Atlantic Ocean boaters: be on the lookout for right whales during calving season, through April 2024
Photo right whale by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
December 6, 2023
If you plan to boat or fish in the Atlantic Ocean this winter, be on the lookout for North Atlantic right whales that are calving in state and federal waters off Florida, Georgia and South Carolina from November through April. This endangered species is extremely hard to spot, and collisions between vessels and right whales put passengers and crew members at risk, and could also cause injury or death to right whales. With only about 360 right whales remaining in existence, right whales are one of the world's most endangered large whale species.
The first right whale mother-calf pair of the season was spotted on Nov. 28, 2023 off South Carolina. Several more adult females have been sighted from North Carolina to Georgia since Nov. 15, 2023, all potential mothers this winter. Aerial survey efforts will increase off Florida and Georgia during December 2023.
Follow these boating safety tips during right whale season:
• Go slow, which can give you time to react.
• Post a lookout! Watch for black objects, unusual or persistent whitewater, and splashes.
• Avoid boating in the dark, when visibility is poor or in rough seas.
• Use the website, whalemap.org, or the Whale Alert app to monitor the seasonal presence of right whales in your area. Download the Whale Alert app at fisheries.noaa.gov/resource/tool-app/whale-alert.
• Check for sign at syour local boat ramp or marina as a reminder of what to look for and how to identify and report right whale sightings.
• If a whale is spotted, slow down, operate at a slow speed or put your engine in neutral if possible. Assess the scene and slowly leave the area while keeping watch. Never pursue or follow a whale. Keep at least 500 yards from right whales (it’s the law).
Additional Information
Report whale sightings and collisions immediately to the U.S. Coast Guard on marine VHF Ch. 16 or call 1-877-WHALE-HELP (942-5343).
Learn more about what you can do to prevent right whale collisions at
myfwc.com/research/wildlife/right-whales.
For updates throughout the calving season, @FWCResearch on Facebook at Facebook.com/FWCResearch and on Instagram at Instagram.com/FWCResearch.
For more information about right whales visit the NOAA Fisheries website here: fisheries.noaa.gov/species/north-atlantic-right-whale.