PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • January 19, 2026
Over the coming months, North Atlantic right whales will begin their migration north toward New England. There was a time when thousands of right whales passed our shores each year. Today, around 70 breeding females remain. This is devastating. Entanglement in fishing gear remains the leading cause of injury and death. Ship strikes are another constant danger. The fate of right whales is about coexistence, stewardship, and whether we can find ways to ensure their migrations continue alongside modern life. These whales have endured centuries of change. Whether they endure this one remains uncertain. As we begin a new year and reflect on what we value, I hope we hold space for the fragile hope that they will continue to return, year after year, to the place they have always known as home. ~ Cindy Lowry, Maine-based environmental advocate with more than two decades of experience protecting marine wildlife