Several Endangered Right Whales Spotted Off Martha’s Vineyard

The tail of one of the right whales briefly sighted off Martha’s Vineyard Feb. 21. Photo credit: NOAA Fisheries/Pete Duley, NEFSC. Images collected under MMPA research permit #17355

MARTHA’S VINEYARD – Several North Atlantic right whales were spotted last week by researchers south of Martha’s Vineyard.

A team from The Northeast Fisheries Science Center spotted the dozen endangered whales while on a small boat trip to check out an acoustic mooring near Nomans Land.

The whales migrate to the area to feed from the spring through the fall.

The species is one of the most endangered in the world, and are increasingly difficult to spot. They face threats from fishing gear entanglement, ship collisions and habitat degradation.

The species has an estimated population around 500.