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Right Whales

In addition to manatee recovery efforts, FWC is involved in recovery efforts for other endangered marine mammals, including the North Atlantic right whale, Eubalaena glacialis, the most endangered of the world’s large whales.

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In addition to manatee recovery efforts, FWC is involved in recovery efforts for other endangered marine mammals, including the North Atlantic right whale, Eubalaena glacialis, the most endangered of the world’s large whales. Most of this work is supported through grant funding provided by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA)-Fisheries; however, portions of some salaries are provided by the Trust Fund.  Efforts to prevent human-caused mortality in this species have been heightened.  Even one death per year has a significant effect on the population, which is estimated to number less than 400 individuals.  In 1994, NOAA-Fisheries designated portions of Florida and Georgia coastal waters as critical habitat for the right whale. This region is the only known calving ground of the North Atlantic right whale.  FWC is dedicated to assisting NOAA-Fisheries in its efforts to protect the North Atlantic right whale as outlined in the 2004 revision of the North Atlantic Right Whale Recovery Plan.
 
Federal efforts to protect right whales in the Florida-Georgia critical habitat area have resulted in the formation of the Southeast U.S. Right Whale Recovery Plan Implementation Team (SEIT), a multi-agency and citizen advisory group.  The team develops management and research recommendations and assists in implementing the recovery plan.  FWC has been a member of the SEIT since its 1993 inception and FWRI staffers have chaired the team for the past five years.
 
Since 1987, FWRI has conducted numerous aerial surveys to monitor seasonal presence of right whales, determine the number of calves born, and mitigate ship-whale collisions.  Over the past several years, FWRI has worked closely with federal, state, and NGO partners to compile years of calving ground aerial-survey data into GIS format.  Analyses of these spatial data will help scientists better define right whale distribution patterns in the southeast calving grounds in relation to environmental factors and human activities.

In an attempt to prevent ship strikes, which can kill or injure right whales, NOAA and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) implemented the Mandatory Ship Reporting Systems (MSRS) in July 1999.  During the November 15 to April 16 calving season, at point of entry to the region, ships’ captains are required to report vessel position, speed, and destination.  Once the MSRS server receives a report, a message providing information about recent right whale locations and advisories is relayed to the ship.  Additionally, FWRI aerial survey observers report whale sightings into the MSRS as well as to the U.S. Navy for subsequent broadcast to mariners as part of an Early Warning System (EWS) aimed at protecting right whales from vessel collisions.  As part of the EWS, FWRI coordinates a pager-alert network that notifies key agencies, ports, and mariners when and where right whales have been sighted.  This timely information allows ships to take evasive action to avoid whales.
 
Ship traffic data generated from MSRS also are integrated into GIS to help characterize ship traffic patterns in right whale critical habitats.  Together, data on whale distributions, habitat variables, and vessel traffic provide a framework for quantifying the risk of vessel collisions and the effectiveness of proposed management plans.

To view highlights from the 2006–2007 fiscal year, download
Right Whales 2006–2007 Highlights (PDF File—298 KB)

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