Most humpback whales to be taken off federal endangered species list

[Calista241]

Source: The Guardian

Federal authorities are taking most humpback whales off the endangered species list, saying they have recovered enough in the last 40 years to warrant being removed.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) said on Monday that nine of the 14 distinct populations of humpbacks would be removed, while four distinct populations remain listed as endangered and one as threatened.

Last year the NMFS, an office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa), proposed that humpbacks be split into 14 population segments, allowing for 10 populations to be removed from the endangered list.

It said populations of the animals had steadily grown since the international community banned commercial whaling nearly 50 years ago.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/sep/06/humpback-whales-endangered-species-list

[Judi Lynn]

1. Why should Marine Fisheries Service have any authority here? They are mammals, for chrissakes. n/t

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. They have the general job of protecting the marine environment

including turtles and coral, and they aren't fished either:

The resilience of our marine ecosystems and coastal communities depend on healthy marine species, including protected species such as whales, sea turtles, corals, and salmon. Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act, NOAA Fisheries works to recover protected marine species while allowing economic and recreational opportunities.

NOAA Fisheries, also known as the National Marine Fisheries Service, is an office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration within the Department of Commerce. We have five regional offices, six science centers, and more than 20 laboratories around the United States and U.S. territories, and we work with partners across the nation.

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/aboutus/aboutus.html

They have the expertise.