Rare Sighting: Critically Endangered Whale Species and Newborn Spotted off Florida's East Coast

Photo by Florida Fish and Wildlife (FWCResearch) | Instagram

The 2024 North Atlantic right whale calving season is off to a promising start, as the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has verified a sighting of these critically endangered whales and a newborn calf off Florida’s east coast.

According to a report shared by FWC on December 10, 2024, aerial surveys captured images of Catalog #2430, also known as 'Minus One,' and her newborn calf swimming off the coast of Amelia Island on December 9, 2024. This sighting marks an exciting milestone for the winter season, as it's the first confirmed right whale spotting in Sunshine State waters this year.

Catalog #2430, a 31-year-old female, has already had three previous calves, last giving birth during the 2021 calving season. Minus One's return to Florida's coastline with a new calf is an encouraging sign for the species' population. Right whale calving areas along the southeastern U.S. coast are crucial to the survival of this critically endangered species, and sightings such as this offer a glimmer of hope for their continued recovery.

In addition to the sighting of Minus One, a pair of adult females were seen near Mayport, further suggesting the presence of right whales in Florida waters. Four other potential mothers have also been spotted in the Southeast U.S., including newcomer Catalog #3503, known as 'Caterpillar.'

The return of Catalog #2413, 'Nauset,' and her calf re-sighted just outside the St. Marys River Entrance near the Florida/Georgia line also adds to the growing list of mothers and their calves known to frequent the region.

Photo by Florida Fish and Wildlife (FWCResearch) | Instagram

Despite these recent sightings, right whale sightings in Florida have been relatively sparse, especially in the 2024 winter season — though this is not unusual, as these whales tend to maintain a low profile and can be difficult to spot, despite their large size. Right whales are known to spend considerable time resting and nursing near the surface of the water in coastal areas, where they are vulnerable to vessel strikes, making their presence a major concern for marine conservationists.
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Just how rare and endangered is this species, and what threats do they face?

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the North Atlantic right whale is one of the world's most endangered large whale species, with approximately 370 or fewer individual whales remaining today, only 70 of which are reproductively active females.

The annual population abundance and death estimates displayed in this infographic were calculated using the model described in Linden 2024. The documented birth data displayed in this infographic reflect the number of mother-calf pairs that were visually sighted in the Southeast U.S. through the most recent calving season. Credit: NOAA Fisheries

The NOAA report that the species have been experiencing an ongoing Unusual Mortality Event (UME) since 2017, which includes sublethally injured, seriously injured, ill, and dead right whales, affecting more than 20% of the existing population. Research demonstrates that only about a third of these right whale deaths manage to be detected and documented.
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The UME poses a significant impact to the endangered species, as births continue to be below average, with deaths currently out-pacing the frequency of newborns leading the species to the brink of extinction. Additionally, female North Atlantic right whales are now reported to only live to be around 45 years old, while males are only living to approximately 65 years old.

The NOAA say that these reduced lifespans, as compared to closely related right whale sister species known to live more than 100 years, are a direct result of human-caused mortality events, not old age. Entanglements in fishing gear, vessel strikes, climate change, and ocean noise continue to be leading threats to right whale survival.

The whales impacted by the UME include confirmed dead, injured, and sick individuals. Individuals are only counted once in this graphic; whales with multiple events, are included at the highest impact level. Scientists estimate that only about one third of North Atlantic right whale deaths are detected. Credit: NOAA Fisheries

The NOAA estimate that over 85% of right whales have been entangled in fishing gear at least once, which can cut into the whale's body, causing serious injuries that result in infections and/or death. Even if the gear is shed or removed through disentanglement efforts, the time spent entangled can severely stress a whale, weaking it, preventing it from feeding normally, and sapping it's energy reserves needed for swimming, feeding, and reproducing.
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Scientists believe that chronic entanglements are the leading cause in female right whales taking longer to reproduce and having fewer calves in recent years.

Vessel strikes continue to be a major threat to right whales; with their habitats and migration routes close to major ports along the Atlantic coastline, often overlapping with shipping lanes, this leaves these critically endangered giants vulnerable to injury.

Collisions with vessels can cause broken bones and other massive internal injuries in addition to surface cuts from propellers. The NOAA state that any size vessel has the capability to kill a right whale, with the likelihood of injury or mortality increasing with the speed of the vessel upon collission.

Annual North Atlantic Right Whale Mortalities by Cause of Death, 2017-2024

Climate change has become increasingly evident as years pass, and, more specifically, oceanographic changes in the Northwest Atlantic, contribute to reduced reproduction in right whales and higher susceptibility to other human-caused threats. The NOAA have observed right whales changing their distribution patterns, which they believe is likely a response to changes in prey location and availability due to rising ocean temperatures.
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The NOAA reports that the dip in right whale births and lengthened calving intervals, an increase from 3 to 5 years to now 6 to 10 years, indicates that reproductively active females are struggling to locate sufficient food resources needed to support healthy pregnancies. As their environment changes, right whales will likely continue to modify their distribution and behavior to adapt, resulting in a more uncertain and unpredictable future for the species already on the edge of extinction.

The impact of ocean noise may also be affecting these endangered whales by interrupting their normal behavior. Human activities such as shipping, boating, construction, and energy exploration and development has increased in the Northwest Atlantic. The noise from these activities can make it difficult for whales to detect and avoid predators and human hazards, navigate and identify their physical surroundings, find food and mates, or communicate with each other.

Photo by Florida Fish and Wildlife (FWCResearch) | Instagram

With the right whale calving season still unfolding, the FWC expect that more will move into the area in the coming weeks. The Florida coastline remains a crucial habitat for these whales, who rely on the warm, shallow waters to nurture their young.
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These sightings contribute to valuable information for ongoing conservation efforts aimed at protecting the species. It’s essential for boaters and the public to stay vigilant, remain a minimum of 500 yards away from a spotted right whale as per regulations, and report any sightings to aid in the protection of these majestic creatures.

If you live along the coast stretching from Virginia to Maine and spot a right whale, especially those that are injured or stranded, the NOAA requests that you call their reporting hotline at (866)-755-6622. Those located between North Carolina and Florida are encouraged to do the same, instead calling (877)-842-5343. Sightings in any location can also be reported to the U.S. Coast Guard via channel 16 or through the Whale Alert App.

For ways to get involved in right whale conservation efforts and additional statistics or information surrounding right whale behavior and mortality, you can visit the NOAA's website here.

Article by Rachael Volpe