Exxon Mobile has asked Congress for protection from Rice’s whales in the Gulf of Mexico. Rice’s whales are a nearly extinct species of baleen whale found in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. With only an estimated 51 whales remaining, Exxon Mobile has asked to for protection. “Our industry’s shipping and drilling in the Gulf of Mexico will become endangered or extinct if we have to accommodate for the whales” said Exxon CEO, Darren Woods. “The whales pose a constant threat to our shipping speed.” Environmental groups have asked industrial size ships to slow down 10 knots when in the whale’s habitat and requested NOAA ban travel at night when the whales float near the surface. NOAA denied their request stating, “If Americans have to choose between lower gas prices and whales, we all know what the answer is.”