06/10/2025 | News release | Distributed by Public on 06/10/2025 15:55
As such, protecting North Atlantic right whales is an incredibly vital task. At IFAW, we spearhead and participate in various projects to help the right whales. From researching their behaviours and movement patterns to working with governments to slow vessels and reduce entanglement, we are helping to save individuals and build a better future for North Atlantic right whales.
North Atlantic right whales are critically endangered
The IUCN changed North Atlantic right whales' status from endangered to critically endangered in 2020 due to its declining population. Increased mortality rates and below-average reproductive rates are the main reasons for the population decline, with many whales dying before the age of 45 despite having a life expectancy of 70.
North Atlantic right whales were nearly hunted to extinction in the 1800s. In 1935, hunting these whales became illegal, but their numbers have yet to recover as new threats arose.
What are the biggest threats to North Atlantic right whales?
The biggest causes of mortality in North Atlantic right whales are entanglement and vessel strikes, and climate change is an underlying cause as well.
When caught in the vertical ropes used in commercial fishing, whales experience both physical and emotional damage. They risk drowning or getting wounded and endure high levels of stress.
Vessel strikes are another significant threat, not least because of how common they are. With many boats travelling at high speeds, right whales' slow movements, and how difficult they are to spot on the ocean's surface, there is a high risk of collision between marine vessels and right whales. Strikes from vessels of all sizes can easily cause blunt or sharp trauma.
Another major threat to North Atlantic right whales is climate change. The ocean is very sensitive to temperature changes and any rises can quickly affect which plants, including phytoplankton, grow where. This, in turn, affects zooplankton and the whales who feed on them. As the climate changes, it becomes more difficult to predict where whales may travel as their food distribution changes, which can exacerbate threats like vessel strikes.
Only about 370 North Atlantic right whales are left
There are only around 370 individual North Atlantic right whales left, fewer than 70 of which are breeding-age females. With so few North Atlantic right whales left, IFAW tracks new calf births every year.
To grow the population, 50 North Atlantic right whale calves need to be born each year, so it's very important to keep the reproductive females safe and breeding successfully. However, it is virtually impossible for 50 right whale calves to be born in one season, given the threats the species currently faces.
Only 11 North Atlantic right whale calves were born in the 2025 season
There were only 11 calves born during the 2025 North Atlantic right whale calving season. While 20 new calves can be considered a productive calving season, we ideally need at least 50 new calves per year to recover and grow the whale population.
Here are some numbers from recent years:
North Atlantic right whales have tiny crustaceans living on their heads