Rice’s Whale: Newly Discovered and Already on the Brink of Extinction

Rice’s whale gets its name from American cetologist Dale W. Rice, who was the first person to identify the presence of Bryde’s whale in the Gulf of Mexico in 1965. This new baleen whale species can measure up to 12.65 metres and weigh up to 27 metric tonnes. Along with Bryde’s whales, Rice’s whale is the only rorqual to have three ridges on its rostrum. It presents countershading in which their coloration is dark grey on top and pale pinkish underneath. The whale’s body is streamlined, the dorsal fin curved and pointed, and it features a large smooth-edged fluke.

For years, Rice’s whale was believed to be a Bryde’s whale, due to the physical similarities of the two. Only recently has the former been classified as a separate species. The ‘Bryde’s whale complex’ includes several whale species whose relationships remain somewhat unresolved. The complex includes the common Bryde’s whale (Balaenoptera edeni brydei), Eden’s whale (Balaenoptera edeni edeni), and, until recently, Omura’s whale (B. omurai) and Rice’s whale (B. ricei).

A recent study aiming to describe the whale’s critical habitat and key environmental features found that Rice’s whale depends on a complex physical oceanographic environment. The shelf break is characterized by low temperatures and high salinity, which allows for upwellings that are useful for the nutrient cycle. This creates a nutrient-rich environment that is home to considerable biodiversity, including the silver-rag driftfish, the main food source for Rice’s whale.

Until recently, it has been difficult to identify the key threats and issues facing Rice’s whale. Due to the Bryde’s whale complex, there is little information on the species in the Gulf of Mexico. Today, Rice’s whale is protected by the Endangered Species Act(ESA). The species is also classified as critically endangered by the IUCN.

Despite its new status, Rice’s whale still faces many dangers. One of the main threats that Rice’s whale faces is from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. A 2015 report found that 48% of the whale’s habitat was affected by the spill and that there was a 22% decline in the size of the post-spill population. The report estimates that it will require 69 years for the population to recover. The oil spill resulted in numerous negative health effects that affected 18% of the population and caused reproductive failure in many females. Restoration plans are in place, but there is still much to be done.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has issued recommendations to protect the Rice’s whale and its critical habitat. The main recommendations include stricter monitoring of the strike avoidance zones, speed restriction in the Rice’s whale area, maintaining a distance of 500 m from the endangered whale, and more. NOAA has also proposed a rule to designate the critical habitat for Rice’s whale, which would cover 28,270.65 square miles (more than 73,000 km²) of the continental shelf in the Gulf of Mexico.

Unfortunately, opinions on the proposed measures differ. In a letter dated May 1^st, several individuals expressed their disapproval of the new regulations on the grounds that they “lack sound scientific backing.” In cases like these, it is important to remember that the species was only recently discovered, and that knowledge is limited.

Due to its recent discovery, not much is known about Rice’s whale, meaning that opportunities for research are as vast as the ocean itself. Those who dare to venture are sure to find a treasure of new and interesting information.