Cottontail, the Endangered Whale Caught Up in Fishing Gear Died After 5 Months of Struggle

After being entangled in fishing equipment for five months off the coast of South Carolina, a critically endangered whale died.

Cottontail

By the early 1890s, commercial whalers had hunted North Atlantic right whales to extinction. According to the GARFO, they are now one of the world's most endangered big whale populations, with only 400 individuals left.

The GARFO said, "The 48 whales recorded so far in the UME constitute more than 10% of the population and is a major setback to the species' recovery."

In addition to entanglement and vessel strikes, the whales, which are mainly found in the North Atlantic's coastal waters, face threats such as habitat loss, climate change, and increased underwater noise levels from human activity, both of which can disrupt their daily behavior and contact.

According to NOAA Fisheries, North Atlantic right whales can weigh up to 140,000 pounds and reach up to 52 feet in length.

While evidence on their total lifetime is small, these whales are expected to live to be about 70 years old. Furthermore, both female and male right whales tend to live just 45 and 65 years, respectively. According to researchers, this shorter longevity is due to aging caused by humans.

Marine Mammal Unusual Mortality Events

An accidental stranding involves a major die-off of any marine mammal species. It requires immediate action is described as an unusual mortality event (UME) under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Understanding and researching marine mammal UMEs is critical because they may serve as indices of ocean health, providing insight into broader environmental problems that may affect human health. NOAA Fisheries formed the Working Group on Marine Mammal Unusual Mortality Events in 1991 to fulfill this task. With revisions to the MMPA amendments, the working group was formalized in 1992.