First Right Whale Calf Death of the Year Reported in Florida
Last weekend a sportfishing boat off the coast of St. Augustine, Florida struck and killed a one-month-old North Atlantic Right Whale calf, according to Florida news outlets. The fishing boat reported the strike after it had to run ground to avoid sinking – the five people aboard were unharmed.
Why This Matters: Since 2017, 47 North Atlantic right whales had been found dead or injured, and the population of this species has shrunk to only 400 members. These deaths are preventable — and environmental groups argue that the government should have stricter rules to protect this species now given the spike in fatalities.
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