North Atlantic right whales Silt and calf Division swim together in the ocean as seen from above. Photo: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission taken under NOAA permit 20556-01.
January 30, 2026 (Boston, MA) – In response to the first reported death of a critically endangered North Atlantic right whale this year, Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) issued the following statement:
“With fewer than 400 North Atlantic right whales left, every loss is a tragedy,” said CLF Senior Attorney Erica Fuller. “If we don’t protect right whales from getting entangled in fishing gear and struck by boats and ships, the species has no chance of recovery. The federal government needs to step up to protect these gentle giants.”
The deceased whale was named “Division” for the marks on his head resembling a division sign, and he had just turned four. Division was found off the coast of North Carolina and died following a constricting entanglement in fishing gear that cut into his blowhole and embedded in his upper jaw. A brave rescue effort by researchers in December was unable to fully free him from the strangling lines.
Recently, the calf of the right whale known as Monarch was spotted in Cape Cod Bay entangled in fishing gear. Some of the gear broke free during attempts to help it, but the calf swam off with some rope still wrapped around its tail.
Only the widespread permitting, funding, and adoption of on-demand fishing gear will stop right whales from dying from accidental entanglements in fishing lines. On-demand gear doesn’t use the stationary, vertical lines that form a lethal obstacle for many marine animals.
This fully preventable death shows that we must act quickly to prevent further losses and the eventual extinction of the North Atlantic right whale.
CLF experts are available for comment.
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