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In a concerning development, a team from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) observed a critically endangered right whale entangled in lines near Jekyll Island. This sighting coincided with the appearance of a new calf off the Florida coast, underscoring the challenges facing the North Atlantic right whale population.
JEKYLL ISLAND, Ga. — As conservationists endeavor to monitor the new mother-calf pairs emerging this calving season, they are also focused on safeguarding the fewer than 400 remaining North Atlantic right whales globally.
According to the NOAA Fisheries Service, a young right whale identified as Division (#5217) was seen ensnared in multiple lines by an FWC aerial survey team on December 3. This whale, born in the 2022 calving season, had lines entangled around its head and mouth, with one line cutting into its blowhole. Photographs reveal the lines extending past its flukes.
It is possible that Division has been trapped in these lines for several months, as the last sighting of him without entanglement was in July 2025 off the coast of Canada.
Responders from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources managed to remove some of the lines over the course of two days, though some still remain. The NOAA Fisheries Service has attached a telemetry buoy to the remaining gear, allowing officials to continue monitoring Division’s location and health.
“We will conduct further entanglement response efforts as the whale’s condition, weather, and resightings allow,” NFS wrote. “Human safety for the responders and other involved parties remains our top priority.”
Regular boaters are warned to not attempt to disentangle whales. NOAA calls the task “inherently dangerous” and says only trained and authorized responders should approach. Instead, pictures can be taken and included with a report to wildlife officials.
Division is the 168th whale identified in the ongoing Unusual Mortality Event of the endangered species, which began in 2017. The number encompasses whales that are seriously injured, health-compromised, or killed. In 2024 alone, 26 individuals were added to the count.
According to NOAA, human-associated threats like fishing gear entanglements and vessel strikes are the primary cause.
Approximately 380 individual North Atlantic right whales remain, with just about 70 being reproductively active females. Tracking during calving season is essential to monitoring their numbers.
It’s not all grim, though, with an encouraging trend documented by the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium.
According to its 2025 report released in October, the population increased by eight whales over the previous year. The population has slowly grown over the past four years, increasing 7% over 2020, the consortium said.
Births are most often documented in the waters off Florida and Georgia. Multiple calves have already been spotted this season, which began on Nov. 15, adding hope for another increase in total population.
The same day Division’s situation was discovered, Millipede (#3520) was found with a calf off of Florida.
Two females with the potential to be mothers this winter, Calamari (#3946) and Babushka #3890), were also spotted near Amelia Island, according to FWC.
People on any watercrafts are reminded that it is against the law to be closer than 500 yards, or 1/4 of a mile, from right whales. Anytime you encounter a whale, boats should be slowed to a no-wake speed. If the whales attempt to pass, the engine must be put in neutral to prevent injury.
With so few in the world, all right whale sightings are important. NOAA encourages anyone who makes a sighting from North Carolina to Florida to call (877) 942-5343 and make a report.
