FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, December 20, 2024
Contact:
Kyla Bennett (508) 230-9933 kbennett@peer.org
Entanglements and Ship Strikes Dramatically Shorten Lifespans of North Atlantic Right Whales
Washington, DC — A new research paper finds that the lifespan of the highly endangered North Atlantic right whale is dramatically lower than its close relative in the southern hemisphere, the southern right whale. This means that conventional measures for assessing the species’ recovery have missed deeper problems, according to Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER).
The paper, “Extreme longevity may be the rule not the exception in Balaenid whales” finds that:
- Half the female southern right whales in one population are estimated to live to around 73 years, and about 10% of them are likely live to over 132. In contrast, the female North Atlantic right whales have a median lifespan of only 22 years, and 10% survive past age 47. The two species are very closely related and should have almost identical life histories;
- The authors suggest that, biologically, North Atlantic right whales should have similar lifespans to southern right whales; and
- North Atlantic right whales are dying at such young ages due to entanglements and ship strikes.
“There are virtually no old North Atlantic right whales, so they are unable to pass their skills and knowledge along to the next generation,” stated PEER Science Policy Director Kyla Bennett, a scientist and attorney formerly with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. “Imagine what our society would be like if half of all women died by their mid-20s. By looking at just population numbers and new calves, we are seeing only a part of what is required for species recovery.”
The paper is based upon data through 2020, so it also undercuts the idea that offshore wind power is an important driving factor on right whale mortality.
“This paper has two major findings”, said Dr Peter Corkeron of Griffith University, one of the study’s authors. “First, it shows that right whales can live much longer than previously expected. Second, female North Atlantic right whales have dramatically shortened lives, thanks to impacts from marine industries, primarily fishing and shipping. As our results are based on decades of data, it shows that, even when whale numbers were increasing, the steps being taken to mitigate human impacts were never really sufficient.”
The North Atlantic right whale is one of two large whale species on the brink of extinction, joining the Gulf of Mexico (Rice’s) whale. These would be the first large whale species to go extinct and they both reside in American waters.
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Meet Dr. Peter Corkeron one of the paper’s authors
See PEER’s critique of NOAA right whale science
