Historically depleted by commercial whaling, North Atlantic right whales continue to suffer injuries and death from ship strikes and entanglement in fishing gear. The western North Atlantic population is currently estimated at only 300 individuals. Continued ship strikes and gear entanglements could further deplete this species and undermine its recovery.  

Threats

• Ship collisions and entanglement in fishing gear are the most common human causes of serious injury and mortality of western North Atlantic right whales. Additional threats may include habitat degradation, contaminants, climate and ecosystem change, predators such as large sharks and killer whales, disturbance from whale watching, and noise from industrial activities. Click here for more information on threats to right whales.

Current Management Actions  

Ship Collisions: NMFS is proposing new regulations to reduce the likelihood of ship collisions with right whales. And other related actions include the following:

• In November 2006, NMFS established a set of recommended vessel routes in four locations to reduce the likelihood of ship collisions in key right whale habitats.
• In June 2006, NMFS published a Proposed Rule to Implement Speed Restrictions to Reduce the Threat of Ship Collisions with North Atlantic Right Whales (71 FR 36299). The proposed rule would implement speed restrictions of 10 knots or less for certain vessels (65 ft. or greater) at certain times and in certain areas along the U.S. Atlantic coast. The rule would also provide for temporary "dynamic management areas" to protect right whales during times and/or in areas where seasonal management measures are not in effect, and where whales occur unexpectedly.

Entanglement in Fishing Gear: The Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan was developed to reduce injuries and deaths of large whales due to incidental entanglement in fishing gear. For current information, visit the NMFS Northeast Region Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan Website.  

Regulatory Background

In 1973, northern right whales were listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) as endangered - in danger of extinction in all or a significant portion of their range. In the same year, the species was designated as depleted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). Federal law and Massachusetts state law prohibit approaching a right whale within 500 yards unless permitted by NMFS or unless one of the limited exemptions applies.

In December 1991, NMFS approved the Final Recovery Plan for the Northern Right Whale (including both the North Atlantic and North Pacific right whales). The Plan identified known and potential factors affecting the northern right whale and recommended actions to reduce or eliminate impacts to this species. Click here for the most current version of the Recovery Plan.  

More Information

• NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources Northern Right Whale Website
• Northeast Regional Office Protected Resources Division Website
• Northeast Region Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan Website
• Northeast Region Ship Strike Reduction Website
• Northeast US Right Whale Sighting Advisory System Website  

Key Documents

• North Atlantic Right Whale Recovery Plan (5/2005)
• Status Review: Right Whales in the North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans (11/2006)
• Proposed ESA Listing Rule to List North Atlantic Right Whales (71 FR 77704, 12/27/06)
• Critical Habitat Designation (59 FR 28805, 05/19/1993)
• North Atlantic Right Whale Stock Assessment Reports

National Issues