Decline of rare right whale appears to be slowing, but scientists say big threats remain
1 year, 5 months ago

Decline of rare right whale appears to be slowing, but scientists say big threats remain

Associated Press  

PORTLAND, Maine — The decline of one of the rarest whales in the world appears to be slowing, but scientists warn the giant mammals still face existential threats from warming oceans, ship collisions and entanglement in fishing gear. This suggests the population is potentially levelling off, as equal numbers of whales could be entering the population as are being killed, the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium said Monday. Dave Cousens, a past president of the Maine Lobstermen’s Association, has called the proposed rules “nonsensical.” Conservationists want new rules to protect the whales. The right whale consortium said sublethal injuries to whales from collisions and fishing gear are also a major concern for the remaining population.

Population Whales Fishing Gear Right Whale Threats Remain  collisions  right  whale  say  2021  scientists  decline  fishing  ocean  proposed  speed  big  consortium  rare  population  whales  slowing  threats  remain

History of this topic

Whales can live way longer than scientists had thought, new research shows
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Whales can live way longer than scientists had thought, new research shows

The Hindu  

Southern right whales have lifespans that reach well past 100 years, and 10% may live past 130 years, according to our new research published in the journal Science Advances. Twenty-five years ago, scientists working with Indigenous whale hunters in the Arctic showed that bowhead whales could live up to and even over 200 years. Scientists currently assume they live about …

How ‘scientist’ whales are helping uncover the secrets of climate change
3 months ago

How ‘scientist’ whales are helping uncover the secrets of climate change

Al Jazeera  

Southern right whales in South Africa are bouncing back. Hermanus, which is an important calving ground for southern right whales, and a good place to spot humpback and Bryde’s whales too, markets itself as the “land-based whale watching capital of the world”. And the southern right whale isn’t guaranteed a happy ending, stresses Vermeulen: “The whales are still only at …

Some whales live more than 100 years, smashing previous life expectancy estimates: Report
3 months ago

Some whales live more than 100 years, smashing previous life expectancy estimates: Report

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Some whales are more than 100 years old, smashing previously estimated …

New study finds ship collisions are top killer for whales
3 months, 3 weeks ago

New study finds ship collisions are top killer for whales

Salon  

All the mountains of stuff that we ship across the oceans comes at a price: whale blood. The scientists mapped and quantified movement for four globally distributed large whale species — the blue, fin, humpback and sperm whales — based on 435,000 locations and then related the data to global shipping activity. Climate change is likely to exacerbate the problem, …

Critically endangered whale species rebounds slightly
5 months ago

Critically endangered whale species rebounds slightly

Raw Story  

One of the world's rarest whale species has seen a slight population rebound, according to data released Tuesday, though experts warn it remains at serious risk of extinction. The number of North Atlantic right whales rose to 373 in 2023, up four percent from a recent low of 358 individuals in 2020, according to the latest estimates by scientists at …

One of the rarest species of whale in the world sees population increase
5 months ago

One of the rarest species of whale in the world sees population increase

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The researchers are members of the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium, which is a longstanding collaboration between scientists, conservationists, …

Large number of whale sightings off New England, including dozens of endangered sei whales
9 months, 2 weeks ago

Large number of whale sightings off New England, including dozens of endangered sei whales

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A large number of whales …

Another endangered right whale dies after a collision with a ship off the East Coast
11 months, 3 weeks ago

Another endangered right whale dies after a collision with a ship off the East Coast

Associated Press  

An increasingly deadly year for the endangered North Atlantic right whale got worse this week when another member of the species was killed in a collision with a ship, federal authorities said Thursday. The most recent right whale to die was found floating 50 miles offshore east of Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia Beach, Virginia, last Saturday, the …

Another endangered right whale dies after a collision with a ship off the East Coast
11 months, 3 weeks ago

Another endangered right whale dies after a collision with a ship off the East Coast

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy An increasingly deadly year for …

Rare whale found dead off Massachusetts may have been entangled, authorities say
1 year, 1 month ago

Rare whale found dead off Massachusetts may have been entangled, authorities say

Associated Press  

A rare whale found dead off Massachusetts shows potential evidence of injury from entanglement in fishing gear, which is one of the most pressing threats to the vanishing species, federal authorities said. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said it was notified about the dead female North Atlantic right whale on Sunday off Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. “Due to the animal’s …

Decline of rare right whale appears to be slowing, but scientists say big threats remain
1 year, 5 months ago

Decline of rare right whale appears to be slowing, but scientists say big threats remain

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ …

Vanishing whale’s decline worse than previously thought, feds say
1 year, 8 months ago

Vanishing whale’s decline worse than previously thought, feds say

Associated Press  

PORTLAND, Maine — A review of the status of a vanishing species of whale found that the animal’s population is in worse shape than previously thought, federal ocean regulators said Monday. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released new data that 114 of the whales have been documented as dead, seriously injured or sub-lethally injured or sick since the start …

Vanishing whale’s decline worse than previously thought, feds say
1 year, 8 months ago

