National Marine Fisheries Service Proposes Protection for Captive Killer Whale "Lolita" under Endangered Species Act
Posted in Listing

The National Marine Fisheries Service (Service) recently announced (pdf) a proposed amendment to the regulatory language of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) listing for the Southern Resident killer whale Distinct Population Segment (DPS).  The amendment would remove the language excluding captive members of the population from ESA protection. The Service’s action comes in response to a petition submitted by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals to include Lolita as a protected member of the DPS. Lolita, the sole captive member of the Southern Resident killer whale DPS, is currently precluded from receiving ESA protection.

The Southern Resident killer whale DPS was listed as endangered under the ESA in 2005. Lolita was collected from the wild in 1970. She is currently located at the Miami Seaquarium in Miami, Florida.
 

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  • David J. Miller
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    David Miller assists clients on a variety of complex land use and environment related matters, including matters dealing with the National Environmental Policy Act, Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act, and the ...

Nossaman’s Endangered Species Law & Policy blog focuses on news, events, and policies affecting endangered species issues in California and throughout the United States. Topics include listing and critical habitat decisions, conservation and recovery planning, inter-agency consultation, and related developments in law, policy, and science. We also inform readers about regulatory and legislative developments, as well as key court decisions.

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