Spreading the word through boater education
The North Atlantic right whale, Eubalaena glacialis, is a frequent visitor to Georgia’s coast. Right whale mothers visit the warmer waters here in Georgia and Northern Florida to give birth to their calves every year starting in November and continuing through April. These mother-calf pairs then travel back up to the cooler waters of New England in warm summer months. However, the North Atlantic right whale is one of the most endangered species in the world; only about 380 individuals remain, and less than 70 are breeding mothers.
These regular visits from right whales mean that Georgia’s waters are home to precious cargo during winter months: juvenile whales that represent the future of their species’ survival. While migrating, many of these calves and mothers face the danger of fishing line entanglement or vessel strikes, which can be fatal to their vulnerable animals. In fact, around 90% of right whale deaths are caused by one of these anthropogenic factors.
To reduce the risk of vessel strikes during right whale calving months, we have amplified our education efforts in the Georgia boater community. Our Georgia Sea Grant fellow, Dr. Sarah Roney, led a boater education campaign in which mailers with tips on how to boat safely during right whale calving season were sent to over 2,750 large vessel owners (30 ft+) across coastal Georgia. These mailers match the “Go Slow, Whales Below” signage that has been placed at marinas all across coastal Georgia.
These educational mailer efforts will be complemented with a social media ad campaign reminding boaters on the coast to “Go Slow, Whales Below!” during the critical right whale calving season.
In addition to our boater education efforts, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources has developed a survey to better understand boater perception of these conservation efforts. If you are a coastal boater, please fill out this survey and share it with others! Gathering more information about where, when, and how boaters are receiving messaging on right whale safety is critical to protecting this species in the future.