NORFOLK, Va. — The North Atlantic right whale is one of the most endangered marine mammals on the planet. The Navy says it is dedicated to is doing its part to protect this species on the brink of extinction.
According to an October report from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the North Atlantic right whale has been one on the world's most endangered species list since 1970.
There are believed to be just 372 individual whales remaining, with the number of calves born into the population each year ranging from zero to 39.
U.S. Navy ships such as the guided missile destroyer USS McFaul can play a big role saving the whales.
"We're all incredibly proud of the work we do out on the sea taking care of the nation's resources, whether it's the right whale, all the way up to defending our country," said Commander Bradley Steidel, McFaul Commanding Officer.
The Navy stations lookouts aboard the ships to search for the whales, as well as using passive acoustics and tagging to keep track of them.
And, if a whale is sighted, ships slow down until the animal leaves, and the vessels maintain 500-yard no-approach safety zones for the whales.
"If we get a report from a lookout that we've got a whale 1,000 yards of the starboard, first thing I'm going to do is make a speed change, slow the ship down, give us more time to react," said McFaul Lieutenant Junior Grade Andrew Movsesian.
U.S Fleet Forces Command Marine Mammal Protection Act Officer Christy Cowan says it's important the Navy be good stewards of the sea.
"It's great to know that we're contributing to Naval readiness, while also protecting marine resources," she said.
According to NOAA, in 2024 so far there have been five North Atlantic right whale deaths, three of them due to vessel strikes.
Despite that unfortunate statistic, the North Atlantic right whale is actually making a very modest comeback.
The population consisted of 358 whales in 2020, according to NOAA. It rose to 372 in 2023, an increase of 4%.