North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis)
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The North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) is a baleen whale, one of three right whale species belonging to the genus Eubalaena.
Since 2017, there has been an Unusual Mortality Event (UME) declared for the endangered North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) due to elevated mortalities in Canada and the United States. More than 20 percent of the population has been affected, and the main causes are entanglements and vessel strikes. With fewer than 350 individuals remaining, the UME poses a significant setback to the species' recovery.[1]
Counts of North Atlantic Right Whale UME Mortality, Serious Injury, and Morbidity (Sublethal Injury or Illness) Cases
Year |
Mortalities |
Serious Injuries |
Morbidity (Sublethal Injury or Illness)+ |
Total | ||||||||||
| VS* | ENT* | PERI* | UNK* | NE* | PEND* | VS* | ENT* | DEP CALF* | VS** | ENT** | INJ-UNK** | BC-UNK** | ||
| 2017 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 35 |
| 2018 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 22 |
| 2019 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 19 |
| 2020 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 14 |
| 2021 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 10 |
| 2023 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Total | 12 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 30 | 1 | 2 | 36 | 2 | 5 | 114 |
*Vessel strike (VS), Entanglement (ENT), Perinatal (PERI), Unknown/undetermined (UNK), Not Examined (NE), Pending (PEND), Dependent Calf (DEP CALF).
**Vessel strike (VS), Entanglements (ENT), or Unknown injury (INJ-UNK), or Poor body condition caused by unknown (BC-UNK).
+ A review of all photographed right whale sightings is still underway and Morbidity cases may still be added as new cases are identified.