on new whale regulations that has been in effect since 2022. A full congressional vote could occur later this summer and is expected to pass in the Republican-controlled legislature. The Trump administration has endorsed the effort, which was introduced by Democratic Rep. Jared Golden of Maine and Republican Rep. Mike Lawler of New York.
According to environmentalists, the extended delay poses a significant threat to the remaining population, estimated at approximately 380 individuals. The whales face mortality risks from entanglement in fishing gear and vessel strikes. The North Atlantic right whale population declined roughly 25 percent between 2010 and 2020, though some recovery has occurred in recent years—still remaining well below the 2010 count of approximately 480 whales.
Proponents of the moratorium extension, particularly the lobster and crab industries in New England states including Maine and Massachusetts, argue that current conservation measures are already among the most comprehensive globally and that additional regulations could threaten their viability. Rep. Golden has characterized the delay as necessary to allow time for data collection on optimal protection strategies. The fishing industry contends that existing conservation frameworks remain effective and that the legislation would not weaken protections.
Conservation advocates counter that whales continue to die during the ongoing delay and study period. Representatives from environmental groups assert that sufficient scientific evidence existed to justify stronger protections in 2022 and that lawmakers are again deferring action. Scientists have identified additional threats to the species beyond fishing-related injuries, including ocean warming attributed to human-caused climate change.
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