Georgia’s Whale Week Focuses on Critical Conservation Efforts for the North Atlantic Right Whale

The annual Whale Week, organized by the Tybee Island Marine Science Center, is scheduled to take place along the Georgia coast, specifically on Tybee Island, from December 1 through December 6, 2025. This significant event is dedicated to raising public awareness about the critically endangered North Atlantic Right Whale (Eubalaena glacialis), a species that traditionally utilizes these vital waters as its primary calving grounds during the winter season.

The comprehensive program for Whale Week incorporates various educational and outreach formats across both Savannah and Tybee Island. Activities planned include screenings of documentary films, engaging marine biology trivia competitions, and expert-led discussion panels. The week’s events will culminate on December 6 with a family festival hosted at the Marine Science Center, featuring interactive educational exhibits. These coordinated efforts are designed to draw attention to the species' precarious population status and emphasize the necessary support methods essential for its long-term recovery.

The North Atlantic Right Whale remains severely threatened with extinction. According to the most recent assessments released by the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium, the population count reached 384 individuals in 2024. This figure represents a modest 2.1% increase over the revised 2023 estimate of 376 whales. This slow upward trend marks the fourth consecutive year of growth, following a substantial decline observed throughout the preceding decade. Encouragingly, the most recent breeding season, spanning from November 2024 to April 2025, saw the documentation of 11 newborn calves, four of which were born to first-time mothers.

These animals undertake vast seasonal migrations. They spend their summers feeding in the Gulf of Maine before relocating south to the warmer coastal waters off Georgia and Florida during the winter months to give birth. Historically, the eastern population of this species, which once thrived off the coasts of Europe, has been entirely eradicated. Consequently, the remaining western population is subject to intense conservation scrutiny.

To minimize human-caused mortality during their critical winter residency along the southeastern U.S. coastline, strict regulatory measures are enforced. Vessels exceeding 65 feet in length must adhere to a mandatory 10-knot speed restriction within designated Seasonal Management Areas (SMAs) during the period from November 2025 through April 2026. These regulations are paramount, as they are specifically designed to reduce the risk of vessel strikes and entanglement in fishing gear—the two primary anthropogenic factors driving right whale mortality.

While 2024 recorded five fatalities attributed to these causes, the year 2025 has thus far registered zero documented deaths from either entanglement or collision, offering a glimmer of hope for conservationists. Physically, North Atlantic Right Whales are formidable creatures, reaching lengths of 13 to 16 meters and weighing approximately 100 tons, notably lacking a dorsal fin. Despite the recent, albeit sluggish, recovery, the current rate of population increase falls short of the thresholds required for sustainable growth, underscoring the critical and ongoing necessity of strictly adhering to all protective protocols.