Massachusetts-Based Consortium Says Right Whale Population Growing

There appear to be more North Atlantic right whales than during the last head count four years ago.

The North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium shared the good news during its recent annual meeting in Providence, Rhode Island.

The Nantucket Current reports, "The newly released estimate pegs the global population of North Atlantic right whales at 372 individuals, including 12 calves born in 2023, in what the consortium described as a 'heartening' increase since the population dipped to 358 four years ago."

Get our free mobile app

Heather Pettis, a research scientist at the Anderson Cabot Center and the chair of the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium, told the paper, "While we still have a great deal of work to do to ensure that this species not only recovers but thrives, it feels really good to be able to share a little bit of positive news."

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says the Atlantic Northern Right Whale "is one of the world's most endangered large whale species." North Atlantic right whales have been listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act since 1970.

NOAA says, "North Atlantic right whales face many threats, including entanglement in fishing gear, vessel strikes, climate change - which may alter their migratory patterns and feeding areas - and the impact of ocean noise on their ability to communicate, find food, and navigate."

READ MORE: Whale Stranded in Westport

The Nantucket Current reports, "The Consortium stated that efforts to protect North Atlantic right whales include advances in ropeless or 'on-demand' fishing technology." But, "widespread implementation will require significant financial support to escalate the manufacturing of the gear and provide training and support for the fishing industry to adopt gear use."