"Tragic Fate of Rare North Atlantic Right Whale Calf"

A rare North Atlantic right whale calf off the coast of South Carolina is expected to die from serious injuries likely caused by a boat propeller, highlighting the ongoing threat of vessel strikes and entanglements in fishing gear to the critically endangered species. Efforts to reduce boat speed limits near the whales' habitat have been unsuccessful, with fewer than 360 of the whales remaining. Conservation groups have urged the federal government to tighten vessel speed rules to protect the whales, emphasizing the preventable nature of these threats. Biologists stress the critical role of North Atlantic right whales in the marine ecosystem, as they help promote the growth of phytoplankton, which forms the foundation of the marine food web.