Right whales off North America’s east coast are dwindling to dangerous levels – nearing extinction with only 350 to 400 North Atlantic whales alive today.

Even though they are far away from the international law-breaking Japanese whale hunters, their newest enemy is our own government. Just recently, the Supreme Court sided with the Navy for a sonar training range which harms marine wildlife according to many environmentalists.

With funding by NOAA Fisheries, (another arm of Uncle Sam) Wildlife Trust is busy right now monitoring the last known calving grounds of the N.A. right whales. As this image shows, the calving grounds extend from the upper half of Florida to North Carolina.

An entangled Right whale.
Credit: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

One thing government did do right was make ships coming in and out of Charleston slow down to 10 knots.

• 1/23/9: NOAA Gives Navy Marine Mammal Protection Measures for Sonar Training off the Atlantic Coast and Gulf of Mexico
• 2/12/9: Crews Work to Free Another Right Whale From Entangling Ropes
• 2/18/9: Harbor pilots seek exemption from federal slow-down rule, citing “Boats that perform law enforcement or search-and-rescue work get a waiver”

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