Delaware beaches are a travel spot for many, including this unique animal species spotted last week in Dewey.
6ABC reported this week that meteorologist Edward Russo saw a North Atlantic right whale swimming in Dewey Beach in mid-September. Russo captured video footage of the whale less than 200 yards offshore.
While whales aren’t an entirely uncommon occurrence at Delaware beaches, the North Atlantic right whale is one of the world’s most endangered large whale species, with only about 360 of them remaining. Of those 360, there are fewer than 70 “reproductively active females,” and the number of new calves born in recent years has been below average, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries.
The two other species of right whales are the North Pacific and Southern right whales. The species are baleen whales, which feed on tiny crustaceans (copepods) by straining large volumes of ocean water through their baleen plates, like a sieve.
What do North Atlantic right whales look like?
North Atlantic right whales have stocky, black bodies with V-shaped blow spouts. They do not have dorsal fins. Their tales are black with a smooth trailing edge and are broad and deeply notched. Their bellies can be all black or have white patches. The whale’s pectoral flippers are short and broad and resemble a paddle, according to NOAA Fisheries.
The head of a North Atlantic right whale has knobby, white patches of rough skin, called callosities.
Where do North Atlantic right whales live?
North Atlantic right whales are primarily found in Atlantic coastal water on the continental shelf, but they have been known to travel far offshore, over deep water.
They migrate seasonally and can be seen travelling alone or in small groups. Spring through fall, the species is usually seen in waters of New England and further into Canadian waters, where they mate and feed. In the fall, some right whales will travel from their feeding grounds to the shallow, coastal waters of their calving grounds off of South Carolina, Georgia and northeastern Florida. These patterns may vary, according to NOAA Fisheries.
Why are North Atlantic right whales endangered?
NOAA Fisheries cites commercial whaling in the 19th century as the cause of the North Atlantic right whale being on the brink of extinction. Right whales were named because they floated when killed, making them easy prey for hunters.
Although whaling is no longer a threat, the species has yet to recover to pre-whaling numbers, and human interactions are still the greatest danger.
North Atlantic right whales are impacted by:
- Ocean noise levels from human activities can interfere with whale communication and increase stress levels.
- Entanglement in fishing gear.
- Climate change results in prey moving locations as oceans warm, thus causing the whales to spend time in areas with less protection from threats.
Recent whale sightings: Whale beaches at Delaware Seashore State Park for 2nd time in 3 months
The species has also experienced an ongoing Unusual Mortality Event since 2017. This includes sublethally injured or ill, seriously injured and dead right whales. Research shows that only about 1/3 of right whale deaths are documented, according to NOAA Fisheries.
Got a tip or a story idea? Contact Krys'tal Griffin at kgriffin@delawareonline.com.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: This endangered whale species was spotted in coastal waters of Delaware beaches this month
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