Rare North Atlantic Right Whale Dies as a Result of Government Inaction
Press Release Date: January 30, 2026
Location: NORTH CAROLINA
Contact:
Erin Vande Ven | email: EVandeVen@oceana.org | tel: 303.829.3877
A critically endangered North Atlantic right whale was found dead approximately 25 miles offshore of Avon, North Carolina on January 27, 2026. The whale was identified as “Division” (#5217), a 4-year-old male. Division died from his entanglement injuries. Responders tried to disentangle the whale back in December, but those efforts were not fully successful, and the rope remained around the whale.
Entanglement in fishing gear is a constant threat for North Atlantic right whales. Roughly 1 million fishing lines sprawl across right whale migration routes and feeding areas in the U.S. and Canada. Fishing gear from these two countries entangles an estimated 100 right whales each year, with about 86% of all right whales having been entangled at least once.
In response to the news, Oceana released the following statements:
“Another whale has died, and the blame lies squarely with the government,” says Nora Ives, marine scientist for Oceana in the United States. “Humans have caused preventable pain and suffering for these critically endangered animals for long enough. What will it take for our elected officials to finally implement solutions like on-demand fishing gear and slowing vessels down to prevent further tragedies like this one? Continuing to ignore this issue will guarantee more right whale deaths. We need urgent action now. Oceana challenges policymakers to right this wrong, stand up for marine life and for the health of our oceans by adequately funding and staffing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), advancing stronger protections for right whales, and supporting bedrock laws like the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act before another whale washes up on our coastlines.”
Hanna Vatcher, North Atlantic right whale campaigner at Oceana in Canada.
“Despite 2026 starting with the most calf births since 2011, the news of a North Atlantic right whale death is a devastating reminder that this critically endangered species remains on the brink of extinction. After a year with no reported deaths, this loss is especially heartbreaking. With only about 380 individuals left, including just 70 breeding females, every death brings this population closer to collapse.
Oceana Canada urges Fisheries and Oceans Canada to accelerate the transition to ropeless fishing gear in high-risk areas and to release its long-overdue Whalesafe Fishing Gear Strategy. Entanglements are preventable and Canada must act now to stop more avoidable deaths and rebuild the species.”
Background
North Atlantic right whales were a frequent target of whalers as they were often found near shore, swim slowly, and tend to float when killed. They were aggressively hunted, and their population dropped from peak estimates of up to 21,000 to perhaps fewer than 100 by the 1920s. After whaling of North Atlantic right whales was banned in 1935, their population increased to as many as 483 individuals in 2010. Unfortunately, that progress has reversed.
Collisions with boats is a leading cause of North Atlantic right whale injury and death. They are slow, swimming at speeds less than 4 miles (or an average of 6 kilometers) per hour, usually near the water’s surface. They are also dark in color and lack a dorsal fin, making them very difficult to spot. Studies have found that the speed of a vessel is a major factor in vessel-related collisions with North Atlantic right whales. At high speeds, vessels cannot maneuver to avoid them, and they swim too slowly to be able to move out of the way. This puts them at great risk of being struck, which can cause deadly injuries from blunt-force trauma or cuts from propellers.
Entanglements in fishing gear used to catch lobster, crab, and other species is another leading cause of North Atlantic right whale deaths. Around one-quarter of the population is entangled in fishing gear from the U.S. and Canada each year, and about 85% have been entangled at least once. Ropes have been seen wrapped around their mouths, fins, tails, and bodies, which slow them down; make it difficult to swim, reproduce, and feed; and can cause death. The lines cut into the whales’ flesh, leading to life-threatening infections, and are so strong that they have severed fins and tails, and cut into bone.
A national poll of American voters conducted in 2024 found that an overwhelming majority support stronger protections for North Atlantic right whales. The poll found that 86% of American voters agree that North Atlantic right whales should be protected from human-caused threats to help prevent their extinction, and 83% agree that ocean activities that endanger North Atlantic right whales, like shipping, boating, and vertical-line fishing, should be adapted to protect them. Eight in ten respondents are in favor of the U.S. government making policy changes to save North Atlantic right whales from going extinct. Oceana’s poll, conducted by the nonpartisan polling company Ipsos using the probability-based KnowledgePanel®, surveyed 1,053 registered U.S. voters from June 28 to 30, 2024.
To learn more about Oceana’s binational campaign to save North Atlantic right whales, click here.
