Extinction Versus Oil and Gas Development in the Gulf. What Might the Whales Say?
As the Trump Administration and their “God Squad” gut the Endangered Species Act’s (ESA) protections for essential, critical, imperiled, and amazing creatures in the Gulf of Mexico, I struggle for the words to respond to such blasphemy. Egregious? Reprehensible? Zoophobic?
Alas it is a struggle to find the words that truly capture the depravity of inducing extinction simply for the profits of the oil and gas industry.
There is no simpler way to frame this. A small group in Washington D.C. power brokers met without public input and after the briefest of discussions essentially said that profits were more important than life. Profits of the here and now trumped the survival of our fellow species into the future and eternity.
I find myself pondering what the Rice’s Whale, the most imperiled of the endangered species now closer to extinction due to this decision, might say about all this. If we could converse with them as part of the ongoing national debate over gutting the ESA in the Gulf of Mexico, what would they ask us or tell us?
I try to imagine how they would respond to the idea that they could easily go extinct in the name of fossil fuel development.
Optimistically there are roughly 100 Rice’s Whales left in the Gulf. Likely 50 or less. Gutting the ESA means oblivion for this species, and poises tremendous threats to numerous other species.
I imagine if I was to converse with a Rice’s Whale that conversation would start with some awkward silences and uncomfortable pauses. Even the politest and well-mannered marine mammal would find it challenging to remain civil in the face of extinction.
They might begin by asking me if I truly understood what extinction means?
“What does it truly mean to descend into the dark night of extinction from which there is no dawn? Not for a year, a decade, or a century. For eternity.” they would inquire. I would have no true answer. I could only look away in shame.
They might remind me that a good man, a man of pure soul and deep faith (the Reverend Fred Morris, when speaking about Manatees) once observed that “to lose a species to extinction is akin to tearing a page from the Book of Genesis.” As a person of faith, I would have no response.
They would continue, “Whether by Creation, Intelligent Design, a Big Bang, or a Random Cloud of Dust (or some celestial and theological combination therein), something beyond our full ability to truly comprehend in terms of its full majesty and wonder occurred that led to evolution creating the Rice’s Whale’s place in the Gulf.”
“How can humans who claim great faith, like those on the God Squad, so callously cast out a species of the Creator?” the Whale would demand. I struggle with that question myself.
With voice rising the Rice’s Whale might begin to demand answers to questions like “How is it legal and just that a small group of people with no public input or debate, can gut the ESA in the Gulf?”
“What does it say of your country and the rule of law that this could happen? Are you really a people who would value oil and gas development and profits over the very survival, existence, and future of another species?” the Rice’s Whale might continue, its voice seeking a crescendo.
In conclusion and with no attempt to hide the pain and disgust of being one of those species in question, the Rice’s Whale might conclude that “We can live in peace with you. We can live in a Gulf where working people can make a living with oil and gas. The ESA offers at least hope of protection. It offers a chance for more than one species to exist. It creates at least some rules that share compassion and a shared ability to survive. What we can’t survive is greed with no guard rails, where profit trumps life itself.”
“In the long run you might not survive it either. The Gulf is a sacrifice zone for us now, how much longer until they continue to weaken the clean air, clean water, and public safety rules for human communities along the Gulf in the name of expanded oil and gas development? Today it’s our survival….but tomorrow?” the Whale would ask beseechingly, its voice trailing off.
As its large body slowly turned away from me, the Rice’s Whale would pose one last set of questions to me and inquire “What will you tell your grandchildren when they ask what became of the whales?”
“How will you explain to them that humanity forced us into extinction for fossil fuels and profits?”
“How will you be judged for this catastrophic moral failing on your part? How will your complicity, even in silence, be judged?”
As that Rice’ Whale swam off, one eye open for the structures and vessels that strike, entangle, deafen, or poison endangered wildlife in the Gulf, on the lookout for all the related risks and dangers that could lead to mortality and extinction, I would be silent and motionless. What could I say?
Hopefully I would rally and call out. “Most of us cherish life. Most of us want to share this planet with all the species that call it home. We are in a dark season now but don’t give up on us!”
Is there evidence for this? Yes and no.
If judged by the actions of those in power…..no. If judged by the opposition of the public to this decision, to the incredible backlash from the public, perhaps yes.
We can support the amazing conservation groups, like Healthy Gulf, fighting for the Gulf every day. We can support and donate to the organizations, like Healthy Gulf, that instantly went to court to fight this legally. We can become a member of the groups that speak for the Rice’s Whale and for the other imperiled species of the Gulf. In the face of extinction even small acts of courage matter. Join and support Healthy Gulf!
Joe Murphy is a native and lifelong Floridian who lives along Florida’s Nature Coast. Joe is a former staffer for Healthy Gulf and served on the Healthy Gulf Board of Directors. He contributes these blog posts as an alumnus and as a supporter. You can follow Joe on Instagram (@naturecoastjoe) and on Facebook (https://bit.ly/joemurphyfacebook)