Over 115 Endangered Right Whales Spotted Off Southern New England

A significant concentration of North Atlantic right whales has been observed off southern New England. In fact, the New England Aquarium has documented more than a quarter of the species' population during the last six weeks.

According to a (Newburyport) Daily News report, scientists in the aquarium's Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life regularly conduct aerial surveys south of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket to collect data on whales, dolphins, turtles, and other marine species. The aquarium collaborated with the NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center's aerial survey team.

As the Daily News reported, researchers conducted six aerial surveys south of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket between early February and mid-March to study whales and other marine life. During the surveys, researchers photographed more than 115 unique North Atlantic right whales, indicating a high presence of the species in the region.

“Seeing this many right whales in one area has been incredibly exciting for our team and marks one of the busiest seasons we've ever had,” said Katherine McKenna, an associate scientist on the aerial survey team, in a statement to the Daily News. “Our recent surveys highlight the Nantucket Shoals as an important habitat for a significant portion of the population.”

Another standout right whale observed this past month is “the Irish whale,” which attracted attention last year. This right whale, which hasn't yet been recorded in the North Atlantic Right Whale Catalog, was first detected in Ireland in 2024 and again in Cape Cod Bay in 2025.

According to researchers, the winter and spring seasons are the peak times of the year for right whale sightings to appear in southern New England waters.