First Salmon, Now Right Whales

For over one year, the White House has been blocking a speed-limit rule for ships in some waters where the endangered right whale is found. The rule is meant to protect the species, but the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has been battling with the Vice President’s office over the rule’s institution for the last 14 months.

Cheney’s office continually asserts the rule is not needed, completely opposing scientific consensus on the matter. It is believed that the loss of one pregnant female right whale, whose total species population is less than 400, “could doom the species,” according to the Washington Post article.

Since the blocking of the rule began, at least three whales have died and two have been seriously wounded by ships.

The story is based on documents released by the Union of Concerned Scientists, an environmental group GAP often teams up with. A NOAA scientist sent that group evidence of the back-and-forth struggle between the agency and Vice President’s office.

-- Dylan Blaylock