Right whale pair returns to our waters
North Atlantic right whales have arrived in St. Johns County coastal waters, according to the Marineland Right Whale Project.
North Atlantic right whales have arrived in St. Johns County coastal waters, according to the Marineland Right Whale Project.
A mother and calf were spotted by the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission aerial survey team late last week near the St. Augustine Inlet and again near the St. Augustine pier.
The pair continued south and was spotted on Sunday in the Ormond Beach area, this time heading north.
The mother whale has been identified as right whale No. 2413 with her new calf. The mother has visited our coastline twice before, in 2003 and 2005, when she was spotted with a calf.
Fewer than 400 North Atlantic right whales are known to exist, making them the world's most endangered whales. Each year pregnant females migrate from the Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia, and the Gulf of Maine to the coastal waters of the southeastern United States, their only known calving grounds.
Joy Hampp, director of the Marineland Right Whale project, is planning an Air-Cam survey in hopes of seeing the pair again. The Air-Cam is an aircraft originally built for National Geographic research and photography in Africa. Hampp and other scientists use the Air=Cam to observe and photograph whales further off shore.
Whale sighting reports should be directed to the toll-free Marine Resources Counsel Whale Hotline, (888) 979-4253. Pass on local sightings to Hampp.
Warning to boaters:
Boaters must keep at least 500 yards away from right whales. Federal law requires vessels 65 feet long and greater to slow to 10 knots or slower in Seasonal Management Areas along the U.S. Eastern Seaboard, including the calving and nursery area in the southeastern United States. Speed restrictions are in place in various places along the mid Atlantic from Nov. 1 through April 30, and in the southeast U.S. calving area from Nov. 15 through April 15. For more information on seasonal ship speed restrictions, visit nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/shipstrike.
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