Rope found tied around dead North Atlantic right whale's tail was from Maine, NOAA says
The North Atlantic right whale species is "approaching extinction," NOAA says, with around 360 remaining, including less than 70 reproductively active females.
Right whale calves spotted off the Florida coast
NOAA Fisheries reports there are only around 360 North Atlantic right whales left in existence. Two new calves were recently spotted off the Florida coast. (Video from January 2024)
NOAA Fisheries announced that they determined that the rope found wrapped around the tail of a North Atlantic right whale that washed up on a Martha’s Vineyard beach originated from Maine.
NOAA Fisheries said it was notified in January that a dead female right whale was located near Joseph Sylvia State Beach in Edgartown, Massachusetts.
RIGHT WHALE FOUND DEAD NEAR MARTHA'S VINEYARD BEACH AS SPECIES ‘APPROACHES EXTINCTION’
Deceased female North Atlantic right whale. Credit: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute/Michael Moore. Taken under NOAA Permit # 24359.
(NOAA)
Scientists at the New England Aquarium’s Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life reviewed images of the dead North Atlantic right whale and identified it as whale #5120 based on clear matching features.
NOAA said the dead right whale, the only known calf of Squilla (#3720), was born during the 2021 calving season.
Some of the rope was collected and turned over to NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement, which was then examined.
ENDANGERED RIGHT WHALE CALF STILL ALIVE DESPITE SEVERE INJURIES FROM BOAT STRIKE
Necropsy (animal autopsy) of North Atlantic right whale #5120. Credit: NOAA Fisheries. NOAA Fisheries Permit #24539
(NOAA)
A necropsy was also completed on whale #5120 on Feb. 1, and experts confirmed a "chronic entanglement, with rope deeply embedded in the tail, and thin body condition."
The necropsy didn’t show any signs of blunt force trauma.
ENDANGERED RIGHT WHALE CALVES SPOTTED OFF FLORIDA COAST
One section of rope with purple zip tie nub that was entangled on North Atlantic right whale #5120. Credit: NOAA Fisheries
(NOAA / NOAA)
On Wednesday, NOAA said they determined where the rope came from after investigating the gear found tied around the whale’s tail.
"Based upon our analysis of the gear, including the purple markings on the rope recovered from North Atlantic right whale #5120, NOAA Fisheries has concluded that the rope is consistent with the rope used in Maine state water trap/pot buoy lines," NOAA said.
All of the rope that was examined laid out in a parking lot. Credit: NOAA Fisheries
(NOAA / NOAA)
NOAA said that as of Wednesday, the full necropsy results are still pending and the NOAA Office of Law Enforcement investigation is still open.
North Atlantic right whales approaching extinction
North Atlantic right whale critical habitat map
(NOAA)
The North Atlantic right whale species is "approaching extinction," NOAA says, with around 360 remaining, including less than 70 reproductively active females.
An Unusual Mortality Event for the North Atlantic right whale has been ongoing since 2017, and this whale is the 37th documented death. However, research shows that only about one-third of right whale deaths are documented.
The main threats to the North Atlantic right whale are entanglements in fishing gear and vessel strikes. NOAA said climate change is also affecting "every aspect of their survival."