Defending Marine Mammals, Endangered Species, and Also Yourself – The Santa Barbara Independent

Report on Proposed Amendments to U.S. Environmental Legislation and Their Impact on Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Introduction: Foundational Laws Under Threat

For over five decades, the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA) have served as critical legal frameworks for conservation in the United States. These acts directly support the objectives of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and SDG 15 (Life on Land). Recent legislative proposals, however, threaten to undermine the effectiveness of these laws, thereby jeopardizing progress toward these global sustainability targets.

2.0 Analysis of Proposed Legislative Changes

A series of proposed amendments aim to weaken the protective mandates of the ESA and MMPA. These actions represent a significant challenge to SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), which calls for effective, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels.

2.1 Endangered Species Act (ESA) Amendments

• H.R.1897 “ESA Amendments Act of 2025”: Introduced by Congressmember Bruce Westerman, this bill challenges the fundamental efficacy of the ESA.
• H.R.180 “Endangered Species Transparency and Reasonableness Act of 2025”: Introduced by Congressmember John McClintock, this bill also seeks to modify the Act’s implementation.

Key proposed changes include:

1. Redefining the scope of “critical habitat,” potentially reducing protected areas essential for species recovery.
2. Altering regulatory interpretations to weaken protections for threatened species and migratory birds.
3. Facilitating the premature removal of species from the endangered list, prioritizing industrial interests over scientific data on population stability.

2.2 Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) Amendments

A draft amendment proposed by Congressmember Nick Begich targets the MMPA with changes that would directly contravene the principles of SDG 14.

• Removing protections for lesser-known marine mammal populations.
• Narrowing the legal definition of “harassment,” allowing for more disruptive activities near marine life.
• Rescinding scientifically-backed precautionary measures that are vital for conservation.
• Imposing burdensome data requirements that could delay or prevent necessary protections.

3.0 Implications for Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land

The ESA has been instrumental in achieving the targets of SDG 15 by halting biodiversity loss. The Act’s success is quantifiable:

• It has prevented the extinction of 99 percent of the species listed under its protection.
• It currently protects 938 plant species and 743 animal species.
• It has been crucial in the recovery of iconic species such as the bald eagle and the southern sea otter.

Weakening the ESA would reverse these conservation gains, directly undermining the global effort to protect and restore terrestrial ecosystems and halt biodiversity loss.

4.0 Implications for Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water

The MMPA is a cornerstone of marine conservation, aligning with the core objectives of SDG 14 to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources.

4.1 Successes of the MMPA

• No marine mammal species has gone extinct in U.S. waters since the Act’s implementation.
• The law safeguards a wide range of species, including dolphins, whales, manatees, and polar bears.
• Currently, 20 marine mammal species are listed as endangered and 5 as threatened, all receiving critical protection under the Act.

4.2 Threats Exacerbated by Proposed Amendments

If passed, the amendments would increase the vulnerability of marine life to numerous threats, setting back progress on SDG 14 targets related to reducing marine pollution and protecting marine ecosystems.

1. Industrial Activity: Increased risk from coastal development, fossil fuel extraction, and seabed mining.
2. Operational Hazards: Greater threats from ship strikes, ocean noise pollution, and bycatch in fisheries.
3. Pollution: Reduced capacity to mitigate the effects of water pollution, as evidenced by historical events.

4.3 Case Studies on Environmental Disasters

• Exxon Valdez Spill (1989): Led to the functional extinction of the AT1 orca population, demonstrating the catastrophic impact of industrial accidents when protections are insufficient.
• Deepwater Horizon Spill (2010): Caused extensive mortality among marine species, including an estimated 208,600 sea turtles and over one million birds. The remaining bottlenose dolphin population in Barataria Bay continues to suffer from chronic health issues and reduced birth rates, a stark reminder of the long-term consequences of environmental degradation.

5.0 Conclusion: A Setback for Environmental Governance and Sustainability

The proposed legislative changes to the ESA and MMPA represent a significant threat to the United States’ commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals. By prioritizing deregulation and industrial exploitation over science-based conservation, these amendments would weaken the institutional frameworks (SDG 16) designed to protect biodiversity on land (SDG 15) and in the ocean (SDG 14). The survival of critically endangered populations, such as the 73 remaining southern resident killer whales, depends on the continued strength of these landmark environmental laws. Failure to oppose these amendments would constitute a major regression in national and global efforts to achieve a sustainable future.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 14: Life Below Water

  This goal is central to the article, which extensively discusses the protection of marine mammals like whales, dolphins, seals, and sea otters through the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). It highlights threats to marine ecosystems from pollution (oil spills), ship strikes, ocean noise, and resource extraction (seabed mining).

