Recent data indicates a slowdown in the population decline of the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale. However, the species still faces multiple human-generated threats along the United States’ East Coast.
The North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium has reported an estimate of 364 North Atlantic right whales in 2021 and 356 in 2022. These estimates come with a margin of error, given the challenges of tracking every whale in the vast ocean. However, the population change from 2021 to 2022 appears relatively small compared to the steep decline in previous years. Scientists say the downward trend is showing signs of slowing.
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While a steadier population count brings a glimmer of optimism to conservation efforts, experts say that North Atlantic right whales continue to be threatened.
“The ‘flattening’ of the population estimate indicates that human activities are killing as many whales as are being born into the population,” Heather Pettis, a research scientist at the New England Aquarium and the executive administrator for the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium, said in a statement on the aquarium’s website.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), there are several threats to North Atlantic right whales, including entanglement with fishing gear, vessel strikes, the impacts of climate change, and the detrimental effects of ocean noise.
Straight Arrow News has reported thoroughly on concerns that offshore wind development is producing ocean noise that could affect the North Atlantic right whale’s migration.
Efforts to conserve the North Atlantic right whale persist. The Inflation Reduction Act has allocated $82 million to NOAA for the tracking and protection of these magnificent creatures, with funding received by the agency in September.
Tags: Atlantic Ocean, Climate Change, Fish, Inflation Reduction Act, Marine life, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Science, Whales
ONE OF THE RAREST WHALES IN THE WORLD IS OFF OUR EAST COAST. THE NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALE *IS* CRITICALLY ENDANGERED, BUT NEW DATA SHOWS ITS POPULATION IS STEADYING.
THERE WERE 364 OF THESE WHALES IN 2021, ACCORDING TO THE NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALE CONSORTIUM.
356 IS THEIR RECENT ESTIMATE FOR 2022.
KEEP IN MIND, THESE NUMBERS AREN’T EXACT–THERE’S A RANGE OF ERROR FOR EACH ESTIMATE. WE DON’T KNOW ABOUT EVERY WHALE DEATH THAT HAPPENS OUT IN THE OCEAN. AND ESTIMATES CAN CHANGE BASED ON WHEN SCIENTISTS COUNT THE CALVES.
BUT THE TAKEAWAY IS THAT THE POPULATION CHANGE BETWEEN 2021 AND 2022 APPEARS RELATIVELY SMALL.
AFTER YEARS OF STEEP POPULATION DECLINE, THAT DOWNWARD TREND IS SLOWING–EVEN LEVELING OUT. IT’S A BIT OF POSITIVE NEWS FOR CONSERVATIONISTS, BUT THE SPECIES STILL FACES THREATS DAILY.
HEATHER PETTIS, A RESEARCH SCIENTIST AT THE NEW ENGLAND AQUARIUM AND THE EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE CONSORTIUM SAID IN A STATEMENT:
“THE ‘FLATTENING’ OF THE POPULATION ESTIMATE INDICATES THAT HUMAN ACTIVITIES ARE KILLING AS MANY WHALES AS ARE BEING BORN INTO THE POPULATION.”
NOAA SAYS THREATS TO THESE WHALES INCLUDE ENTANGLEMENT WITH FISHING GEAR, VESSEL STRIKES, CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE EFFECTS OF OCEAN NOISE.
HERE AT S-A-N, WE’VE REPORTED THOROUGHLY ON CONCERNS THAT OFFSHORE WIND DEVELOPMENT IS PRODUCING OCEAN NOISE THAT COULD AFFECT THE NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALE’S MIGRATION.
EFFORTS TO CONSERVE THE SPECIES CONTINUE. THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT PROVIDED NOAA WITH $82 MILLION DOLLARS TO TRACK AND PROTECT NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALES. THE AGENCY RECEIVED THAT FUNDING IN SEPTEMBER.
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