Visit our Program webpage for current information about
the North Atlantic Right Whale Program.


The Marine Resources Council's Right Whale Monitoring Program was established in 1995 to reduce human impacts to the endangered North Atlantic right whale. Citizens on the east coast of Florida report land‑based sightings of right whales to our hotline (1‑888‑97‑WHALE). This information is passed on to local ship traffic to avoid ship strikes, which account for over one‑third of documented right whale deaths in the North Atlantic Ocean.

Friday, November 30, 2012

First Ever Right Whales Confirmed by Volunteers in November!

Well, whale season is starting a little early!  Two right whales were spotted off Flagler Beach yesterday, November 29th.  This is the first confirmed right whale sighting for the state of Florida for the season and coastal residents were responsible for reporting the sighting!  Aerial survey teams in Florida typically don't start flying until December 1st.  So, to see right whales as far south as Flagler Beach, FL before December is very exciting!  We're used to having a little warning from the aerial surveys that the whales are headed our way, but the whales sneaked right by the survey areas, which don't go any farther south than Crescent Beach.

The Marineland Right Whale project posted an update on their blog describing the afternoon's events as they worked to verify MRC's hotline call.  It took about 4 hours to verify a species ID, determine the number of whales, and whether a calf was present.  As of December 6th, there is still some debate as to whether or not it was a mom/calf pair, or 2 adults/juveniles.

A huge thank you goes out to Frank Gromling for making several phone calls and getting responders to the scene.  We couldn't have done it without him!  Joy Hampp and Sheila McKenney with the Marineland Right Whale project were on scene for verification.  Here's what they posted on their blog:

"For the first time since the Marineland Right Whale Project began in 2001, we confirmed right whales in Flagler Beach in November! Julie Albert of Marine Resources Council received the call on the Hotline this afternoon and we mobilized a response team from Nautilis Condominium in south Flagler Beach. They spotted two whales at S 25th Street and followed them as they quickly moved to the Flagler County line, disappearing as they swam into Volusia. Despite searching for two hours in Ormond Beach, we did not see the whales again and were unable to get photographs with our long lens. However, Dale Hench of Nautilus got a photo of a right whale’s head and the tip of a second whale’s fluke, so we could confirm species and number. Based on behavior, we believe that they were two adult/juveniles.

So, it’s time to dust off the binoculars and turn your eyes seaward in case any other right whales decide to make an early appearance. May this be the harbinger of a great season!"