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  The article is equally focused on this goal through its defense of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). It mentions the protection of 938 plants and 743 animals, including iconic terrestrial and avian species like the bald eagle. The discussion revolves around preventing extinction and protecting critical habitats from degradation due to industry interests.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  This goal is addressed through the article’s focus on the legal frameworks—the ESA and MMPA—as cornerstone institutions for conservation. The core conflict described is the political attack on these laws, which threatens the rule of law in environmental protection. The call to action for citizens to write to their congresspersons also relates to promoting participatory and representative decision-making.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  While not the primary focus, this goal is connected through the article’s mention of deregulation aimed at promoting fossil fuel industries (“Drill Baby Drill!”). The quote from the EPA Administrator about driving “a dagger straight into the heart of the climate change religion” explicitly links the weakening of environmental laws to a broader anti-climate action agenda.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 14: Life Below Water

   • Target 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds. The article directly relates to this target by citing the devastating impacts of the Exxon Valdez and Deepwater Horizon oil spills on marine life, including sea turtles, birds, dolphins, and whales.
   • Target 14.2: Sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems. The entire discussion of the MMPA and the need to protect marine mammals from threats like coastal development, resource extraction, and ship strikes supports this target. The article emphasizes that these laws are essential for keeping oceans healthy.
   • Target 14.4: Effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices. This is referenced through the mention of “bycatch in fisheries activities” as a significant threat to marine mammals.

2. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species. This is the core theme related to the ESA. The article states the law has “prevented the extinction of 99 percent of listed species” and discusses proposed amendments that would redefine “critical habitat,” directly threatening this target.
   • Target 15.7: Take urgent action to end poaching and trafficking of protected species. While not about poaching, the proposed amendments to “narrow the legal definition of ‘harassment’” under the MMPA would weaken protections against harmful human activities, which aligns with the spirit of this target to protect species from exploitation.
   • Target 15.9: Integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning and development processes. The article highlights a conflict where proposed changes “would prioritize industry interests over science,” demonstrating a failure to integrate biodiversity values into national planning.

3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels. The article is a defense of the rule of law as embodied by the ESA and MMPA, arguing against legislative attempts to weaken these “cornerstone laws of species conservation.”
   • Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making. The article’s conclusion, which “encourages everyone to send a handwritten letter to their member of Congress,” is a direct call for citizen participation in the decision-making process to protect these environmental laws.

4. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. The article points to a direct reversal of this target, citing the EPA Administrator’s anti-climate change rhetoric and the push for deregulation to benefit fossil fuel industries, which are key drivers of climate change.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure progress.

1. Indicators for SDG 14 & 15 (Life Below Water & Life on Land)

   • Number of protected species: The article specifies that the ESA protects “938 plants and 743 endangered animals,” and the MMPA protects marine mammals, of which “20 species… are federally listed as endangered along with five listed as threatened.” These numbers serve as a baseline indicator of species under protection.
   • Extinction prevention rate: The statement that the ESA “has prevented the extinction of 99 percent of listed species” is a powerful indicator of the law’s effectiveness.
   • Population counts of specific species: The article provides concrete numbers, such as the “current population of 73 critically endangered southern resident killer whales” and the decline of bottlenose dolphins in Barataria Bay from “over 3,000 prior to the Deepwater Horizon spill” to “2,000 remaining.” These numbers are direct indicators of species’ conservation status.
   • Mortality from pollution events: The figures from the Deepwater Horizon spill—”an estimated 208,600 sea turtles and over one million birds died”—serve as an indicator of the impact of marine pollution.
   • Sub-lethal impacts on populations: The mention of “lower birth rates, impaired stress response, chronic respiratory problems” in surviving dolphins is a qualitative and quantitative health indicator for affected species.

2. Indicators for SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)

   • Status of national legislation: The existence and strength of the ESA and MMPA are primary indicators. The proposed amendments (H.R.1897, H.R.180, and the draft amendment by Rep. Begich) are indicators of attempts to weaken these institutional frameworks.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: independent.com