Blumenthal, Booker, Menendez, Merkley, & Whitehouse Urge NOAA to Address Rising Number of Whale Deaths Along the Atlantic Coast

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) called on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to address the rising number of whale deaths along the Atlantic Coast. With some endangered whale species already at risk of extinction, the letter comes as more than 20 whales have died between North Carolina and Nova Scotia, Canada, since December 2022.

“In recent months, there has been a concerning number of whale deaths along the Atlantic coast,” the senators wrote in reference to the deaths of humpback whales and North Atlantic right whales (NARWs). “There are fewer than 340 NARWs remaining, including fewer than 70 breeding females, and without action, the NARW will likely go extinct.”

“If we do not act, other whale species may face the same fate,” the senators continued, highlighting other recent unusual whale deaths, including those of gray whales on the Pacific coast.

The senators asked NOAA to describe how it will use funds to address whale injuries and deaths from gear entanglement and vessel collisions – the likely cause of death in many of these incidents according to preliminary reports. The letter also asks the agency to detail its reporting procedures and elaborate on, “what additional resources NOAA may need to strengthen its efforts to protect and conserve marine mammals and prevent their deaths.”

“We believe accessibility, transparency, and timeliness is of the utmost importance for NOAA’s whale injury and death reporting,” the senators wrote while calling for strengthened data-sharing practices with the public, non-profit organizations, and government partners. “We look forward to working with you to ensure the health and well-being of our oceans’ marine mammals.” 

In February 2022, Blumenthal, Booker, and Whitehouse introduced the Right Whale Coexistence Act, legislation that would establish a new grant program to fund collaborative research between government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and maritime industries to reduce human impacts on North Atlantic right whales.  A modified version of the Right Whale Coexistence Act passed in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Public Law No. 117-328). 

The full text of the letter can be found here.

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