The North Atlantic right whale, a species long at risk, has shown a slight increase in population in 2024, according to a recent estimate by the New England Aquarium. The latest count puts the number of right whales at 384, up from the revised 2023 estimate of 376. The Aquarium also noted a significant decrease in entanglements and ship strikes, which are the primary causes of harm and fatalities for these whales.
Philip Hamilton, a senior scientist at the Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life at the New England Aquarium, expressed optimism about the eight-whale population increase, considering the species had been in decline for nearly a decade. However, Hamilton emphasized that this positive development does not signify full recovery for the North Atlantic right whale.
Reflecting on the past, Hamilton mentioned that right whales underwent a major habitat shift in the 2010s, with many migrating to the Gulf of St. Lawrence in late spring, resulting in elevated mortality rates. While the whales appear to be adapting to a new oceanographic environment, Hamilton cautioned that unforeseen changes could impact their numbers rapidly, similar to the high mortality events in the Gulf of St. Lawrence in 2017 and 2019.
Looking ahead, Hamilton hopes for another modest population increase next year, barring any significant habitat shifts or threats. Government interventions, such as speed limits for ships and fishing closures in whale-prone areas, have been implemented following previous spikes in right whale deaths.
In addition to the 2024 population estimate, the New England Aquarium released data on entanglements and vessel strikes in 2025. While the full population count takes time to finalize, real-time tracking shows a decrease in injuries so far this year compared to 2024. The center reported five right whale deaths, 16 entanglements, and eight vessel strikes in 2024, with fewer incidents recorded in 2025.
Hamilton highlighted that the reproductive pool of right whales is slowly expanding, with an increase in the number of reproductive females from 70 to 72 between 2023 and 2024. Eleven new whale births have been observed in 2025, with some mother-calf pairs sighted in unexpected locations like New York and Cape Cod Bay. Hamilton remains hopeful for more females to enter the reproductive pool soon, emphasizing the ongoing efforts to monitor and protect the North Atlantic right whale population.
