Right Whale Calving Season

Right whales have arrived in our coastal waters and two calves have been sighted so far. Unfortunately, Snow Cone, the mother of one calf, is entangled in rope, in spite of several efforts at disentangling her.

There are currently fewer than 350 of these whales remaining and efforts to save them are more critical than ever.

Approximately a third of all known right whale mortalities are a result of vessel collisions or entanglement in fishing gear.

How You Can Help

1. Stay at least 500 yards away from right whales! It’s the law! 2. Operate your vessel at a slow, safe speed of 10 knots or less in areas right whales are known to frequent. 3. Move away slowly if a right whale approaches you. 4. Wear polarized sunglasses and stay alert. 5. Avoid boating during times of poor visibility (fog, night, etc.) 6. Know how to properly identify right whales and immediately report dead, injured, or entangled whales to the U.S. Coast Guard via marine radio VHF Ch 16 or call the NOAA Fisheries Service Stranding Hotline at 877-WHALE HELP, (877-9425343.)

Remember, you are prohibited by law from approaching within 500 yards of right whales. Observe from a distance. Report a Right Whale Sighting

You can help collect vital information. Reporting sightings helps save this endangered species by alerting mariners to their presence.

To report, hail the U.S. Coast Guard on VHF Channel 16, or call 877-WHALE-HELP (in waters from Florida to North Carolina). What Information Should You Report?

• Your name and contact information • Date and time of sighting • Where you were (vessel, land) • Number of whales sighted • Any behavior observed • Are you sure it was a right whale? • Describe what you saw, in detal

If Possible, Take Photos or Video and Report This Information as Well:

• Did you see a visible spout during exhale? • Do the flukes (tail) come out of the water on a deep dive? • Does it have bumps on it's head and what color are they? • How long is the whale (how many feet? Compared to boat?) • If entangled, is the whale free-swimming or anchored? • Give specific info on key body parts (both flippers, tail and mouth) and any gear observed (buoys and line colors, buoy numbers, etc.)

Is the Whale Dead, Injured or Entangled?

If possible, keep dead or injured whales in sight and report immediately. Do not attempt to remove fishing gear! There is a team of experts who disentangle whales.

Catalog #3560 "Snow Cone" and calf were sighted about 10 nautical miles off Cumberland Island, Ga., on Dec. 2, 2021.

Snow Cone was first seen entangled in commercial fishing gear in March 2021 in Cape Cod Bay. Several disentanglement efforts in the Northeast and Canada removed some of the rope, though she is still trailing two lines. She previously gave birth in the 2019/2020 calving season.

Photo provided by Georgia DNR, taken under NOAA permit 20556

Catalog #1245 "Slalom" and calf were sighted about 17 nautical miles off Pawyleys Island, S.C., on Nov. 24, 2021. Slalom is 40 years old and this is her sixth documented calf. Photo provided by Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute and USACE, taken under NOAA permit 20556