IFAW response to the death of an entangled North Atlantic right whale

(January 30, 2026 - Washington DC) - Today we mourn not only the loss of a whale, but the failure to protect one of the planet's most endangered animals.

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is sounding the alarm following the death of a North Atlantic right whale known as "Division" (whale #5217), whose carcass was located off Cape Hatteras on Tuesday, January 27. More information about Division can be found at NOAA.gov.

North Atlantic right whales remain among the most imperiled large whales on Earth, with an estimated global population of only about 380 individuals and fewer than 70 reproductively active females. This loss underscores the grave, ongoing threats these animals face from human actions.

"Each individual right whale plays an irreplaceable role in the health of the species and the ocean ecosystem," said Kathleen Collins, Senior Campaign Manager at IFAW. "These deaths are not isolated events-they are a symptoms of chronic, preventable threats. Entanglement in fishing gear and vessel strikes continue to drive this species towards extinction. Science tells us that mortalities and serious injuries have outpaced births for decades, and unless we urgently reduce these human-caused impacts, we risk losing this iconic species forever."

IFAW calls for swift, meaningful action from federal and international partners to strengthen and fully implement protections, including safer fishing practices that eliminate deadly fixed gear and increased investment in on-demand gear technology. These steps are essential not only to prevent further loss of life but to give North Atlantic right whales a real chance to recover.

"Rescue teams up and down the East Coast worked for months to try to rescue this whale, but the simple fact is that rescue alone is not enough," said Brian Sharp, Director of Marine Mammal Rescue at IFAW. "To protect both the species and individuals, we must prevent these entanglements from happening in the first place. The tools exist-we just need the will to use them. Every delay costs lives."

At a time when we urgently need stronger action to reduce entanglement and vessel strikes, proposals to weaken the Marine Mammal Protection Act's core protections would make it harder to safeguard imperiled whales and could undermine the science-based conservation measures essential to their recovery.

"Right whale deaths are devastating, and this one is no exception," added Sheryl Fink, Campaign Director for IFAW Canada. "Fishing gear entanglement is a complex, cross-border issue. What we need now is renewed commitment from both Canada and the United States to expand protections, support new technologies, and ensure these whales have a future."

We extend our condolences to the researchers, responders, and communities who work tirelessly to protect these animals. IFAW remains committed to supporting evidence-based conservation strategies that reduce the threats facing right whales and safeguard our shared ocean heritage.

ENDS

Editors' notes:

The US Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) remains a cornerstone of marine wildlife conservation, safeguarding whales, dolphins and other marine mammals from harm and authorizing authorized rescue efforts like disentanglement and stranding response under strict scientific criteria. However, current efforts to roll back these protections-including proposed changes that would weaken critical standards, narrow definitions of harm, and reduce the law's effectiveness-pose a grave threat to the recovery and survival of imperiled species like North Atlantic right whales, potentially increasing risks from entanglement, vessel strikes, and other human-caused impacts.

Press contact:

Stacey Hedman
Senior Communications Director, IFAW
m: +1 508 737 2558
e: [email protected]