Stop Rep. Golden’s Plan to Doom Right Whales

The North Atlantic right whale is slipping toward extinction—and Donald Trump and Representative Jared Golden are helping it happen.

Fewer than 380 of these whales remain, including just 70 breeding females. Every year, more are killed or gravely injured—most often by becoming entangled in fishing gear or struck by ships and boats.

Scientists have been sounding the alarm for years: without stronger protections, this species will not survive. Right whales will go extinct if we don’t save them.

Yet instead of acting, Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME 02) and his allies are pushing H.R. 8509—a reckless bill that would delay lifesaving protections for another seven years. This comes on top of an earlier rider passed in 2023 that already weakened safeguards and stalled action until 2028, despite courts ruling those protections were insufficient under federal law.

The results of that delay are tragic. At least 55 right whales have been killed or injured during this period alone, with entanglement confirmed in the majority of cases. Every delay is deadly.

Now, with Representative Golden’s plan receiving backing from Donald Trump, this proposal would stretch that inaction even further—potentially to 2035. That’s not a temporary pause. It’s a death sentence for one of the most endangered whales on Earth.

It’s reckless and completely unnecessary.

Real solutions already exist. On-demand, “pop-up” fishing gear has been tested in real-world conditions with remarkable success—allowing fishermen to catch hundreds of thousands of pounds of seafood while eliminating the vertical lines that entangle whales. Trials have shown success rates above 98%, with zero whale entanglements. This is a clear path forward that protects both marine life and fishing livelihoods.

Instead of choosing extinction, Congress should invest in this transition—supporting fishermen with the resources they need to adopt safer gear and ensuring a future where whales and coastal communities can thrive together.

The choice is simple: protect an iconic species, or let politicians like Representative Golden drive it into extinction. Please sign the petition to Congress today urging them to reject this plan.

The petition to Congress reads: We urge you to oppose H.R. 8509 and any effort to extend the Right Whale Extinction Rider. Further delay of proven protections will only accelerate the species’ decline. Congress must act now to protect North Atlantic right whales and invest in solutions that safeguard both marine life and fishing communities.

Source:

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/maine/articles/2026-05-04/endangered-whale-protections-may-be-delayed-to-2035-under-trump-blacked-plan