Right Whale Population Grows Despite Extinction Risk

The population of the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale has increased slightly, leading conservationists to urge the federal government and the shipping and fishing industries to step up efforts to ensure the survival of the giant mammals.
Once a dominant presence along the East Coast, the North Atlantic right whale can weigh up to 150,000 pounds (68,039 kilograms).
Its population faced a drastic decline during the 2010s, dropping to fewer than 360 individuals by the early 2020s—a decline of around 25 percent—making it currently one of the rarest species in the world.
But recent research suggests that the whale population has risen to an estimated 372 in 2023—a 4 percent increase since 2020.
The news offers a glimmer of hope for the species’ long-term survival, according to the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium, a collaborative group of scientists, conservationists, and marine industry representatives.
Factors contributing to their decline include climate change, which affects their habitat, and risks from ship collisions and entanglement in fishing gear.
Heather Pettis, a scientist at the New England Aquarium’s Anderson Cabot Center and chair of the consortium, stressed the importance of continued efforts for the species’ recovery.
She said: “It’s a really vulnerable population. One poor calving year can significantly impact the total population. We need to ensure that the whales can calve, breed, and feed without added stressors.”
While recent births have shown some improvement compared to the previous decade, the number of new calves remains below the levels seen in the 2000s.
This year has already seen five confirmed right whale deaths and four lost calves, marking the highest annual mortality count since 2019. The consortium has raised concerns that these nine fatalities could lead to a population decrease in 2024.
The causes of the deaths point to chronic entanglements and vessel strikes, underscoring the urgent need for government action.
Conservation groups stress the importance of swift implementation of new fishing and shipping restrictions.
Gib Brogan, campaign director at the whale protection group, Oceana, said: “While an increase in population is hopeful, the North Atlantic right whales washing up dead on our shores speak for themselves—we must stop killing them.”
Efforts to protect the whales through new regulations have faced significant challenges.
In February, a coalition of environmental groups filed a lawsuit against the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to compel the agency to finalize proposed ship speed regulations aimed at reducing ship strikes.
Additionally, proposed rules from the National Marine Fisheries Service intended to mitigate entanglement risks have encountered pushback from fishing organizations.
Every year, North Atlantic right whales migrate from their calving grounds off Florida and Georgia to feeding grounds in New England and Canada.
This journey has become increasingly perilous as climate change has altered ocean conditions, forcing the whales to stray from established protected zones in search of the small marine organisms they rely on for sustenance.
This article contains additional reporting from The Associated Press