North Atlantic right whales sighted!!!

Posted on April 11, 2018

Researchers from HDR Inc. were conducting an aerial survey as part of the U.S. Navy's marine species monitoring program on Monday April 9 when they observed a group of 5 endangered North Atlantic right whales near the shelf break approximately 70 miles northeast of Virginia Beach.  The animals were part of a multi-species group including 5 humpback whales, 3 fins whales, and a minke whale, all feeding near the surface.  The sighting was immediately reported through NOAA's North Atlantic Right Whale Sighting Advisory System (SAS) and a new temporary Dynamic Management Area (DMA) was established to warn mariners of the presence of these highly endandered whales - only approximately 450 individuals remain in the population. At least 17 North Atlantic right whales are confirmed to have died in 2017, representing about 4% of their total population.  Vessel strikes and entanglement in fishing gear represent the primary cause of mortality, so this sighting and the subsequent DMA represent a small but significant victory.