New regulations to protect right whales may be paused until 2035

MAINE PUBLIC • July 17, 2026

A bill cosponsored by U.S. Rep. Jared Golden of Maine's 2nd District that would further delay new protections for North American right whales has advanced out of Committee. Golden has cited government layoffs and other slowdowns as reasons for extending a moratorium on new regulations from 2028 to 2035. But Gib Brogan of ocean protection nonprofit Oceana said the science is clear. "All of the available evidence shows that the protections that are in place right now are not enough to support the recovery of North Atlantic right whales." Brogan said swift, decisive action is needed to pull the critically endangered right whale back from the brink.