North Atlantic Right Whale

About

The North Atlantic Right Whale can grow up to 55 feet long and can weigh up to 70 tons. It an easily be identified by the white calluses on its head that contrast the rest of its gray body. Like the Sei whale I discussed in my last post, the right whale is also a baleen whale. This means that it feeds by swimming through large groups of plankton with its mouth open. The North Atlantic Right Whale is the most endangered large whale with less than 400 left in the wild. 

Habitat

This species whale can be found mostly in coastal waters in the North Atlantic region. 

Role in Ecosystem

Right whales are near the top of the food chain, so they keep the population of the species below them in check. This species plays a pivotal role in the overall health of the ecosystem.

Why are they disappearing?

This species of whale is limited to a small area for its habitat as can be seen in the map above. Due to this limitation, the North American Right whale faces numerous threats. The most prominent one is fishing collisions and entanglement in fishing gear. Climate change has also been effecting these whales as the warming of waters is causing their main source of food to move to different waters. 

Why is this important?

As I mentioned before, right whales play a pivotal role in the overall health of the ecosystem. Their disappearance could leave several of the species they feed on to go unchecked which could lead to dire consequences. According to the WDC, "Emerging research demonstrates that whales act as ecosystem engineers and provide the much needed nutrients to phytoplankton, tiny ocean plants that create least 50% of our oxygen, annually sequester hundreds of thousands of tons of carbon, and provide a base for the marine food web leading to abundant fish stocks." We need right whales to survive.

 What is being done?

The WWF is doing all it can to protect these whales addressing issues such as climate change, shipping and bycatch. They have rerouted shipping routes to avoid the collision with whales, they are also trying to get stricter measures on whaling regulations. Other organizations such as WWF are also making an effort to help the IWC for effectively carry out their mission. Sensors could be placed on buoyant objects throughout the ocean to scan the ocean underneath to ensure the temperatures are fit for breeding. Furthermore, they could track the population of the whales to accurately measure their numbers as it can be hard to follow at times. 

What can I do to help?

1. Become a WDC Member! Here you can donate to the fund, adopt a whale, and much more.
2. Stay informed and spread awareness of the importance of whales and keeping them safe. 
3. Stay at least 500 yards away from Right whales and report any whale sightings at this link.
4. Buy more sustainable/reusable goods and do your part to combat climate change: Take shorter showers and use less water in general, buy reusable shopping bags, etc. 
5. Support whaling regulations and lobby for rerouting of shipping away from whale habitats. 

Sources: 

https://us.whales.org/whales-dolphins/how-we-help/saving-the-endangered-north-atlantic-right-whale/
https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/north-atlantic-right-whale
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/north-atlantic-right-whale