Right Whales

The population of North Atlantic right whales, which live off the U.S. East Coast, fell by about 25% from 2010 to 2020 and was down to only about 364 whales as of 2021. Now the whales are at around 356 in total, according to a group of scientists, industry members and government officials who study them.

There was believed to be fewer than 350 right whales. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released new data that 114 of the whales have been documented as dead, seriously injured or sub-lethally injured or sick since the start of the mortality event.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released a review of the whale's status on Tuesday that said the whale "is continuing to decline and has not met many of the recovery criteria outlined" in its recovery plan.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced the new proposed rules, which are designed to protect the last remaining North Atlantic right whales, last month.

The right whale has been on the endangered species list since 1970. There are fewer than 350 left.

The 39-year-old mom has at least four grand-offspring — making her a pillar of the surviving right whale population, which has shrunk down to just 336.

The North Atlantic right whale is one of the world's most endangered large whales, with fewer than 400 remaining, according to NOAA Fisheres.

North Atlantic right whales have been listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act since 1970.