Photo credit: NOAA
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced the sighting of a North Atlantic right whale and her calf off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts on April 1. The sighting was part of an arial survey conducted by the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC).
No word if the pair are planning to “summer (verb) on The Vineyard.”
The whale was identified as #1611, also known as Clover. NOAA reported that Clover was born in 1986 and this is her fourth calf.
According to NOAA, the whales were sighted and identified by Leah Crowe, who was flying with Peter Duley and Jennifer Gatzke of the NEFSC’s aerial survey group.
NOAA added that the sighting of this duo, along with two other right whales in the area, triggered a Dynamic Management Area (DMA), a voluntary vessel speed restriction zone to protect the whales in Rhode Island Sound 35 nautical miles south of Providence, Rhode Island through April 16. Mariners are requested to route around the area or transit through it at 10 knots or less.
Big shout out to the NOAA team and all their work to help protect these magnificent animals. And cheers to Clover and her calf.
Check out the full release from NOAA here.