"Ship Collision Kills Endangered North Atlantic Right Whale off Virginia, Sparks Calls for Stricter Ship Speed Rules"

An endangered North Atlantic right whale, one of less than 360 remaining, was found dead off Virginia after suffering blunt force trauma from a ship strike, marking the fourth documented right whale death of 2024. The whale, a mother who gave birth to her sixth calf this season, had catastrophic injuries consistent with a vessel strike. Environmental groups have called for tighter regulations on commercial fishing and shipping to protect the vulnerable species, as human impacts continue to threaten their survival.