By David Pendered

Nov. 3 – The good news for North Atlantic right whales is that their numbers grew slightly in the latest estimated population count. However, the growth is shadowed by pending federal legislation to reduce protections for whales and other marine mammals.

First the good news. The population is up by an estimated 2.1 percent compared to 2023, according to data released in October by the New England Aquarium, which collaborated with NOAA on the study. Scientists haven’t logged any deaths, one vessel strike and one new entanglement injury without attached fishing gear.

“The slight increase in the population estimate, coupled with no detected mortalities and fewer detected injuries than in the last several years, leaves us cautiously optimistic about the future of North Atlantic right whales,” Heather Pettis said in a statement. She leads the right whale research program in the Aquarium’s Anderson Cabot Center and chairs the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium.

Not so fast, advises Oceana, the largest international advocacy organization dedicated solely to ocean conservation. The species remains on the brink of extinction, with about 384 thought to exist. Plus, pending federal legislation presents a clear threat to whales and other marine mammals, according to Oceana U.S. Senior Campaign Director Gib Brogan.

One example of changes proposed by Alaska Rep. Nicholas Begich would be to replace language in the section defining “sustainable population.” The definition would be changed from “the number of animals which will result in the maximum productivity of the population or species,” with of “the number of animals which will result in the continued survival of the population or species.” (emphasis provided)

Brogan said in a statement: “Continued attacks on the Marine Mammal Protection Act and efforts to weaken NOAA’s science-based safeguards put this fragile population at even greater risk. We need Congress to uphold, not undermine, the laws, programs, and experts that give North Atlantic right whales a fighting chance for continued survival.”

Begich was quoted in a story published in Forbes.com: “The MMPA has been in place for over 50 years and during that time, it’s served an important role in conserving marine mammals and protecting our oceans. As the decades have passed, we’ve seen how its implementation, particularly in the use of vague or overly precautionary standards, has led to confusion, delay and unintended harm.”

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