Dead Atlantic Right Whale Found Floating Off VA Coast

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA — The body of a female whale was discovered off the coast of Virginia last weekend, marking the 40th death in an unusual mortality event affecting North Atlantic right whales.

According to NOAA Fisheries, the whale's carcass was found Saturday floating offshore approximately 50 miles east of Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia Beach. Officials said she was identified as whale #1950, a mother from the 2024 calving season who had given birth to her sixth calf this winter.

Officials said the whale's carcass had been scavenged by sharks, wind and weather. It was towed to the shore for a necropsy, officials added.

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The whale's calf was not found, NOAA officials said.

"Unfortunately, this whale is the 40th mortality in the ongoing Unusual Mortality Event impacting North Atlantic right whales," NOAA said in a statement. "Her calf is also considered a seriously injured dependent calf... due to the death of its mother."

According to NOAA, the unusual mortality event affecting North Atlantic right whales began in 2017. In addition to whale deaths, NOAA has recorded 34 seriously injured and 51 otherwise sick or injured whales.

Gib Brogan, campaign director at Oceana in the United States, said in a statement that the whale discovered Saturday was the seventh to die in three months. Oceana is an advocacy organization focused on ocean conservation.

"These whales are not dying because of natural causes," Brogan said. "They are dying preventable deaths as a result of collisions with boats and entanglements in fishing gear, and our government isn’t doing anything to stop it."

Brogan also called on federal lawmakers to heighten protections for North Atlantic right whales.

"How many more deaths must this endangered species face before President Biden takes action?" Brogan said. "These whales cannot wait any longer for protection."

In 2008, the National Marine Fisheries Service implemented a seasonal, mandatory
vessel speed rule in certain areas along the East Coast to reduce the risk of vessel
collisions with right whales. Under the rule, most vessels greater than or equal to 65 feet in overall length cannot travel faster than 10 knots within designated areas commonly referred to as Seasonal Management Areas.

In 2022, NOAA and the National Marine Fisheries Service proposed a change to the rule that would have required vessels 35 feet in length or longer to adhere to the mandatory vessel speed rule.

While public comment on the proposed change closed on Oct. 31, 2022, the revised rule was never adopted.

NOAA officials said people should report any sightings of injured or stranded whales to the Greater Atlantic Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline at 866-755-6622 or the Southeast Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline is 877-942-5343.