Skip to Content

An Endangered Right Whale’s Fatal Collision with a Ship

Published:

Author:
Author Cayla de Souza, M.Sc. Ocean Sciences & Marine Biology

Right whale and calf
Aerial view over a Southern Right Whale and her calf along the overberg coast close to Hermanus in South Africa

Introduction

Right whale tail, endangered species, Patagonia, Argentina
Right whale tail, endangered species, Patagonia, Argentina. Image by FOTO4440 via Depositphotos

The death of an endangered North Atlantic right whale is believed to be due to a ship strike. The whale was found dead just off the coast of Virginia last month. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Division (NOAA) has announced that the injuries sustained are consistent with a vessel strike.

The North Atlantic Right Whale

Right whale
Right whale, Patagonia, Argentina. Image by Foto4440 via Depositphoto

The whale was identified as an adult female North Atlantic Right Whale (Eubalaena glacialis), one of the world’s most critically endangered marine mammals. North Atlantic right whales are identified by their large heads, which comprise one-third of their body length.

Challenges to Survival

Whale tail
Whale tail in Patagonia Image by FOTO4440 via Depositphotos

This whale species and many other large marine animals are threatened by entanglements in fishing gear, vessel strikes, and climate change. This unfortunate death is a setback to conservation efforts since the population is estimated to be only 356 individuals. According to NOAA, the dead whale had a calf that was not likely to survive without its mother.

Ship strikes

Ship strike
Cargo container ship. Image by ilfede via Depositphotos

Although the whaling era is over and some populations of whales have had successful comebacks, human continue to threaten whales. Critically endangered whales, such as the North Atlantic right whale, are most at risk because of their large size. Large marine mammals are more susceptible to ship strikes and entanglements with fishing gear. The right whale is the slowest swimming whale, typically moving at only 6 miles per hour, which makes it particularly susceptible to ship strikes.

The Whale Carcass

Dead whale
Dead whale. Image by Devon via Depositphotos

The whale’s carcass was floating about 50 miles offshore east of Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia. Sadly, her calf was not seen in the vicinity of the carcass. The carcass was towed towards the shore for a necropsy.

Reproductive female Right Whale

Whale Tail
whale (Eubalaena Australis). Image by FOTO4440 via Depositphotos

The loss of a reproductive female, especially one with a dependent calf, is particularly detrimental to the struggling population. Although most whale species have recovered, the right whale’s population has fallen in recent years. From 2010 to 2020, the population was reduced by 25%.

Ship Speed

Right whale and calf
Aerial view over a Southern Right Whale and her calf along the overberg coast close to Hermanus in South Africa

This incident is not isolated; there have been multiple other carcasses found that have been likely killed due to ship strikes. Environmentalists are insisting that the regulations on ship speed should be revisited.

Conclusion: Endangered Right Whale

Aerial view over a Southern Right Whale and her calf along the overberg coast close to Hermanus in South Africa.
Aerial view over a Southern Right Whale and her calf along the overberg coast close to Hermanus in South Africa. Image by dewald@dewaldkirsten via Depositphotos

The death of this whale off the coast of Virginia illuminates the threats to the population. Enhanced protective measures are urgently needed to ensure their presence for future generations.

You might also enjoy:

Latest posts by Cayla de Souza, M.Sc. Ocean Sciences & Marine Biology (see all)