A critically endangered North Atlantic right whale was found dead on approximately 25 miles/40km off the US coast of Avon, North Carolina last week.
The whale was identified as “Division” (#5217), a 4-year-old male and spotted on on January 27, 2026. Division died from his entanglement injuries. Responders tried to disentangle the whale back in December, but those efforts were not fully successful, and the rope remained around the whale.
According to NOAA Fisheries:
“Tracking showed he moved north into waters off of New England, then back south again. Aerial visual assessments showed declining health and worsening injuries due to his entanglement. Poor weather and his distance from shore prevented teams from conducting further boat-based disentanglement efforts. Recently, the satellite track began showing a movement pattern more consistent with drifting than active travel.
“On January 27, a Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute aerial survey team flew over the area of recent telemetry transmissions off of North Carolina. Despite unfavorable weather and high seas, teams documented a floating partial carcass approximately 25 miles offshore of Avon, North Carolina. Scientists from the New England Aquarium reviewed images of the carcass and confirmed it was Division. Due to the weather-related dangerous ocean conditions and distance from shore, there will be no attempts to recover the carcass and bring it to shore for examination. Disentanglement teams transferred the gear they removed in December to NOAA for documentation and analysis.”
Advocates at Oceana placed the blame for the whale’s death squarely on government officials.
According to Nora Ives, marine scientist for Oceana in the United States:
“Another whale has died, and the blame lies squarely with the government. Humans have caused preventable pain and suffering for these critically endangered animals for long enough. What will it take for our elected officials to finally implement solutions like on-demand fishing gear and slowing vessels down to prevent further tragedies like this one? Continuing to ignore this issue will guarantee more right whale deaths. We need urgent action now. Oceana challenges policymakers to right this wrong, stand up for marine life and for the health of our oceans by adequately funding and staffing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), advancing stronger protections for right whales, and supporting bedrock laws like the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act before another whale washes up on our coastlines.”
While Hanna Vatcher, North Atlantic right whale campaigner at Oceana in Canada added:
“Despite 2026 starting with the most calf births since 2011, the news of a North Atlantic right whale death is a devastating reminder that this critically endangered species remains on the brink of extinction. After a year with no reported deaths, this loss is especially heartbreaking. With only about 380 individuals left, including just 70 breeding females, every death brings this population closer to collapse.
“Oceana Canada urges Fisheries and Oceans Canada to accelerate the transition to ropeless fishing gear in high-risk areas and to release its long-overdue Whalesafe Fishing Gear Strategy. Entanglements are preventable and Canada must act now to stop more avoidable deaths and rebuild the species.”
NOAA said it will be able to draw lessons from the whale’s death:
“Division’s case provided a unique opportunity to track the movement of an entangled right whale throughout its habitat. This valuable insight will help inform future responses.”
