Endangered Right Whale Found Dead Off Martha's Vineyard

Juvenile Female's Death a Significant Blow to Critically Endangered Species

A critically endangered North Atlantic right whale was found dead off the coast of Martha's Vineyard, entangled in a rope.
The whale was a juvenile female, a significant loss for the species as fewer than 70 reproductively active females remain.
Entanglement in fishing gear and vessel strikes are the leading causes of death for right whales.
Efforts to protect the species, which numbers less than 360, have been controversial, with some industries pushing back against tighter regulations.
A necropsy is planned to determine the exact cause of death.