TELL U.S. AND CANADIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO PROTECT NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALES

In late January, a North Atlantic right whale named Pediddle was spotted off Georgia with her newborn calf. This marks her 9th calf, making her one of the most prolific mothers in recent history! While this is exciting news, Pediddle’s family has also seen recent tragedy - her granddaughter Snowcone was last seen severely entangled in fishing gear in September and her great-grandson Cottontail died from entanglement in 2021.

Critically endangered North Atlantic right whales are on the verge of extinction, and the population has decreased nearly 10% in the past year. Only around 340 North Atlantic right whales remain, about 80 of which are breeding females. Without aggressive action now, this could be the first large whale to go extinct in the Atlantic Ocean in centuries.

We’re calling on the U.S. and Canadian governments to take urgent action to protect North Atlantic right whales from entanglements in fishing gear and collisions with vessels' - both of which are leading causes of death – and are preventable.  

Tell your federal government officials to take immediate action to protect North Atlantic right whales, before they are gone forever. Please feel free to edit the petition text below, then fill out your info on the right to submit your letter.

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This action emails your direct federal representatives and can only be completed by U.S. citizens with an address recognized by the database provided by Congress.

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Dear Canadian and U.S. Government Officials,

North Atlantic right whales are one of the most endangered whales in the world, with only around 340 individuals left. Since 2017, a staggering 36 right whales have died in U.S. and Canadian waters. Also since 2017, 22 North Atlantic right whales have been documented with serious injuries from entanglements or vessel strikes — injuries they are likely to die from. In 2023, we’ve already seen a newly born right whale calf wash up dead in North Carolina. Just weeks old, he became separated from his mother and was not able to survive alone. It’s likely his mother was the victim of a boat strike.

Fortunately, we know what the problem is. The two greatest threats to North Atlantic right whales are vessel collisions and entanglements in fishing gear. In 2019, researchers looked at the causes of 70 North Atlantic right whale deaths recorded between 2003 and 2018 in the U.S. and Canada. Where the cause of death could be determined, nearly 90% died as a direct result of fishing gear entanglements or ship strikes. Nearly 90% of North Atlantic right whales have been entangled in fishing gear at least once in their lives.

The U.S. and Canadian governments must save these whales. As the heads of the agencies and departments tasked with protecting endangered ocean wildlife and overseeing shipping and fishing, you have a legal and moral responsibility to act swiftly. Both countries already have the tools needed to change the trajectory of these whales from extinction to recovery.

That’s why I am standing with Oceana to call on you to take the following actions as soon as possible to protect North Atlantic right whales:

● Implement and enforce mandatory speed restrictions in areas where North Atlantic right whales are expected or present.

● Reduce the amount of vertical lines used in fixed-gear fisheries in U.S. and Canadian Atlantic waters.

● Implement effective dynamic, real-time management areas that remove threats to right whales when they are present.

● Modify fishing gear and practices to reduce the likelihood and severity of entanglements through the development of ropeless gear.

● Expand fisheries transparency and monitoring by requiring public tracking of fishing vessels.

● Fund the development and use of new technologies to identify the presence of right whales (acoustics, satellite, infra-red cameras, etc.).

● Provide long-term funding and capacity building for research, monitoring and risk reduction.

● Expand and strengthen response networks comprising researchers, environmental organizations, industry groups and stakeholders, and government decision-makers to help manage the crisis and start rebuilding the population.

Please stand up for North Atlantic right whales. Time is running out, and their survival depends on you.

Sincerely,

{user_data~First Name} {user_data~Last Name}

Background photo credit: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, taken under NOAA permit 20556-01

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