Oil exploration could threaten endangered Atlantic whale

Oil exploration planned for the Atlantic Ocean between Delaware and Florida would jeopardize the survival of one of the world's most endangered whale species, according to a group of marine mammal scientists.

A group of 27 whale experts recently wrote a letter to President Obama stating said the seismic surveys would threaten the existence of North Atlantic right whale, which is an endangered species consisting of no more than 500 animals, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society.

In March, the Obama administration said it would not allow offshore drilling in the southeast Atlantic Ocean in the next five years. However, seismic surveys may continue as planned.

The proposed seismic surveys would use airguns towed behind ships as they explore for oil and gas deposits beneath the ocean floor. The airguns would produce intense explosions of sound that would introduce a significant amount of noise pollution into the marine environment most critical for the survival of the North Atlantic right whale.”

“The airguns used for seismic oil and gas surveys produce intense explosions every 9 to 11 seconds for many weeks or months at a time,” said Dr. Christopher Clark, Senior Scientist for the Cornell Lab of Ornithology Bioacoustics Research Program.“All of this is undetectable to someone at the surface, but the underwater impact and disturbance from these activities can be devastating to ocean life, especially for species such as the North

According to the letter to President Obama, companies have applied to survey as much as 90,000 miles of sea floor off the East Coast.

The North Atlantic right whale can grow up to 60 feet in length and is designated as "Critically Endangered" on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's red list of threatened species. It is protected in U.S. waters by the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

This story was originally published April 26, 2016 at 9:54 AM with the headline "Oil exploration could threaten endangered Atlantic whale."