Saving the North Atlantic right whale is up to us: Most right whale deaths are caused by human activities. The population of North Atlantic right whales has declined from 482 in 2010 to 458 in 2015, and entanglement is a major threat to the slow-moving creatures. She was mother to at least eight calves, and a grandmother to at least two grand-calves. North Atlantic right whales are protected and listed under Schedule 1, Part 2 of the Species at Risk Act (SARA). Since December, whale researchers counted 267 right whales in Cape Cod Bay — roughly 60 percent of the known population­, said Charles Mayo, a co-author on the new paper and the director of … A study published last year found that from 2010 to 2015, 15 percent of right whale deaths were caused by vessel strikes, while 85 percent were caused by entanglements. 2017–2020 North Atlantic Right Whale Unusual Mortality Event. The North Atlantic right whale faces extinction. It had been a galling month for the many people who care about North Atlantic right whales. We need all hands on deck to save right whales, right now. Population No more than 420 surviving North Atlantic right whales, with only about 100 breeding females. The North Atlantic Right Whale Sighting Survey (NARWSS) is a NOAA Fisheries program which locates and records the seasonal distribution of North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) off the northeastern coast of the United States. It is well known that hunting dramatically reduced all baleen whale populations, yet reliable estimates of former whale abundances are elusive. The North-Atlantic right whale is one of the most endangered of all large whales, with a long history of human exploitation and no signs of recovery despite protection from whaling since the 1930s. Alarm over North Atlantic right whale's survival after recent deaths This article is more than 7 months old. She was a North Atlantic right whale, one of an estimated 411 left in the world. CLF in Action. Over the past two years, the Government of Canada has put in place measures to protect North Atlantic right whales. Once a common target for whalers, the population rebounded in recent decades only to face new and increasing threats. The majority of the North Atlantic right whale population lives along the U.S. eastern seaboard for much of the year, but effort to find them is typically limited to seasonal whale watches or researchers dedicated to locating seasonal habitats. Since June 7, 2017, elevated North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) mortalities have been documented, primarily in Canada and were declared an Unusual Mortality Event. By Elizabeth Pennisi Nov. 7, 2017 , 5:40 PM. North Atlantic right whales are found from Atlantic Canada to the southeastern United States and migrate along the length of the east coasts of the United States and Canada. Action Plans Government of Canada unveils its 2019 plan for protecting North Atlantic right whales. It is now mostly found along the Atlantic coast of North America, where it is threatened by entanglement in fishing gear and ship collisions. From: Fisheries and Oceans Canada News release. The whereabouts of most of the individuals in the population is unknown for much of the year. She was one of just 100 reproductively active females left. ... “Any loss of a right whale is detrimental to the population. The population of North Atlantic right whales in Atlantic Canadian waters was estimated in 2003 to number about 322 animals; however more recent estimates suggest the current population numbers about 350 animals. Based on coalescent models for mitochondrial DNA sequence variation, the genetic diversity of North Atlantic whales suggests population sizes of approximately 240,000 humpback, 360,000 fin, and 265,000 minke whales.