The Natural Resources Defense council has filed with the U.S. Natural Marine Fisheries Service “A petition to list the Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s whale (Balaenoptera edeni) as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. The petition is dated September 18, 2014. It states that
“This Petition sets in motion a specific process, requiring NMFS to make an initial finding as to whether the Petition ‘presents substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned action may be warranted.’ 16 U.S.C. § 1533 (b)(3)(A). NMFS must make this initial finding ‘(t)o the maximum extent practicable, within 90 days after receiving the petition.’ Id. A petitioner need not demonstrate that listing is warranted, but rather present information demonstrating that such a listing may be warranted. While NRDC believes that the best available science demonstrates that listing the Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s whales as endangered is in fact warranted, the available information clearly indicates that listing the species may be warranted. As such, NMFS must promptly make a positive finding on the Petition and commence a status review as required by 16 U.S.C. § 1533 (b)(3)(B).”
This petition is available here.
