Four years of slow gains

One of the world’s rarest whales—the North Atlantic right whale—has recorded another year of modest population growth, according to new figures from the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium. Researchers estimate 384 animals, up eight from last year and about 7% above the 2020 trough. The giants remain critically endangered, facing two main threats: ship strikes and entanglement in fishing gear. Scientists credited targeted protections, including slower vessel speeds in key habitats and gear modifications, for stabilizing numbers after a decade of steep decline.

Threats remain acute

Conservationists warn the population’s margin for error is vanishingly small; the loss of even a few breeding females can erase years of gains. Regulators continue to test ropeless traps and dynamic speed zones to reduce deaths without crippling fisheries. The consortium’s report urges sustained enforcement, real-time monitoring and broader adoption of whale-safe gear across North Atlantic fisheries. The uptick offers hope—but not relief—while collisions and entanglements remain the leading causes of mortality.