There are fewer than 350 North Atlantic Right Whales remaining. In the world. That makes this species one of the most endangered in the world right now. Commonly found in the northeast of the USA, these whales are our neighbors. Supporting various organisms in their ecosystem, these whales have a vital role in the ocean's health.
Their leading cause of death? Entanglement. 100% human caused. These whales typically get hurt by fishing nets, lobster traps, and other fishing gear. These whales are dying faster than they can reproduce, so their likelihood of remaining an existing species is low.
With the Gulf of Maine being one of the fastest warming body of water in the world, it is not looking good for all whales that live in that region. This includes humpback whales, minke whales, sperm whales, and more. Since whales depend on plankton for food, they are guided to wherever the plankton levels are high. This year, because of the warming, salinity, and movement of the Gulf of Maine, there have been many more algal blooms causing the right whales to move towards unsafe waters near Cape Cod where boats frequent. This has caused boat collisions with whales and more whale deaths. It is extremely important to monitor species like this, and make sure they are getting the protection they need. It is terrible to see another species go like this, and I hope this serves as a reminder to you all that we CAN change our ways to save our planet.
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