NATIONAL FISHERMAN • April 27, 2023
NOAA Fisheries is working with partner agencies and organizations to rebuild and conserve the remaining North Atlantic right whale population. Now estimated to number only around 340 animals, they are one of the world's most endangered species. NOAA says that tracking and monitoring the right whale population and the health of these mammals is crucial to their recovery efforts. Suction cup tags are applied to a whale’s back as it comes to the surface for air. Most of these tags stay on for a few hours to a few days and then release when the suction is lost. The tag then float to the surface so it can be located by scientists so they can retrieve the device and download the data collected.