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Humpback whales have new protections after Trump administration settles with environmentalists

In this Monday, Aug. 7, 2017, file photo, a humpback whale breeches off Half Moon Bay, Calif. AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File

In a settlement with environmental groups, the Trump administration has agreed to designate critical Pacific Ocean habitat for endangered humpback whales.

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The animals face threats from getting tangled in fishing gear, oil spills and being struck by ships.

Coverage of humpback whales on Globalnews.ca:

Federal authorities have designated three groups of West Coast humpbacks as endangered or threatened.

The suit by the Center for Biological Diversity, Turtle Island Restoration Network and Wishtoyo Foundation, a non-profit that represents Native American tribes, was settled Friday in federal district court in San Francisco.

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READ MORE: Humpback whales put on a spectacular show for guests at Port Hardy lodge

The National Marine Fisheries Service agreed to designate critical habitat for the animals by mid-2019 and finalize those boundaries a year later.

The environmental groups say endangered species with protected critical habitat are twice as likely to show signs of recovery as those without it.

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