The National Marine Fisheries Service today protected rare Taiwanese humpback dolphins under the Endangered Species Act, listing the species as “endangered.” The decision comes in response to a March 2016 petition from Guardians and allies.
There are fewer than 100 Taiwanese humpback dolphins remaining in the wild. The dolphins are threatened by gillnet fishing, pollution, boat traffic, and development along Taiwan’s densely populated west coast. New taxonomy studies have concluded that the Taiwanese humpback dolphin is a distinct subspecies of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin with its own unique characteristics.
The “endangered” listing will enable the United States to provide technical expertise and resources to support Taiwan in conserving the dolphin.
Read the press release.
Learn more about why the Endangered Species Act matters.
