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Feds Launch Investigation Into High Number of Right Whale Deaths

Cynthia Christman
/
NOAA
Right whales engaging in what scientists think might be reproductive or social behavior.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is officially launching an investigation into the unusually high numbers of North Atlantic right whale deaths this year.

NOAA has declared an "Unusual Mortality Event," after at least 13 of the rare whales have been found dead this year off New England and Canada.

NOAA will be collaborating with Fisheries and Oceans Canada on the investigation. That agency's Matthew Hardy says entanglement in fishing gear, and boat strikes are the chief threats.

"That's not to say that we haven't been looking at other factors and contributing factors," he says, "and that's why I say that this is still an extensive process - just to go through all the other factors and make sure we're having a really holistic look at the whole situation."

North Atlantic right whales have a total population of only about 500 in the world. The deaths this year represent between 2 and 3 percent of that population. Officials say with numbers that low, any deaths threaten the recovery of the species.

The investigation doesn't have a specific timeframe. It's also not clear what, if any, changes in policy could result.

 

Nora is originally from the Boston area but has lived in Chicago, Michigan, New York City and at the northern tip of New York state. Nora began working in public radio at Michigan Radio in Ann Arbor and has been an on-air host, a reporter, a digital editor, a producer, and, when they let her, played records.