IFAW response to the death of a juvenile North Atlantic right whale

(February 12, 2026 – Washington DC) — Earlier this week the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries and marine Mammal Stranding Network partners responded to a deceased, juvenile North Atlantic right whale on a remote barrier island off the coast of Virginia.   

IFAW says that this death of another critically endangered North Atlantic Right whale is especially tragic, as it was a promising three-year-old female. She was born in 2023 and was the calf of right whale #3293 ‘Porcia’. 

The cause of death is still pending. 

This whale marks the 170th right whale to be affected during the Unusual Mortality Event that has been ongoing for this species since 2017. There are only approximately 380 right whales left, so nearly half of the population has experienced significant negative human impacts in recent years.  

Although this trend is alarming, experts from IFAW say that there is still hope for this species.   

“North Atlantic right whales continue to die young primarily from vessel strikes and entanglement in fishing gear”, Sarah Sharp, Animal Rescue Veterinarian, IFAW, said.  

“But with advanced technology, additional management efforts, and a change in how we do business—it’s not too late to save these animals from extinction, and right whales could once again thrive in the ocean,” Sharp added 

“After such a successful calving season, a death of this magnitude is a stark reminder of the how vulnerable this population is,” Senior marine campaign manager Kathleen Collins said.  

“To see a juvenile female, who held so much potential to grow this population, needlessly die is infuriating.  The tools to protect them exist—we need this administration to step up and take responsibility to protect this vulnerable species. These deaths are not isolated events.” 

These deaths are symptoms of chronic, human-caused threats. Entanglement in fishing gear and vessel strikes continue to drive this species toward extinction, and mortalities have exceeded sustainable levels for decades.  

ENDS