美国众议院自然资源委员会于7月15日投票支持将北大西洋露脊鲸保护规则的暂停期从2028年延长至2035年 [1]。这一决议得到渔业和龙虾业的支持 [1]，但引发环保组织的强烈反对。
目前北大西洋露脊鲸仅存约380只 [1]，种群面临严重威胁。数据显示，从2010年至2020年间，这一物种的数量已下降约25%，从约480只骤减至现状 [1]。鲸鱼主要因渔业捕捞工具缠绕和船只碰撞而死亡 [1]。
保护规则的暂停期自2022年起开始施行 [1]。环保组织Oceana的负责人吉布·布罗根对延期方案提出质疑，表示"这些鲸鱼在2022年就需要更多保护，但国会当时忽视了大量证据，认为现有措施已经足够" [1]。
相比之下，马萨诸塞州龙虾渔民协会执行主任贝丝·卡索尼则声称"现有保护框架保持完整，该立法不会削弱对北大西洋露脊鲸的保护" [1]。
The U.S. House Natural Resources Committee voted on July 15 to extend a pause on new protections for North Atlantic right whales from 2028 to 2035, a decision supported by fishing and lobster industries but condemned by conservation groups. [1]
Approximately 380 North Atlantic right whales remain in existence, down roughly 25 percent from around 480 individuals in 2010. [1] The species faces threats primarily from entanglement in fishing gear and vessel strikes. [1] The pause period itself began in 2022. [1]
The Trump administration backed the extension legislation sponsored by Democratic Representative Jared Golden. [1] The lobster fishing industry argued the current conservation framework remains adequate. Beth Cassoni, executive director of the Massachusetts Lobster Fishermen's Association, stated: "The current conservation framework remains fully in place, and this legislation does not weaken protections for the North Atlantic right whale." [1]
Conservation advocates disputed this assessment. Gibb Brogan, representing the Oceana conservation organization, said: "They needed more protections in 2022 when Congress ignored a mountain of evidence and decided that insufficient efforts were enough." [1]