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Slowing Down to Save North Atlantic Right Whales

New proposed rule aims to reduce vessel strikes and add protections to endangered North Atlantic right whales.
August 11, 2022 - Podcast ,
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Southeast
National
A North Atlantic right whale with propeller scars Right whale #3853 swimming north offshore of South Carolina on Jan. 20, 2011 with a series of fresh propeller wounds running across its back. The whale was observed 5 days previously offshore of Georgia without propeller wounds. It is unknown whether the whale survived its wounds or not, as it has not been re-sighted since. Vessel collisions are a leading cause of right whale mortality. Credit: EcoHealth Alliance (NOAA permit #594-1759).

Celebrating 50 Years of the Marine Mammal Protection Act

NOAA Fisheries marks 50 years of marine mammal science, conservation, and recovery under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
July 30, 2022 - Feature Story ,
Alaska
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Pacific Islands
Southeast
West Coast
National
Gray whales swimming Gray whales were nearly hunted to extinction by commercial whaling. Protections under the MMPA, ESA, and the end of commercial whaling have allowed the species to recover. Credit: NOAA Fisheries (Permit #19091).

NOAA Seeks Input on Draft Ropeless Roadmap and Proposes New Vessel Speed Regulations to Protect North Atlantic Right Whales

The North Atlantic Right Whale Road to Recovery describes NOAA Fisheries’ efforts to halt the current population decline and recover the species, including new vessel speed regulations and a “roadmap” for use of ropeless gear.
July 29, 2022 - Feature Story ,
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Southeast
North Atlantic right whale #4180 and new calf North Atlantic right whale #4180 and new calf. Credit: Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (NOAA permit #20556-01)

NOAA Announces 2019 and 2020 Confirmed Large Whale Entanglement Numbers

Seventy five large whale entanglement cases in 2019 and 53 cases in 2020 were confirmed nationally, fewer than in 2018.
June 28, 2022 - Feature Story ,
Alaska
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Pacific Islands
Southeast
West Coast
National
large whale entanglement Responders from the Center for Coastal Studies in Provincetown, Massachusetts, attempt to disentangle a North Atlantic right whale. Entanglements such as this one that involve the whale’s mouth and damage the whale’s baleen are particularly problematic, as they may prevent the animal from effectively feeding and the whale may ultimately starve, even if all of the entangling gear can be successfully removed by the response team. Credit: CCS; Permit No. 18986-04.

Smaller Female North Atlantic Right Whales Have Fewer Calves: Declining Body Size May Contribute to Low Birth Rates

Aerial photos reveal that body size of North Atlantic right whales is related to the number of calves they produce.
May 12, 2022 - Feature Story ,
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Southeast
Photograph from the North Atlantic right whale Catalog #3560 of "Snow Cone," a North Atlantic right whale sighted December 2, 2021 that was entangled in gear and with a new calf. Photo credit: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission taken under NOAA permit 20556. North Atlantic right whale Catalog #3560 ‘Snow Cone’ sighted December 2, 2021 entangled and with a new calf. Photo credit: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission taken under NOAA permit 20556.

All Boaters Should Reduce Their Speed to Protect North Atlantic Right Whales

Collisions with boats as small as 30 feet in length can be lethal to large whales, especially calves, and dangerous for boat passengers. Reduce your speed to keep everyone safe.
March 03, 2022 - Feature Story ,
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Southeast
National
Dead right whale calf (#3560) found floating off New Jersey on June 25, 2020, following vessel collisions Dead right whale calf (#3560) found floating off New Jersey on June 25, 2020, following vessel collisions. Credit: Center for Coastal Studies and Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMPA Permit #18786-04).

U.S. and Canadian Officials Focus on Risk Reduction and Protection Measures for Endangered North Atlantic Right Whales

A message from NOAA Fisheries Assistant Administrator Janet Coit on a recent meeting among U.S. and Canadian officials regarding the conservation and protection of North Atlantic right whales.
January 05, 2022 - Leadership Message ,
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Southeast
National
International
Breaching Right whale, bubbles. A right whale breaching. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Christin Khan

Help Endangered Whales: Slow Down in Slow Zones

All boaters can help save right whales by slowing down in Right Whale Slow Zones.
December 23, 2021 - Feature Story ,
New England/Mid-Atlantic
WEbstory opening pic slow zones_2.jpg

Go Slow—Whales Below

You can help save endangered North Atlantic right whales by slowing down to 10 knots or less in waters where they are likely present.
December 22, 2021 - Feature Story ,
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Southeast
National
Aerial image of a North Atlantic right whale mother and calf North Atlantic right whale mother and calf as seen from a research drone called a hexacopter. Hexacopters allow researchers to conduct right whale photo identification and photogrammetry studies. Photogrammetry techniques allow scientists to get body measurements from aerial photographs. Credit: NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center/Lisa Conger and Elizabeth Josephson

A Mother Right Whale’s Perilous Odyssey

Snow Cone, one of the few breeding female North Atlantic right whales remaining, has been spotted with a new calf. She has also been entangled in fishing rope for months.
December 10, 2021 - Feature Story ,
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Southeast
National
Snow Cone, an North Atlantic right whale, entangled in fishing rope with her newborn calf Snow Cone with her newborn calf in waters near Cumberland Island, Georgia on December 2, 2021. Snow Cone is an endangered North Atlantic right whale and is entangled in fishing rope. Credit: Georgia Department of Natural Resources/NOAA Permit #20556.