• Aerial Survey Team
• Sighting Advisory System
  • Sighting Advisory System
  • Report a sighting (pdf form)
• Right Whales
  • NOAA Right Whale Facts
  • Right Whale Photo-ID catalog
  • North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium
• Conservation
  • SMA and DMA regulation details
  • Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan
  • Mandatory Ship Reporting
  • Northeast Implementation Team Ship Strike Reduction Group
• Aerial Surveys
  • NEFSC Right Whale Sighting Surveys
  • NEFSC General Abundance Surveys
  • P'town Center for Coastal Studies
  • New England Aquarium
  • EcoHealth Alliance
  • Florida Fish and Wildlife
• Shipboard Surveys
  • NEFSC General Abundance Surveys
  • New England Aquarium
  • NEFSC 2010 Right Whale Cruise
  • P'town Center for Coastal Studies
  • Whale Center of New England
• Other Sighting Sources
  • Right Whale Listening Network
  • IFAW
  • Cape Cod Stranding Network
  • Whale Center of New England
  • Blue Ocean Society
• NARWSS Reports
  • 2010 Annual Report
  • 2009 Annual Report
  • 2008 Annual Report
  • 2007 Annual Report
  • 2006 Annual Report
  • 2005 Annual Report
  • 2004 Annual Report
  • 2003 Annual Report
  • 2002 Annual Report
• Sighting Maps by Year
  • 2011
  • 2010
  • 2009
  • 2008
  • 2007
  • 2006
  • 2005
  • 2004
  • 2003
•  

(right whale illustration courtesy of Pieter Folkens, ©2011)

Interactive map of right whale sightings collected by the Sighting Advisory System between 2002 and present, including all positions north of latitude 36°35'N (does not include the southeast calving grounds). Click on a symbol for more information on each sighting. Use the + and - to zoom in and out. Also, see more sightings made by the aerial survey team, mapped on OBIS.

Mariners are urged to use caution and proceed at safe speeds in areas where right whales occur.  U.S. Law (50CF 224.105) prohibits operating vessels 65 feet (19.8 meters) or greater in excess of 10 knots in Seasonal Management Areas (SMAs) along the U.S. east coast.  Mariners are also requested to route around voluntary speed restriction zones (Dynamic Management Areas—DMAs) or transit through them at 10 knots or less.  Approaching right whales closer than 500 yards is a violation of federal and state law. Please report all right whale sightings from VA to ME to 978-585-8473, and from NC to FL to 904-237-4220. Right whale sightings in any location may also be reported to the U.S. Coast Guard via channel 16. For more information about ship strike reduction regulations, please visit: www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/shipstrike