How You Can Help North Atlantic Right Whales

North Atlantic right whales swim and rest just at or below the surface of the water and can be very hard to see. Look for black or dark objects, whitewater, splashes, and spouts. Wear polarized sunglasses to help you better see animals in the water. However, be aware that most mariners report never seeing a whale prior to colliding with it.

These characteristics can help you identify a right whale:

• Wide flat back: Unlike most whales, right whales do not have a fin on their backs
• White patches on head: Unique patches of lumpy, rough skin on their heads, called callosities, which appear white because of small crab-like creatures, called cyamids, living on them
• Smooth tail: Broad tail with deep notch and smooth edges on flukes; can have white scars
• V-shaped spout: Exhales at the surface creating a V-shaped mist
• Dark body color: Stocky bodies with shiny black skin
• Short flippers: Short, broad, paddle-shaped fins on their side

Have you seen a right whale? Learn more about what to look for

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North Atlantic right whales are extremely rare, and every sighting is important. Sightings help us better understand their movements, which enables us to conduct research, take protective measures, and alert mariners to their presence. 

Report all right whale sightings immediately to the NOAA hotline: 

• From Maine to Virginia: (866) 755-6622
• From North Carolina to Florida: (877) WHALE-HELP/(877) 942-5343 

Right whale sightings in any location may also be reported to the U.S. Coast Guard via channel 16 or through the Whale Alert app.

Include: 

• Date
• Time of day
• Location (e.g., latitude and longitude, or proximity to a landmark)
• Contact information
• Description of the whale(s): e.g., shape of the tail, flippers, or head, or visible scars)
• Photos and videos of the whale(s): these are particularly helpful, but do not approach within 500 yards
• Any other details or documentation about the observation

If the animal is in distress, there are organizations around the country that are trained and ready to respond. Reporting a sighting of a sick, injured, entangled, stranded, or dead right whale helps professional responders and scientists know about it and take appropriate action. Never approach or try to save an injured or entangled animal yourself. It can be dangerous to both the animal and you, and it may hinder response efforts. If it’s safe to stand by in the vicinity of the whale, that will help the response teams.

To protect right whales, NOAA Fisheries has regulations that prohibit approaching or remaining within 500 yards (1,500 feet) of a right whale. That’s the length of about five football fields. These regulations apply to vessels and aircrafts (including drones) and to people using other watercrafts, such as surfboards, kayaks, and jet skis. 

Any vessel within 500 yards of a right whale must depart immediately. Slow your boat and put it in neutral if you see a whale. Resume at a slow, safe speed and distance your vessel from the animal.

Call the NOAA Fisheries Enforcement Hotline at (800) 853-1964 to report possible violations of our federal marine resource laws. This hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for anyone in the United States.

Learn more about our marine life viewing guidelines

Vessel strikes are one of the primary causes of injury and death for right whales. Keeping speeds to 10 knots or less at times and in areas where right whales are likely present reduces this risk.

Collisions with vessels of all sizes—from recreational boats to large ocean-going ships—can kill or injure a whale. Small or medium-sized vessels can be heavily damaged and even "totaled" after colliding with a whale, especially at high speeds. Collisions can also injure passengers. Slowing down to prevent vessel strikes is a matter of safety to humans and whales alike.

Before you head out on the water, check current right whale speed reduction zones and recent whale detections near you. 

Vessel operators can also check WhaleMap for the latest whale detections and management measures and sign up for Right Whale Slow Zone email or text notifications (Maine to Virginia).

Learn more about right whale speed zones and how to avoid collisions with right whales

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Stay updated on North Atlantic right whale conservation measures. For accurate information, check your sources or confirm them by reviewing our news and announcements, right whale health updates, and Road to Recovery activities.

Here are more ways you can get involved:

• Get alerts about Slow Zones: All boaters and interested parties can sign up here to receive email or text message notifications of new Right Whale Slow Zone dates, maps, and coordinates.
• Take a boater education course: The See A Spout? Watch Out! program, the U.S. Coast Guard, state agencies, and other organizations offer courses that can help you safely operate your vessel around whales.
• Whale watch responsibly: Take a whale watching tour with a company certified by Whale SENSE to ensure you are viewing marine life responsibly.
• Support your local marine mammal responders: You can volunteer your support and time for our partners within the Marine Mammal Stranding Response Network. Find out which organization in the network responds to strandings in your area.
• Sign up for email updates: Subscribe to our newsletters for updates about endangered species and marine mammals.
• Attend public events: Learn more about right whales at events like Right Whale Day in Massachusetts (annually on April 24), the Right Whale Festival in Fernandina Beach, Florida (annually in November), and Whale Week in Savannah, Georgia (annually in December).
• Learn about sustainable seafood: Consult sustainable seafood information networks to learn about how and where your seafood is caught.
• Stay up to date on the latest developments in whale avoidance technology: Together with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, we’re supporting innovative technology solutions to more effectively avoid vessel strikes.