Rescuers are trying to reach an endangered whale spotted tangled in a rope off Block Island

Katie Landeck, USA TODAY NETWORK
·2 min read
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An entangled North Atlantic right whale, a critically endangered species, was spotted about 50 miles south of Block Island on Tuesday.

NOAA Fisheries biologists are monitoring the whale and attempting to respond to the entanglement, according to a press release, but so far conditions have not cooperated.

"Given the long distance from shore, experts were unable to safely travel to the last known location of the whale during daylight to attempt a rescue," the release said. "NOAA Fisheries and our partners will monitor this whale and attempt to respond to the entanglement, if possible, as weather and safety conditions allow."

Boaters are encouraged to call in sightings.

How many North Atlantic right whales are left?

Only a handful of North Atlantic right whales are left in the world. The North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium estimates there are about 356 left.

Right whale populations were decimated before a hunting ban went into effect in 1935. The population was estimated to be at about 481 whales in 2011, but then the population dropped again between 2013 and 2020.

CAPE COD BAY -- 04/01/24 -- A right whale dives deeper into the water showing off its flukes. A team from the Center for Coastal Studies was out in Cape Cod Bay Monday searching for North Atlantic right whales. Aboard the research vessel Shearwater, the group documented right whale sightings and collected zooplankton samples. Eighteen to 19 right whales were seen on the almost nine hour trip. Photos taken under the Center for Coastal Studies’ NOAA permit 25740-02. Merrily Cassidy/Cape Cod Times

What to know: This critically endangered whale is trying to make a comeback. Humans keep killing them.

Even so, between January and October in 2023, New England Aquarium analysis of the population found 32 human-caused injuries to right whales, including six entanglement cases with gear attached, 24 entanglement cases with no gear attached and two vessel strikes.

"Many of these injuries will likely lead to death, while other injured or sick whales may not be able to reproduce because of their condition," said Philip Hamilton, senior scientist at the New England Aquarium’s Anderson Cabot Center in a press release.

The entangled whale spotted off of Block Island was identified an adult male, #4143 to be exact. He was first recorded by scientists as a calf in 2011.

More: How are right whales in Cape Cod Bay studied? A day on the research boat Shearwater

Last month, he was spotted swimming gear free in Cape Cod Bay, NOAA said. The most recent aerial survey spotted the issue.

"Right whale #4143 has rope coming out of both sides of its mouth. The rope also trails beyond the flukes, but the rope does not wrap around the whole body," the NOAA fisheries report said. "Fortunately, the whale’s overall condition is good, and he was observed feeding during the aerial sighting."

How to report a right whale in distress

If you see this right whale or another in distress, call in the sighting with one of these three options:

  • Greater Atlantic Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline at (866) 755-6622

  • Southeast Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline at (877) WHALE-HELP; (877) 942-5343)

  • Hail the US Coast Guard on VHF Channel 16.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Entangled right whale seen off Block Island coast, rescue being attempted