Expert Blog

Congress Introduces Bill to Protect Right Whales

The SAVE Right Whales Act comes at a pivotal point in the fight to save the right whale from extinction. Right whales have been experiencing a precipitous decline since 2010 and fewer than 340 whales now remain. 

Credit: Marine Mammal Alliance Nantucket
Headshot of Francine Kershaw
Dr. Francine Kershaw
Senior Scientist, Nature
A headshot of Valerie Cleland
Valerie Cleland
Senior Manager, Ocean Energy, Nature

Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tom Carper (D-DE), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) along with Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) today introduced the “Right Whale Coexistence Act” to support the recovery of the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale.

The bill, formerly known as the SAVE Right Whales Act, comes at a pivotal point in the fight to save the right whale from extinction. Right whales have been experiencing a precipitous decline since 2010 and fewer than 340 whales now remain. Fifty whales including three calves are known to have been killed or seriously injured since 2017, and the true number of deaths may be three times higher.

Without immediate and concerted conservation action to address the two major causes of decline—entanglement in fishing gear and vessel strikes—this iconic species could be effectively extinct within decades.

If the Right Whale Coexistence Act becomes law, it would authorize $15 million annually from 2022-2032 in new funding to develop, test, and implement innovative technologies and other strategies to reduce the risk of entanglement in fishing gear and vessel strikes.

State and tribal agencies, research institutions, nonprofit organizations, vessel owners and operators, members of maritime industries like fishing, shipping, and boating, and any other entity with the required expertise for North Atlantic right whale conservation may apply for grants.

Importantly, the bill prioritizes projects that have the greatest likelihood of reducing impacts from entanglements and vessel collisions, while also prioritizing projects that involve private sector stakeholders and that will provide economic benefits to small businesses in the United States. It also requires periodic reports to Congress on the results and effectiveness of the program.

The Right Whale Coexistence Act is an exciting step forward but there is still a long road ahead to get it passed into law, and we'll be fighting for this bill and these incredible animals the whole way.  

Related Issues
Ocean Wildlife

Related Blogs

Skip carousel items
A sign that read "stop plastic pollution" with an illustration of a pile of single use plastic bottles being displayed at a rally

Poll: People Want Action on Plastics for Health and Wildlife

Expert BlogInternational, Canada, United States, Ohio, PennsylvaniaDaniel Rosenberg
New poll results show overwhelming public support for government action to address the plastic crisis, including a strong global plastics treaty.
The propeller wounds are visible on the top of the calf’s head.

Right Whale Calf Succumbs to Vessel Strike Injuries

Expert BlogUnited States, EastDr. Francine Kershaw
The months-old calf of Juno has died from the injuries it sustained after being struck by a vessel in early January.
Artist standing with original acrylic on canvas

Gulf Whale Artist Series: Florida Artist Blends Art with Education

Expert BlogUnited States, FloridaLexi Nutkiewicz
Based in St. Petersburg, Florida, Kelly Quinn is the Co-founder and Art Director of Canvas of the Wild (COTW) where she designs natural landscape murals for educational campaigns, creates illustrations for coloring and activity books, and develops scientific graphics for…