Right Whales, Right on Time!
BY TAYLOR IRWIN
Right whales are characterized by stocky black bodies with no dorsal fin and white patches covering their face known as collosities which are used to identify individuals.
Springtime in New England attracts millions of tourists to the beautiful coastlines and surrounding waters of the Northwestern Atlantic Ocean. Amongst these seasonal visitors are the North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) who migrate to the nutrient rich waters between Massachusetts and Canada every year to feed on plankton. They arrive around this time of year after traveling roughly 1000 miles from the coastal waters of Georgia and Northern Florida where they spend their winter breeding and calving.
Like many other species or large whales, North Atlantic right whales were targeted during the whaling era for their oil and baleen (keratin structures in the mouth in place of teeth which allow whales to filter feed). Today, roughly 350-400 individuals remain in the North Atlantic population. This species was hunted near the brink of extinction because they were the “right” whale to hunt; they move slowly, close to the coast and they float when dead, making them very easy to capture and bring ashore.
Unsurprisingly, North Atlantic right whales are currently listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List with the population decreasing. Although they have been protected against whaling since the 1930s by the first International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, other human impacts are causing the population to continue diminishing.
With fishing gear entanglements the leading cause of death, shipping strikes follow closely behind in the right whales’ mortality rates. In Maine, regulations are set to be introduced this year aiming to reduce right whale entanglements in lobster and crab pots. The proposed regulations are receiving backlash from fishermen claiming it will greatly impact their ability to fish efficiently. On the other hand, conservation groups are worried that these regulations are not enough to save North Atlantic right whales from extinction.
Researchers at NOAA declared an ongoing Unusual Mortality Event (UME) occurring since 2017 among the North Atlantic right whales. 46 individuals have been recorded dead (32 dead, 14 seriously injured) in the last four years alone. This is an extremely significant number, representing more than 10% of the entire population. It is thought that in order to increase and stabilize the population, they must produce at least two dozen calves per year which has proven difficult with only approximately 100 breeding females remaining.
However, it’s not all doom and gloom for these whales. It has been reported that the births amongst the right whales this year (2021) is the highest since 2015. 17 mom and calf pairs were spotted during aerial surveys between December and March in the calving grounds between Florida and North Carolina. After the devastating 2018 season with zero new calves, there appears to be an upward trend in new births every year since which is a hopeful indication that the population is healthy.
If you are interested in learning more about where right whales are spotted in New England, NOAA offers an interactive map of recent sightings, both acoustic and visual. If you ever get the chance to see a North Atlantic right whale in the wild (lucky you!), remember to keep a distance of at least 500 yards (~450 meters) and report sightings to the NOAA right whale sighting hotline: 866-755-6622. You can also join the Defenders of Wildlife or Whale and Dolphin Conservation urging members of congress to cosponsor the SAVE Right Whales Act. This act, if passed, would provide $5 million every year for 10 years to fund conservation efforts to protect North Atlantic right whales.
Illustrations are done by Lore Obrejea, you can find more of her incredible artwork on her Instagram @loreillustration, Facebook loredanaillustration and Etsy page Loreillustration.
