Boater spots 1st North Atlantic right-whale calf of the season

The first North Atlantic right-whale calf of the 2025 season was spotted by a boater this week, a sign of hope for organizations looking to rescue the mammal from extinction.

The calf and its mother were spotted off Cape Romain in South Carolina by "a conscientious boater," according to a social media post from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

This sighting is significant because for this endangered species, every calf counts, said Gib Brogan of the U.S. chapter of conservation group Oceana.

"The first calf sighted every year should give everyone hope and optimism that the North Atlantic right whale is not doomed to extinction," he said. "We can save this species.

"At this point, it's a question of political will on whether our government leaders will put protections in place in time before it's too late for the species."

There are an estimated 370 right whales remaining in the world, and fewer than 70 are reproductively active females, according to the marine arm of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the United States, also known as NOAA Fisheries. 

The majority of right whale deaths have been caused by ship strikes and entanglements in fishing gear, the agency says.

WATCH | Political action still needed to save whales, advocate says:

Why 1st North Atlantic right-whale calf of the season is sign of hope

1 day ago

Duration 1:10

North Atlantic right whales are struggling to avoid extinction in a changing ocean but with one calf already spotted at the beginning of the calving season, this protection group says there’s a reason to be optimistic.

Last year, Brogan said about 19 calves were spotted, but 2024 was a tough year for them. Five calves were either confirmed dead or missing as of July, Brogan said.

"The whales are struggling to survive in a changing ocean," he said. "They are limited by the amount of food. They are limited by chronic stress from entanglement with fishing gear and ocean noise.

"The whales are doing all they can to survive, and very often that means that they're found in times and places that they aren't expected."

The U.S. marine agency says 41 right whales have died in ship strikes, entanglements, or for unknown or unexamined reasons since 2017. Ten deaths were confirmed because of entanglement and 15 because of ship strikes in that time frame.

Brogan said speed limits in some whale habitats have been in place since 2008 but there is not enough enforcement to make them effective.

"We need to make sure that more boats are slowing down and that we get near to 100% compliance and co-operation with those slow zones. They only work if everybody's playing by the rules," he said.

He also said speed limits don't always apply to smaller boats, which do strike whales and cause death or injury.

"Small boats can and do kill North Atlantic right whales. We need to do more outreach and education to the boaters … that it is dangerous for the whales and also for the boaters because very often the boat will sink if they hit a whale."

Kim Elmslie, campaign director for the Canadian chapter of Oceana, said the organization continues to call on Fisheries and Oceans Canada to accelerate the transition to ropeless fishing gear, and on Transport Canad to implement mandatory season-long vessel slowdowns throughout their full migration route when they are in Canadian waters.

"These measures are essential to safeguard the future of this iconic species," Elmslie said in a statement.