Key facts
- Oceana has joined a lawsuit against a federal decision concerning endangered species in the Gulf of Mexico.
- The decision, made in March, is alleged to endanger 20 species.
- Affected species include sea turtles, sturgeon, manta rays, sharks, and the Rice's whale.
The environmental group Oceana has filed a lawsuit challenging a recent federal decision that weakens endangered species protections in the Gulf of Mexico. The lawsuit asserts that the March decision by federal officials puts 20 threatened and endangered species in the region at significant risk. Among the species cited as being endangered are various marine animals, including sea turtles, sturgeon, manta rays, sharks, and the critically endangered Rice's whale. The legal action signifies a continued effort by conservation groups to protect marine biodiversity against potential threats from industrial activities or other federal policy changes.