Vanishing whale’s decline worse than previously thought, feds say

LA Times  

The North Atlantic right whale numbers less than 350, and it has been declining in population for several years. A review of the status of a vanishing species of whale found that the animal’s population is in worse shape than previously thought, federal ocean regulators said Monday. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released new data that 114 of the …

Feds: Vanishing right whale must remain on endangered list
2 years, 3 months ago

Feds: Vanishing right whale must remain on endangered list

Associated Press  

PORTLAND, Maine — The fading North Atlantic right whale will remain protected under the Endangered Species Act, and the species requires a series of protective steps to stave off extinction, federal authorities said Tuesday. “There is also uncertainty regarding the effect of long-term sublethal entanglements, emerging environmental stressors including climate change, and the compounding effects of multiple continuous stressors that …

Endangered whale’s decline slows, but population falls again
2 years, 5 months ago

Endangered whale’s decline slows, but population falls again

Associated Press  

PORTLAND, Maine — The decline of an endangered species of whale slowed last year, as it lost about 2% of its population, but scientists warn the animal still faces existential threats and is losing breeding females too fast. The North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium, a group of scientists, government officials and industry members, said Monday that the population fell to …

Gray whale numbers along North America’s west coast down
2 years, 5 months ago

Gray whale numbers along North America’s west coast down

The Hindu  

The number of gray whales migrating along the Pacific Coast of North America has steadily declined by nearly 40% from a 2016 peak, and the population produced its fewest calves on record this year, according to U.S. research released on Friday. The 38% drop from the population's 2016 high of 27,000 whales to 16,650 this year resembles previous fluctuations but …

Gray whales continue to wash up dead and emaciated, but causes remain elusive
2 years, 5 months ago

Gray whales continue to wash up dead and emaciated, but causes remain elusive

LA Times  

When gray whales began washing up dead in large numbers in 2019, many scientists hoped it was just a short-term phenomenon, and that the leviathans would quickly recover and rebound. But three years later, the die-off continues for gray whales living and migrating along North America’s Pacific coast. “We have observed the population changing over time, and we want to …

Ships must slow down more often to save whales, federal government says
2 years, 8 months ago

Ships must slow down more often to save whales, federal government says

LA Times  

An endangered North Atlantic right whale entangled in fishing rope is near a newborn calf on Dec. 2, 2021, in waters near Cumberland Island, Ga. “Changes to the existing vessel speed regulation are essential to stabilize the ongoing right whale population decline and prevent the species’ extinction,” state the proposed rules, slated to be published in the federal register. “The …

Weak protection for vanishing whale violates law, judge says
2 years, 8 months ago

Weak protection for vanishing whale violates law, judge says

Associated Press  

PORTLAND, Maine — The federal government hasn’t done enough to protect a rare species of whale from lethal entanglement in lobster fishing gear, and new rules are needed to protect the species from extinction, a judge has ruled. The government has violated both the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act by failing to protect the North Atlantic …

Whale entanglements drop, but remain major threat, feds say
2 years, 9 months ago

Whale entanglements drop, but remain major threat, feds say

Associated Press  

PORTLAND, Maine — The number of whales entangled in fishing gear has declined recently, but the entanglements remain a critical threat to rare species, the federal government said in a report released Tuesday. Entanglement in fishing gear is one of the two biggest threats to declining species of whales, particularly North Atlantic right whales, which number less than 340 in …

World’s whales facing increasing threats along migration ‘superhighways’
3 years, 1 month ago

World’s whales facing increasing threats along migration ‘superhighways’

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The world’s whales are facing increasing threats in their key habitats and the “blue corridors” …

Endangered whale population sinks close to 20-year low
3 years, 5 months ago

Endangered whale population sinks close to 20-year low

Associated Press  

PORTLAND, Maine — A type of whale that is one of the rarest marine mammals in the world lost nearly 10% of its population last year, a group of scientists and ocean life advocates said on Monday. The North Atlantic right whale numbered only 366 in 2019, and its population fell to 336 in 2020, the North Atlantic Right Whale …

Population of North Atlantic right whales plummets due to climate crisis
3 years, 6 months ago

Population of North Atlantic right whales plummets due to climate crisis

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy North Atlantic right whales …

Speeding ships killing endangered North Atlantic right whales
3 years, 8 months ago

Speeding ships killing endangered North Atlantic right whales

Live Mint  

Most vessels are exceeding speed limits in areas designated to protect critically endangered North Atlantic right whales, of which only around 360 remain, according to a report released earlier this week. Collisions with vessels are one of two leading causes of injury and death for North Atlantic right whales, with research showing that slowing vessel speeds to 10 knots reduces …

Humans causing North Atlantic right whales to shrink, study says
3 years, 9 months ago

Humans causing North Atlantic right whales to shrink, study says

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The enormous impact of humans on the world’s oceans – from commercial fishing to the …

Shrinking giants: North Atlantic right whales getting tinier
3 years, 9 months ago

