Right Whales Return to the Southeast U.S.

Wildlife Trust Scientists Monitor Calving Season

ST. PETERSBURG, FL - December 14, 2006 - Wildlife Trust's Edge of the Sea Aquatic Conservation Program has documented the first confirmed sighting of a North Atlantic right whale in the Southeast U.S. this year on November 17th in the waters off Savannah, Georgia. Calving season has begun marking the beginning of the Wildlife Trust right whale aerial survey project in South Carolina and northern Georgia. A second Wildlife Trust survey team covers the mid and southern coast of Georgia. A team of private and state research groups including the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the New England Aquarium, and the University of North Carolina at Wilmington will also initiate right whale surveys along the coasts of Florida and North Carolina, working together to cover the majority of the right whale migratory route and calving ground. Right whales return to the shallow and relatively warm waters of the Southeast U.S. each winter to give birth to their calves. "It's exciting to be the first plane in the air to document the southern migration of pregnant females", said Christin Khan, Wildlife Trust South Carolina team leader.

Wildlife Trust has been conducting right whale surveys in the Southeast U.S. for over five years, while some staff have over a decade of right whale survey experience. Patricia Naessig and Christin Khan will be returning to Wildlife Trust as team leaders for the Georgia and South Carolina crews, respectively. Naessig and Khan will be responsible for the day to day management and coordination of survey efforts and the important handling of right whale location data and images used to identify individual whales. One goal of the survey season is to document the number of new calves brought in to the small population. The Southeast U.S. is the only known calving ground for this species, therefore coverage of the region is critical to determining population growth. "Because of the uniqueness of this highly endangered species, it is vital that we continue our on-going studies in this region to discover as much as we can about the population", said Patricia Naessig, Wildlife Trust Georgia survey team leader.

North Atlantic right whales are highly endangered, with less than 400 animals remaining in the population. Right whales continue to be adversely affected by human activities, including collisions with ships and entanglement in fishing gear. The extensive aerial survey program, known as the Early Warning System, is funded by federal sources to locate right whales and disseminate location information to mariners in the region to mitigate possible ship strikes. Despite years of effort, funding, and collaboration amongst researchers, federal and state managers, harbor pilot associations, and military and commercial shipping interests, right whales continue to be fatally struck by ships. The Early Warning System is currently the best defense against right whale ship strike injuries and death.

The Early Warning System has been in place since 1993, and Wildlife Trust joined the team in 2001. Right whales begin migrating to the Southeast U.S. in the fall, and return to the Northeast U.S. and Canada in March and April each spring with their new calves. Right whale calves remain with their mothers for up to one year, and each mother gives birth every 3-5 years. "We're looking forward to a successful calving season, with every birth a significant contribution to the population", said Cynthia Taylor, Director of the Aquatic Conservation Program. "Continued collaboration between researchers, managers, and shipping interests is critical to recovery of the species. Wildlife Trust's program grows stronger each year with help from our collaborators and support from people who admire these amazing creatures."