Humpback Whale Distinct Population Segments

NOAA/NMFS issued a final determination to revise the listing status of the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). They divide the globally listed endangered species into 14 distinct population segments (DPS), remove the current species-level listing, and in its place list four DPSs as endangered (E) and one DPS as threatened (T). Based on their current statuses, the remaining nine DPSs do not warrant listing (NW).