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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).

Snow Cone Watch: Updates on Entangled Right Whale Mother and Newborn Calf

An entangled North Atlantic right whale, known as Snow Cone, and her newborn calf have been spotted multiple times since December 2021. If you see them, or any right whale, move at least 500 yards away—it’s best for the whales and it’s the law.
January 31, 2022 - Feature Story ,
Southeast
Right whale Catalog #3560 ‘Snow Cone’ and calf sighted off Fernandina Beach, Florida Right whale Catalog #3560 ‘Snow Cone’ and calf sighted off Fernandina Beach, Florida on January 6, 2022. Credit: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (NOAA permit 20556-01).

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

Top 21 Stories, Photos, and Videos of 2021

Check out our most popular features of 2021.
December 15, 2021 - Feature Story ,
National
A humpback whale tail fluke is visible above the water with mountains in the background. Humpback whale in Alaska. Credit: NOAA Fisheries (Permit #14245).

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.

Forty Percent of North Atlantic Right Whale Population Using Gulf of Saint Lawrence as Seasonal Habitat

A new study confirms that the Gulf of St. Lawrence is an important habitat for a large proportion of the endangered North Atlantic right whale population.
December 02, 2021 - Feature Story ,
New England/Mid-Atlantic
aerial image showing four right whales splashing and interacting in close proximity to each other in what is known as a surface active group, or SAG. Four North Atlantic right whales socialize in what is known as a surface active group, or SAG, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Alison Ogilvie