North Atlantic right whales are one of the most critically endangered large mammals on Earth, with fewer than 350 individuals remaining. Entanglement and vessel strikes cause severe suffering and population collapse.
The welfare of North Atlantic right whales is inseparable from their conservation status. Entangled whales suffer profoundly - dragging heavy gear causes wounds that become infected, and the physical burden causes progressive exhaustion over weeks or months. Vessel strikes cause immediate traumatic injury. Even whales that survive may be permanently scarred or reproductively compromised. Each individual death or injury matters enormously given the tiny population size.