STATEMENT: Slight uptick in North Atlantic right whale numbers announced after years of population decline

BOSTON – The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released its 2023 population estimates for the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale on Tuesday, October 22. The agency estimates that there are 370 of these whales – a slight increase in their numbers since the agency’s 2022 estimate, which pegged the population at 356. Just 70 of these whales are estimated to be of calf-bearing age, who are crucial to the whale’s long term population recovery. 

In the same report, NOAA notes that there is strong evidence that female right whales and young right whales have a reduced survival probability due to vessel strikes and fishing gear entanglements. 

Boat strikes and fishing gear entanglements are the leading causes of injury and death for Right whales. Thus far in 2024, four have died as a result of a boat strike. One of the whales killed was a mother that was still nursing a calf. The others were calves. Additionally, a young right whale died in February of this year as a result of entanglement. 

In response, Environment America’s oceans associate Mary Alex Beverly issued the following statement: 

“When it comes to right whales, the news typically ranges between bad and utterly depressing. So it’s nice to see the population estimate take a slight turn for the better. But even with this small bit of good news, we’re still losing more of these special creatures faster than their population can sustain long-term.

“It’s on us, right now, to save these whales. The Biden administration must finalize its proposed vessel speed rule to protect right whales from boat strikes. And while some fishermen are putting whale-safe ropeless gear in the water to prevent entanglements, more fishing operations need to do so if we are to keep the right whale swimming for generations to come.”