Two Endangered North Atlantic Right Whales Found Entangled in Fishing Gear Off Massachusetts

One juvenile male is likely to die, while an adult female faces sublethal injuries, highlighting the ongoing threats to the critically endangered species.

The whales, a juvenile male (#5110) and a 13-year-old female (#4120), were spotted entangled in fishing gear 50 miles southeast of Nantucket during a Dec. 9 aerial survey.
NOAA biologists report that the juvenile male is seriously injured and likely to die, while the adult female’s injuries are not considered fatal but may impact her ability to reproduce.
North Atlantic right whales are critically endangered, with only about 370 individuals remaining, including 70 reproductively active females.
Entanglement in fishing gear and vessel strikes are the leading causes of injury and death for the species, which has seen a 25% population decline between 2010 and 2020.
Environmental advocates are urging the adoption of ropeless fishing gear and stronger protections to prevent further harm to the species, which migrates annually along the U.S. East Coast.