Atlantic White-Sided Dolphin

Atlantic White-Sided Dolphin

Lagenorhynchus acutus

Atlantic white-sided dolphin illustration

Protected Status

CITES Appendix II
Throughout Its Range
MMPA Protected
Throughout Its Range

Quick Facts

Weight
400 to 500 pounds
Lifespan
About 25 years
Length
Up to 9 feet
Threats
Entanglement, Ocean Noise
Region
New England/Mid-Atlantic, Southeast
See Regulatory Actions
A group of Atlantic white-sided dolphins swimming in the ocean.

About The Species

Atlantic white-sided dolphins are found in the temperate waters of the North Atlantic. In the United States, they are found off the coast of North Carolina to Maine. They are named after their distinctive yellowish-tan streak on their sides.

Atlantic white-sided dolphins, like all marine mammals, are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

NOAA Fisheries is committed to conserving and protecting Atlantic white-sided dolphins. Our scientists and partners use a variety of innovative techniques to study, learn more about, and protect this species.

Protected Status

CITES Appendix II

  • Throughout Its Range

MMPA Protected

  • Throughout Its Range

Scientific Classification

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Cetartiodactyla
Family Delphinidae
Genus Lagenorhynchus
Species acutus

Management Overview

Like all marine mammals, Atlantic white-sided dolphins are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. NOAA Fisheries is working to conserve this species to ensure populations remain stable.

Key Actions and Documents

Actions & Documents Incidental Take

Incidental Take Authorization: Orsted Wind Power LLC Site Characterization Surveys for Renewable Energy off the Coast of New England in the Areas of

NOAA Fisherieshas issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to Ørsted Wind Power LLC (Ørsted) to take small numbers of marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to high-resolution geophysical (HRG) survey investigations associated
Notice
,
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Effective
09/26/2019

Incidental Take Authorization: Avangrid Renewables LLC Marine Site Characterization Surveys for Renewable Energy off the Coast of North Carolina in

NOAA Fisheries has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to Avangrid Renewables, LLC (Avangrid) to take small numbers of marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to high-resolution geophysical (HRG) survey investigations associated with
Notice
,
Southeast
Effective
06/01/2019

Incidental Take Authorization: Renewal of Wind Site Characterization Surveys Offshore New York

NOAA Fisheries has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) Renewal to Equinor Wind US LLC to incidentally harass marine mammals incidental to marine site characterization surveys off the coast of New York in the area of the Commercial Lease
Notice
,
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Published
04/04/2019

Incidental Take Authorization: Deepwater Wind New England LLC Marine Site Characterization Surveys for Renewable Energy off the Coast of Rhode Island

NOAA Fisheriesissued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to Deepwater Wind New England, LLC, for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to marine site characterization surveys off the coast of Rhode Island and Massachusetts in the area
Notice
,
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Published
06/21/2018