Fourth North Atlantic Right Whale Found Dead This Year

[hatrack]

GLOUCESTER, Massachusetts, December 17, 2004 (ENS) - A fourth North Atlantic right whale has been found dead this season in U.S. Atlantic waters. With only some 300 members of the species left alive, these are among the world’s most endangered large whales. Trained whale observers on U.S. Coast Guard flights located the carcass of a North Atlantic right whale southeast of Nantucket Island on Saturday. Bad weather prevented a scientific team on the water from examining the remains and taking samples and to determine the cause of death. The carcass was first sighted and reported December 9 by a U.S. Coast Guard vessel. Scientists hope to relocate and sample the animal this week.

The carcass is the fourth confirmed North Atlantic right whale death this year. Earlier this year, a calf beached and died of unknown causes and two pregnant females were killed by ship strikes.

In response to this series of whale deaths, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's NOAA Fisheries is organizing a summit among federal agencies to seek immediate voluntary actions that will make East Coast waters safer for migrating and calving North Atlantic right whales.

“The losses of two pregnant females during 2004 is extremely damaging to this national living treasure,” said NOAA Fisheries Director Dr. William Hogarth. “NOAA is pursuing a vigorous strategy to reduce human-caused deaths and turn this population around, but that takes time.”

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[Yuugal]

1. turn up the sonar!

Free sashimi on the beach tonight!

http://shiftingbaselines.org/index.php

[hatrack]

2. Good link - thanks!

:hi: