EcoMinutes

EcoMinutes: Protecting the Rice's whale

By Enid Sisskin

Published May 27, 2026 at 7:46 AM CDT

*One of two Rice's whales observed by the Southeast Fisheries Science Center in the western Gulf of Mexico during an aerial survey on April 11, 2024. Credit:*

Dr. Enid Sisskin sat down with Christian Wagley of Healthy Gulf to talk about the Endangered Species Committee, or the so-called “God Squad,” and how their latest action may impact wildlife in the Gulf, including the Rice’s whale. This interview is condensed and edited.

EcoMinutes

Enid Sisskin

Dr. Enid Sisskin received her PhD from Columbia University in Pathobiology and did her postdoctoral fellowship at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, one of the institutes that makes up the National Institute of Health. She has worked as an environmental activist in this area for more than 25 years. She is the creator of the EcoMinute and has produced & hosted the series since 2009. Her interests include knitting, quilting, swimming, gardening, despite yearly failures, and she continues to work for environmental protection. She is also everyone's favorite Jewish mother and stage manager at <a href="http://radiolive.org/">RadioLive</a>. Contact: <a href="mailto:enid@wuwf.org.">enid@wuwf.org.</a>

See stories by Enid Sisskin