North Atlantic right whale

The North Atlantic right whale is a critically endangered baleen whale of the western North Atlantic, known for its seasonal migrations along eastern North America and its vulnerability to fishing gear and ship strikes.

Baleen: Fringed plates of keratin that some whales use to filter small prey from water. These plates let the whale strain copepods and other tiny prey from the sea.
Entanglement in fishing gear: The trapping of marine animals in ropes, nets, or other fishing equipment. Ropes and lines can restrict movement, injure whales, and impair feeding or reproduction.
Endangered Species Act: A United States law providing for the conservation of threatened and endangered species and their habitats. Federal protections for this whale include measures to reduce human-caused mortality.
Cape Cod Bay: A large bay in Massachusetts, bordered by Cape Cod and the mainland. Right whales gather in the bay seasonally to feed on plankton.
Copepod: A small crustacean common in marine plankton and a major food source for many animals. Dense copepod patches supply the whale’s energy-rich food.
Ship strike: A collision between a vessel and a marine animal, often causing injury or death. Whales surfacing or crossing shipping lanes may be struck by vessels.
Marine Mammal Protection Act: A United States law that generally prohibits the taking of marine mammals without authorization. The law provides a broad framework for protecting whales in U.S. waters.
Bay of Fundy: A North Atlantic inlet between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, known for its extreme tides. It has served as an important summer feeding area for right whales.
Whale migration: Seasonal movement by whales between areas used for feeding, breeding, or other life-cycle needs. Seasonal movements bring the population into contact with changing habitats and human activity.
Vessel speed restrictions: Rules limiting vessel speed in designated waters to reduce collision risks or other impacts. Speed limits can reduce the severity of collisions in areas used by right whales.

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