PORTLAND, Maine — The Trump administration has announced its strong support for legislation that would postpone new federal safeguards for North Atlantic right whales until 2035, prioritizing the interests of commercial fishing operations over immediate conservation measures.
With approximately 380 of these massive marine mammals remaining in North Atlantic waters, the species faces critical threats from entanglement in fishing gear and vessel strikes. These whales can weigh as much as a medium-sized bulldozer and are among the most endangered whale species on the planet.
The legislation, introduced by Maine Democratic Representative Jared Golden, aims to provide additional time for developing regulations that would be less restrictive to fishing operations. In a Friday memorandum, the White House indicated President Trump’s senior advisors would recommend signing the measure if Congress approves it.
Golden defended his proposal, stating that Maine’s renowned lobster fishing industry would have faced devastating impacts from the previously planned regulations, which he described as “based on flawed science and hypothetical scenarios rather than the reality on the water.”
“A longer delay would give the government time to get the science right” regarding whale threats, Golden explained in his Friday statement.
The timing is significant as federal authorities had already suspended new right whale regulations until 2028. The proposed extension would add seven more years to that timeline.
These endangered whales follow a predictable migration pattern, traveling from birthing waters near Florida and Georgia northward to feeding areas around New England and Canadian waters. However, warming ocean temperatures have caused the whales to venture outside traditional protected zones while searching for food sources.
Commercial lobster and crab fishing operations generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue annually at American ports.
“This legislation is critical to ensuring the long-term stability of American fisheries for generations to come,” stated John Drouin, vice president of the New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association.
Conservation organizations, including California-based In Defense of Animals, have strongly opposed efforts to weaken whale protection measures. They point to alarming population statistics showing the species declined by approximately 25% between 2010 and 2020, with recovery efforts progressing slowly in recent years.
However, some recent developments offer hope for the species. The New England Aquarium reported that this year’s calving season resulted in 23 mother-calf pairs, representing the highest count since 2009.
Despite this positive news, the aquarium emphasized that right whales remain critically endangered after more than five decades of federal protection. These whales were once plentiful along the Eastern seaboard before commercial whaling operations nearly drove them to extinction.
