A Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission survey team recently encountered an endangered right whale ensnared in lines off the coast of Jekyll Island, coinciding with the sighting of a new calf off the Florida coast.
JEKYLL ISLAND, Ga. — As conservationists continue to monitor new mother-calf pairs among the endangered North Atlantic right whales this calving season, they are also focusing on safeguarding the fewer than 400 whales left worldwide.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries Service reported that an aerial survey team from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission discovered a juvenile right whale, known as Division (#5217), entangled in multiple lines on December 3. This whale, born during the 2022 calving season, was found with lines wrapped around its head and mouth, with one cutting into its blowhole. Photographs reveal that the lines extended past its flukes, or tail.
Division’s entanglement might have persisted for months, as its last known sighting without lines was in July 2025 in Canadian waters.
Responders from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources managed to remove some of the entangling gear on the day of the sighting and the following day, but some remained. To facilitate further monitoring, a telemetry buoy was attached to the remaining gear, allowing officials to track Division’s movements and assess its well-being.
“We will continue our entanglement response efforts based on the whale’s condition, weather, and subsequent sightings,” stated the NOAA Fisheries Service. “The safety of our responders and all involved parties remains our highest priority.”
Regular boaters are warned to not attempt to disentangle whales. NOAA calls the task “inherently dangerous” and says only trained and authorized responders should approach. Instead, pictures can be taken and included with a report to wildlife officials.
Division is the 168th whale identified in the ongoing Unusual Mortality Event of the endangered species, which began in 2017. The number encompasses whales that are seriously injured, health-compromised, or killed. In 2024 alone, 26 individuals were added to the count.
According to NOAA, human-associated threats like fishing gear entanglements and vessel strikes are the primary cause.
Approximately 380 individual North Atlantic right whales remain, with just about 70 being reproductively active females. Tracking during calving season is essential to monitoring their numbers.
It’s not all grim, though, with an encouraging trend documented by the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium.
According to its 2025 report released in October, the population increased by eight whales over the previous year. The population has slowly grown over the past four years, increasing 7% over 2020, the consortium said.
Births are most often documented in the waters off Florida and Georgia. Multiple calves have already been spotted this season, which began on Nov. 15, adding hope for another increase in total population.
The same day Division’s situation was discovered, Millipede (#3520) was found with a calf off of Florida.
Two females with the potential to be mothers this winter, Calamari (#3946) and Babushka #3890), were also spotted near Amelia Island, according to FWC.
People on any watercrafts are reminded that it is against the law to be closer than 500 yards, or 1/4 of a mile, from right whales. Anytime you encounter a whale, boats should be slowed to a no-wake speed. If the whales attempt to pass, the engine must be put in neutral to prevent injury.
With so few in the world, all right whale sightings are important. NOAA encourages anyone who makes a sighting from North Carolina to Florida to call (877) 942-5343 and make a report.
