Florida Judge Denies Conservation Groups Intervention in Right Whale Protection Lawsuit

A Florida federal judge, Charlene Edwards Honeywell, denied conservation groups' request to intervene in a lawsuit challenging a 2008 NOAA speed-limit rule designed to protect endangered North Atlantic right whales. The lawsuit was filed by Florida resident Gerald Eubanks, who was fined $14,250 for exceeding the vessel speed limit aimed at reducing whale collisions. The conservation groups expressed concerns that the Trump administration may not vigorously defend the rule, citing the administration's interest in limiting the scope of the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act. The groups argued that if the administration views the speed limit as conflicting with its policy goals, it may fail to represent their conservation interests adequately. The judge ruled that the conservation groups could not intervene, leaving NOAA and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick as the defendants responsible for defending the rule. The case highlights ongoing tensions over federal protections for endangered species under the current administration's regulatory approach.