CR

North Atlantic Right Whale

Eubalaena glacialis

DecliningCREUCREU

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

North Atlantic right whales face an extinction crisis driven primarily by ship strikes and entanglement in fishing gear, which together account for over 85% of known mortalities. The species' coastal feeding and migration routes overlap extensively with major shipping lanes and dense fishing areas along the eastern North American seaboard. Climate-driven shifts in prey distribution have forced whales into new areas with less protection, increasing exposure to these anthropogenic threats. With fewer than 340 individuals remaining, every preventable death significantly impacts the population's viability.

Threat summary

Habitat

North Atlantic right whales inhabit coastal and continental shelf waters of the western North Atlantic, migrating seasonally between feeding grounds in the Gulf of Maine, Bay of Fundy, and Scotian Shelf, and calving areas off the southeastern United States. They prefer areas with high concentrations of copepod prey, particularly in upwelling zones and areas of strong tidal mixing.

Marine neritic· major

Conservation measures underway

LegislationPolicies and regulations

Other threatened species in BALAENIDAE

EN

North Pacific Right Whale

Eubalaena japonica

Unknown

Threatened in France

VU

Lepiota echinella

Unknown
VU

Copper Shark

Carcharhinus brachyurus

Declining
EN

Lyophyllum deliberatum

Unknown
VU

Large Tree-chernes

Dendrochernes cyrneus

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is North Atlantic Right Whale classified as Critically Endangered?
North Atlantic Right Whale is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. North Atlantic right whales face an extinction crisis driven primarily by ship strikes and entanglement in fishing gear, which together account for over 85% of known mortalities. The species' coastal feeding and migration routes overlap extensively with major shipping lanes and dense fishing areas along the eastern North American seaboard. Climate-driven shifts in prey distribution have forced whales into new areas with less protection, increasing exposure to these anthropogenic threats. With fewer than 340 individuals remaining, every preventable death significantly impacts the population's viability.
Where does North Atlantic Right Whale live?
North Atlantic Right Whale occurs in France, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Mauritius, and Mexico (plus 3 other countries). Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to North Atlantic Right Whale?
The main threats to North Atlantic Right Whale are 11.1, 4.3, ai-1, and ai-2. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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