Tag: Right Whales

North Atlantic right whale #2503 (Boomerang) and her fifth calf swimming approximately 9 miles east of the St. Mary’s River entrance in Florida. Credit: Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute, taken under NOAA permit #26919. Aerial survey funded by NOAA Fisheries and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

North Atlantic Right Whale Calving Season 2026

1/10/2026 - By fisheries.noaa.gov, fisheries.noaa.gov. The right whale calving season begins in mid-November and runs through mid-April. Researchers have identified 15 calves so far this calving season. Every single female North Atlantic right whale and calf are vital to this endangered species’ recovery. Since 2017, the whales have been experiencing an Unusual Mortality Event, which… SEE MORE

Badseed, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Draft Plan to Develop On-Demand Fishing

8/15/2022 - By NOAA. Today, NOAA Fisheries is releasing its draft Ropeless Roadmap: A Strategy to Develop On-Demand Fishing for public input. The report describes the current state of on-demand, or “ropeless,” fishing and outlines a path for increasing adoption of this technology in commercial fisheries in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean. The Roadmap… SEE MORE

Extended and New Slow Zones to Protect Right Whales

4/14/2021 - NOAA Fisheries announces the extension of two Slow Zones set to expire south of Nantucket and establishes another Slow Zone southeast of Chatham, MA. On April 9, 2021 several aggregations of right whales were detected south of Nantucket, MA by the NOAA North Atlantic Right Whale Sighting Survey and southeast of… SEE MORE

New Slow Zone East of Boston to Protect Right Whales

Coastal News

3/31/2021 - NOAA Fisheries announces a new voluntary right whale Slow Zone. On March 26, 2021, the Stellwagen Slocum Glider acoustically detected the presence of right whales. The whale detections were observed east of Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Slow Zone is in effect through April 10, 2021. Mariners are requested to route around this area or transit through it at… SEE MORE

New Slow Zone East of Boston to Protect Right Whales

1/27/2021 - NOAA Fisheries announces a new Slow Zone (voluntary vessel speed restriction) to protect right whales. On January 25, 2021, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution's Stellwagen Bank Slocum buoy acoustically detected the presence of right whales 35nm East of Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Slow Zone is in effect through February 9, 2021. Mariners,… SEE MORE

Vessel Slow Speed Zone Southeast of Nantucket to Protect Right Whales

12/16/2020 - In Effect Through December 29 NOAA Fisheries is implementing a Slow Zone (voluntary vessel speed restriction zone) southeast of Nantucket, Massachusetts. On December 14, 2020 the New England Aquarium aerial survey team noted presence of right whales in this area triggering a slow zone. Mariners, please go around this area or go… SEE MORE

https://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov

Slow Speed Zone SE of NYC to Protect Right Whales

11/18/2020 - In Effect Through December 2 NOAA Fisheries is triggering a Slow Zone (voluntary vessel speed restriction zone), southeast of New York City. This Slow Zone was triggered on November 17, 2020, when the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute acoustic monitoring buoy detected right whales in the New York Bight, New York. Mariners, please go around this… SEE MORE

Endangered North Atlantic right whales are dying at an alarming rate, with heavy losses in Canadian waters.

Why Whales Are Worrying Lobstermen in Maine

10/2/2019 - By John Kamp. Along the rocky coast of Maine, lobstermen are worried new federal requirements to clear fishing lines from the path of endangered whales will damage their iconic New England industry. A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration agency is trying to save North Atlantic right whales that are dying… SEE MORE