Shrinking giants: North Atlantic right whales getting tinier

The Hindu  

One of the giants of the deep is shrinking before our eyes, a new study says. The younger generation of critically endangered North Atlantic right whales are on average about three feet shorter than whales were 20 years ago, drone and aircraft data show in a study in Thursday’s journal Current Biology. “This isn’t about ‘short’ right whales, it’s about …

Right Whales Are Shrinking In Numbers— New Study Shows They're Also Shrinking In Size
3 years, 9 months ago

Right Whales Are Shrinking In Numbers— New Study Shows They're Also Shrinking In Size

NPR  

Right Whales Are Shrinking In Numbers— New Study Shows They're Also Shrinking In Size North Atlantic right whales now grow about three feet shorter than they did 40 years ago. EVE ZUCKOFF, BYLINE: To find out how long and fat a North Atlantic right whale is without being overly invasive, scientists motor a few miles into Cape Cod Bay and …

Whales face new and emerging threats
3 years, 10 months ago

Whales face new and emerging threats

Salon  

Humans and whales have a complex relationship. For example, recent research suggests we're undercounting the deaths of critically endangered North Atlantic right whales by 64% — and that's one of the world's most heavily monitored whale species, which all too often die after being struck by shipping vessels. Most recently, necropsies revealed that at least two gray whales found deadnear …

Undoing Trump's threat to endangered North American right whales
4 years ago

Undoing Trump's threat to endangered North American right whales

Raw Story  

Trump's National Marine Fisheries Service was regulating right whales toward extinction as the whales literally starved to death while entangled in fishing gear. At the height of the lobster season, right whales have to navigate through more than 900,000 ropes that connect surface buoys to traps on the seafloor. In Trump's last days in office, NOAA published a draft opinion …

Rules planned to save right whales loom over lobster fishers
4 years, 1 month ago

Rules planned to save right whales loom over lobster fishers

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy America s lobster fishery is …

Endangered baby right whale found dead on Florida beach
4 years, 1 month ago

Endangered baby right whale found dead on Florida beach

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The plight of endangered right …

Gray whale population drops by quarter off U.S. West Coast
4 years, 2 months ago

Gray whale population drops by quarter off U.S. West Coast

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Researchers say the population of …

Only 366 North Atlantic right whales remain: NOAA
4 years, 5 months ago

Only 366 North Atlantic right whales remain: NOAA

The Hindu  

The population of North Atlantic right whales, an endangered species that has been the focus of conservation efforts for decades, has dipped to less than 370, officials said. The whale numbers at only 366, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Monday in an estimate that reflects the population as of January 2019. A NOAA team is working on a …

Whales face more fatal ship collisions as waters warm
5 years ago

Whales face more fatal ship collisions as waters warm

Associated Press  

PORTLAND, Maine — Climate change is imperiling the world’s largest animals by increasing the likelihood of fatal collisions between whales and big ships that ply the same waters. The phenomenon already has increased ship strikes involving rare North Atlantic right whales on the East Coast and giant blue whales on the West Coast, researchers say. Conservationists, scientists and animals lovers …

Extinction fears as six rare North Atlantic right whales die in space of a month
5 years, 8 months ago

Extinction fears as six rare North Atlantic right whales die in space of a month

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Six North Atlantic right whales have died in the past month, leading scientists to sound …

Protection of rare whale, fishing rules on agenda this week
5 years, 11 months ago

Protection of rare whale, fishing rules on agenda this week

Associated Press  

A federal government group is about to begin several days of meetings to try to protect the rare North Atlantic right whale, and its work could result in new rules for harvesters of some of the country’s most popular seafood. Members of the U.S. lobster fishing industry are watching this week’s deliberation’s closely because any new rules could impact their …

Baby whale sighting sparks hope for the future of an endangered species
5 years, 11 months ago

Baby whale sighting sparks hope for the future of an endangered species

CNN  

CNN — North Atlantic right whale calves are being spotted again this year, a small ray of light for one of the world’s most endangered large whale species. Two calves were spotted by the Center for Coastal Studies’ aerial survey team in New England’s Cape Cod Bay, bringing the number seen there to three for 2019, the center said last …

Iceland announces plan to kill over 2,000 whales within next five years
6 years, 1 month ago

Iceland announces plan to kill over 2,000 whales within next five years

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “The Icelandic government’s decision to continue to kill whales – amongst the most peaceful and intelligent beings on the …

North Atlantic right whales may be on edge of extinction. There’s been zero births this year
7 years ago

North Atlantic right whales may be on edge of extinction. There’s been zero births this year

CNN  

CNN — The outlook for the North Atlantic right whale was already grim – they’re on the endangered species list, after all. And last year the number of dead right whales washing up on Atlantic beaches surged to 17, Clay George, a senior wildlife biologist with Georgia’s Department of Natural Resources, wrote last month in a department newsletter. The reasons …

Whaling may have all-but ended, but threats to the world’s whales remain
7 years, 6 months ago

Whaling may have all-but ended, but threats to the world’s whales remain

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “Even a couple of hundred individuals hunted a year …

Discover Related