Right whale population still declining

Although the North Atlantic right whale population has held mostly steady for the past few years, the species is still considered critically endangered. 

The North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium, a group of researchers, conservationists, and government agencies, announced earlier this month that the estimated number of right whales in 2022 was 356. 

The latest estimate is a slight decline from 2021, when the population was estimated at 364. (This is a recalculated increase of the 2021 population from 340 individuals to account for calf births.)

“While certainly more encouraging than a continued decline, the ‘flattening’ of the population estimate indicates that human activities are killing as many whales as are being born into the population, creating an untenable burden on the species,” said Heather Pettis, a research scientist in the Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life at the New England Aquarium, and the executive administrator of the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium. Pettis is quoted from a press release issued by the New England Aquarium. 

During the consortium’s meeting, scientists also shared findings about right whale deaths, entanglements, and vessel strikes. In 2023, there have been two detected right whale deaths so far: an orphaned newborn calf, and a 20-year-old male killed by a vessel strike. The release described the low number of deaths as “promising,” but the aquarium also pointed to research showing that roughly two-thirds of right whale deaths go undetected. 

Additionally, the increased number of human-caused injuries, including the two leading causes of injuries — fishing-gear entanglements and vessel strikes — delayed the calculation of the right whale population. A New England Aquarium analysis detected 32 human-caused injuries to right whales in 2023, including six fishing-gear entanglements with attached gear, 24 entanglement injuries without attached gear, and two vessel strikes. 

“Many of these injuries will likely lead to death, while other injured or sick whales may not be able to reproduce because of their condition,” Philip Hamilton, a senior scientist at New England Aquarium’s Anderson Cabot Center and the identification database curator for the consortium, said in the release. “This is an important piece of the right whale puzzle. We can’t just focus on [detected] bodies. We must also reduce all injuries that harm this species if they are to turn the corner.”

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries recently released an analysis of the right whale population, and concluded both vessel strikes and entanglement of the animals need to be “considerably reduced” for the species to avoid extinction.

Calving numbers also continue to lag compared with a decade ago. The release states that just 11 calves were born this past calving season, fewer than the previous two years, 18 in 2021 and 15 in 2022. 

According to the New England Aquarium, advancements in ropeless or “on-demand” fishing technology may be a way to mitigate some of the damage, although widespread implementation will require “significant financial support” for the manufacture, training, and adoption of this type of gear by the fishing industry. NOAA has also been working to develop vessel speed restrictions that will better protect right whales while “ensuring both the species and economy thrive.” 

NOAA received $82 million in September for the conservation and recovery of the endangered whales. 

Oceana, an ocean conservation nonprofit, released a statement amid these findings from the consortium. 

“Each year, it’s unfortunately the same story: North Atlantic right whales are swimming along the cliff of extinction,” Gib Brogan, Oceania’s U.S. campaign director, said. “We know what is killing these whales, and yet long-term solutions like stronger vessel speed rules are continually delayed. NOAA’s job is to prevent the extinction of critically endangered animals like North Atlantic right whales, yet this species is still not on a path to recovery, and desperately needs stronger safeguards from ship strikes and fishing-gear entanglements. We cannot let political showboating, Congressional roadblocks, and finger-pointing delay needed protections for North Atlantic right whales. NOAA must establish real protections for these whales before they swim off the cliff of extinction forever.”