Blue Whale Women’s Tank Top

North Atlantic Right Whale

Where They Live: North Atlantic right whales are found along the eastern coast of the United States and Canada, from the Gulf of Maine down to the warm waters off Georgia and Florida. They migrate seasonally, traveling from their feeding grounds in the North to their calving grounds in the South. Right whales prefer coastal waters, making them more vulnerable to human activities like shipping and fishing (NOAA Fisheries) (World Wildlife Fund).

How Many Are Left: There are only about 356 North Atlantic right whales left in the wild, making them one of the most endangered large whale species on the planet. This critically low population is due to centuries of whaling, and despite being protected since the 1930s, their numbers have struggled to recover due to ongoing human-related threats (New England Aquarium) (World Wildlife Fund).

Why They Are Endangered:

1. Entanglement in Fishing Gear: More than 85% of North Atlantic right whales have been entangled in fishing gear at least once. Entanglement can cause severe injuries, restrict movement, and interfere with feeding, leading to malnutrition and death (NOAA Fisheries).
2. Vessel Strikes: Because they often swim close to shore and their migration routes overlap with busy shipping lanes, North Atlantic right whales are frequently hit by ships, resulting in fatal injuries such as broken bones or propeller cuts (NOAA Fisheries) (NOAA Fisheries).
3. Climate Change and Ocean Noise: Warming ocean temperatures are altering the availability and location of their primary food source, plankton. Additionally, increased underwater noise from human activities makes it harder for right whales to communicate, navigate, and find mates (World Wildlife Fund).

3 Things We Can Do to Save Them:

1. Support the Implementation of Safer Fishing Practices: Advocate for the use of “ropeless” fishing gear and other technologies that reduce the risk of entanglement.
2. Promote and Enforce Speed Limits for Ships: Encourage policies that reduce vessel speeds in critical right whale habitats to prevent ship strikes.
3. Raise Awareness and Support Marine Protected Areas: Advocate for the expansion of marine protected areas and seasonal fishing restrictions to safeguard the right whale’s critical habitats.

Fun Fact: North Atlantic right whales have distinctive white patches of rough skin, called callosities, on their heads, which are unique to each individual and help researchers identify them. These gentle giants were named “right whales” because they were considered the “right” whale to hunt—slow-moving, floating when killed, and full of valuable blubber (World Wildlife Fund).

With such a critically small population, every action counts in the effort to prevent the extinction of the North Atlantic right whale.