October 21, 2025 — Researchers say they see “positive news” in the latest population estimate for North Atlantic right whales, but stress that conservation measures are still needed to save the critically endangered species from extinction.
The North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium, which is meeting in New Bedford, Massachusetts this week, says the population estimate for 2024 is 384, an increase of 2.1% from the previous year. The past four years have shown a trend of “slow growth,” the New England Aquarium said.
“It’s always a great feeling when we can share positive news about this critically endangered species,” said consortium chair Heather Pettis, who leads the right whale research program at the aquarium.
There have not been any reported right whale deaths this year and there have been fewer injuries detected than in years past, which Pettis said “leaves us cautiously optimistic about the future of North Atlantic right whales.”