SAVING THE NORTH atlantic RIGHT WHALE

The North Atlantic right whale is a perfect example of how appearances can be deceiving: One of the bulkiest great whales, it’s also quite acrobatic, and has delighted observers with its antics for centuries. Once common along coastlines on either side of the Atlantic, the whale was nearly hunted to extinction by the 1750s, and today, its eastern population is believed to be functionally extinct. While no longer pursued for its oil, meat, and bones, the whale continues to be the victim of ship strikes and entanglement in fishing gear — both of which can result in protracted, painful deaths. Yet federal authorities have been slow in implementing meaningful measures to protect the whale. Recent restrictions on ship speeds and routes in whale habitat should help give the whale a break, but more must be done.

The Center has been instrumental in garnering protections for both the North Atlantic and the North Pacific right whale. Our 2005 petition and 2006 lawsuit resulted in the National Marine Fisheries Service recognizing each as a unique species, a critical step in securing safeguards. Since then, we’ve gone on to advocate for adequate habitat protection for both species. After the Center filed a scientific petition to expand critical habitat for the struggling North Atlantic right whale — and sued over the issue the next spring — in fall 2010, the Fisheries Service announced it would heed our call.