Despite a recent increase in the number of baby whales born to the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale population, experts warn that the species is still at risk of extinction. While the birth of 15 calves this winter is a positive sign, it is not enough to ensure the species' survival. The population needs approximately 50 or more calves per year for several years to stop its decline and allow for recovery. The whales are vulnerable to collisions with large ships and entanglement in commercial fishing gear, which are the primary causes of their deaths. Without stronger laws to protect against these threats, the species remains in peril. The federal government's moratorium on federal rules designed to protect right whales until 2028 is not sufficient, and commercial fishing groups have pushed for a proposal to extend that pause for even longer. However, there is still time left for more baby whales to be born this winter, but the lack of reproductive females in the population makes it unlikely that the species will recover through natural means alone. Experts emphasize the need for additional efforts to tackle the two primary causes of right whale deaths, being entanglement in fishing gear and being hit by boats.
