Don't fail our whale

We’re saving one of the world’s largest and most endangered animals.

Problem

North Atlantic right whales migrate along the east coast of North America, coming into contact with two main threats: vessel strikes and entanglement in fishing gear. While vessel strikes are often a death sentence, killing the whale within days of injury, entanglements can lead to a slow and painful death. Entangled whales suffer from chronic stress and physical pain leading to decreased reproduction rates.

Since 2017, there has been 142 mortalities, serious injuries, and morbidities among North Atlantic right whales, or over 35% of the known population. With about 370 individuals left – and less than a quarter of those being reproductive females – North Atlantic right whales are critically endangered. The death of even one whale could be the difference between saving North Atlantic right whales and their extinction. 

Solution

Through education, advocacy, and grassroots engagement, IFAW has initiated a multifaceted campaign in the U.S. and Canada to drive public awareness, push for regulatory change, and promote innovative solutions to save North Atlantic right whales.

New technologies that aim to decrease right whale entanglement include ropeless fishing gear – the deployment of gear without fixed vertical buoy ropes in the water column – that could dramatically reduce or eliminate right whale entanglements, while allowing fishermen to continue their livelihoods.

We are ensuring that vessel speed limits in critical habitats are secured, promoting vessel speed compliance, and have developed Whale Alert, a situational awareness mobile app that alerts vessel operators on the presence of right whales.