Whale and Dolphin Conservation

06/02/2026

If you care about right whales, today is the day to take action. Accidental boat strikes🚤 are one of the leading causes of death for endangered North Atlantic right whales. Seasonal speed limits have been a lifeline for them and reduced mortality risk by 90%. This is a commonsense rule that does not prohibit the use of the ocean and only asks that boaters slow down during certain times of the year to protect these whales, and themselves.

Submit comment here: https://endangered.quorum.us/campaign/159842/

This year, we celebrated 23 new babies being born. Now it is our responsibility to ensure these babies can swim freely without the worry of being hit or losing their mom to a boat strike. #1950 (pictured here) and her baby did not get that chance.

She was a mother of 6 who just had a baby before she suffered catastrophic injuries with a dislocation of her spine and fractures to all vertebrae in the lower back. Her calf was still dependent and unlikely to survive, making this a loss of two whales.

Please take a moment to speak up for these whales. We have to be their voice.

We recognize that whales and dolphins are family to some Indigenous Peoples and play a significant role in the health of our planet. We share these images as part of our work, but we do so with respect and sympathies for their loss to their families and to the ecosystem.

06/01/2026

🚨 Comments are due tomorrow June 2nd ‼️ North Atlantic right whales are critically endangered and seasonal speed limits are a lifeline for them. These whales cannot speak for themselves so it’s our responsibility to be their voice. Join us in speaking up and submit a comment at the form is linked in our bio.

05/31/2026

This is it. Right whales need your voice now‼️Since 2017, at least 27 critically endangered North Atlantic right whales have been killed or injured as a result of a vessel strikes. NOAA is considering removing seasonal speed limits, which has been a lifeline for these whales., and reduced mortality risk by 90%. The 23 new calves born this year deserve a chance to live! Please speak up for right whales and submit a comment here. June 2nd is the last day for the public to weigh in.

We Need Your Voice Now.

05/28/2026

Although this incident occurred in Australia last summer, we're sharing this video so you can see how easy it is to accidentally hit a right whale and why speed limits are important, for both whales and boaters. According to the report, after the collision 3 people fell overboard. The calf was later sighted swimming with mom. However, blunt force trauma isn't always visible, and the long-term fate of the calf remains unknown. It was also reported that mom was previously injured in a vessel collision, weeks before this incident. Mother and calf right whales are especially vulnerable to vessel strikes as they spend a lot of time at or near the water’s surface.

Slowing down saves live. Period. Having speed limits on the water is no different than slowing down in a school zone to protect children, right?

The seasonal speed limit in place to protect endangered North Atlantic right whales has reduced mortality risk to right whales by 90%. 90%!! That's proof that speed limits reduce harm and are an important lifeline for North Atlantic right whales. If NOAA rescinds the speed limit, we're likely to see more tragic incidents such as this.

Please speak up for the whales and submit a comment here. You only have until June 2nd to have your voice heard. https://endangered.quorum.us/campaign/159842/

video credit: Michael Hatte

05/26/2026

The EASIEST thing you can do to save right whales is take two mins to use your voice to protect them from accidental boat strikes. Seasonal speed limits make sense. Just like we have speed limits in school zones. We only have until June 2nd to submit comments https://endangered.quorum.us/campaign/159842/

05/25/2026

Happy Memorial Day! If you're at the beach, be sure to leave no trace. Take your trash with you, do not disturb marine life (keep a distance of 300 feet), leave tide pools undisturbed, and be mindful of protected nesting areas. It's simple, just treat our home like your own. 🩵

Sincerely, the ocean.

05/22/2026

North Atlantic right whales need your voice‼️Could you imagine being only 1 years old and having to navigate this maze of an ocean? Speed limits give right whales a chance to migrate safely along the coast, while humans continue to use the ocean. Tell NOAA you're in favor of seasonal speed limits to protect these whales: https://endangered.quorum.us/campaign/159842/

05/19/2026

Before you book, look for the Whale SENSE logo. This ensures you're on a boat that is committed to responsible eco-tourism.

Whale SENSE is a voluntary education and recognition program offered to commercial whale watching companies in the U.S. Atlantic and Alaska Regions. This program was developed in collaboration with the whale watching industry and recognizes whale watching companies committed to responsible practices and program criteria outlined in the SENSE acronym.

S= stick to regional whale watching guidelines
E= Educate passengers and crew. Captains and naturalists complete annual training
N= Notify appropriate network of whales in distress
S= Set an example for other boaters
E= Encourages ocean stewardship

You can find a list of Whale SENSE companies here: https://us.whales.org/whales-dolphins/science/whale-sense-responsible-whale-watching/

05/18/2026

If you, or someone you know, spends time out on the water, take this course! This program is dedicated to preparing boaters and sailors on the East Coast, West Coast, and Hawai’i to safely navigate through waters with protected marine species, especially large whales, for the safety and wellbeing of both boaters and marine species.

https://us.whales.org/whales-dolphins/science/see-a-spout-for-recreational-boaters/

See a spout? Watch out! 🐋

We’re expanding our See a Spout program to the West Coast and Hawaii! This program helps ocean users stay safe and learn how to observe and protect whales in each region. New FREE online courses are now live in NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, NOAA's Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries, and Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary .

In under 30 minutes, you’ll learn how to:
✔ Understand whale behavior
✔ View whales responsibly
✔ Respond if you see a whale in distress

These courses are perfect for boaters, paddlers, and anyone who spends time in the ocean or wants to learn more about whales on the East Coast in NOAA's Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, West Coast, and Hawai’i! They were created in partnership with the Whale and Dolphin Conservation, NOAA Fisheries Service, NOAA Fisheries New England/Mid-Atlantic, NOAA Fisheries West Coast, NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands, the New Bedford Whaling Museum, the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, The Marine Mammal Center, and the Santa Barbara Channel Whale Heritage Area.

Learn more about the courses: https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/visit/boating/see-a-spout.html.

Share with your crew and help keep sanctuary waters safe for whales and people alike!

📸: J. Moore/NOAA Permit #20311