North Atlantic Right Whales - Oceana USA

Saving North Atlantic Right Whales from Extinction

THE CAMPAIGN TO SAVE NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALES

North Atlantic right whales are one of the most endangered large whales on the planet. They were named for being the “right” whale to hunt because they were often found near shore, swim slowly and tend to float when killed. North Atlantic right whale populations first crashed due to whaling until hunting this species was banned in 1935. These whales have still not fully recovered; they are considered critically endangered with only about 380 whales remaining. On the brink of extinction, the leading threats for these slow-moving whales come from speeding boats and entanglement in fishing gear. 

COLLISIONS WITH BOATS

Collisions with boats are one of two main threats North Atlantic right whales face. These slow swimming whales are often found near the water's surface; but they are dark in color and lack a dorsal fin making them hard to spot — especially at night. At normal operating speeds, vessels cannot maneuver fast enough to avoid whales, putting right whales at great risk of strikes, which can cause deadly injuries from blunt force trauma or cuts from the propellers. But studies have found that if boats slowed down by 10 knots, it would greatly reduce the whales' risk of death if a collision were to occur.

ENTANGLEMENT IN FISHING GEAR

The second main threat to these whales is entanglement in fishing gear. A jungle of roughly one million fishing lines sprawls across right whale migration routes, calving, and feeding areas in the Atlantic ocean stretching from the U.S. to Canada. These ropes have been seen wrapped around right whales’ mouths, fins, tails and bodies, and cut into the whales’ flesh, which can lead to life-threatening infections. Once entangled, these whales drag lines attached to heavy fishing gear slowing these whales down, making it difficult to swim, reproduce, and feed, and in some cases, can drown them. More than 86% of North Atlantic right whales have suffered at least one entanglement during their lifetime, with some individuals being entangled as many as eight times, and the severity of these events increases over time.

PROTECT NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALES

To save North Atlantic right whales, Oceana advocates for effective and science-based strategies to reduce the risk of boat strikes or entanglements with fishing gear in areas where whales are expected or detected. To reduce the risk of entanglement, Oceana campaigns to identify times and areas where North Atlantic right whales are expected to implement safer fishing gear alternatives such as on-demand gear — which eliminates the need for buoys attached to vertical ropes and allows fisherman to send a remote signal to gear sitting on the seafloor so that it sends up a buoy or pops up to the surface upon demand, where it can be immediately retrieved. Additionally, to reduce risk of boat collisions, Oceana campaigns for slow zones in areas when whales are present or detected. Finally, Oceana is defending the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act from rollbacks in Congress and the Administration. These laws are a safety net for marine wildlife, including North Atlantic right whales and other species at risk of extinction.

Campaign Resources

Species Snapshot

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Calves of the Atlantic

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Go Slow, Whales Below

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HELP PROTECT NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALES FROM TOP THREATS

We’re calling on the U.S. and Canadian governments to take urgent action to protect North Atlantic right whales from entanglements in fishing gear and collisions with vessels' - both of which are leading causes of death – and are preventable.  

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