DMR Marine Mammal Survey Program Quarterly Update: July-September 2026
By Sarah Leiter, Department of Marine Resources
The Department of Marine Resources (DMR) Division of Marine Mammal Research Survey Program is designed to increase our understanding of when and where North Atlantic right whales occur in the Gulf of Maine by conducting monthly visual surveys from vessels and planes for right whales and other species. These surveys have been conducted monthly since July 2024. The program began publishing quarterly updates in Landings in 2025.
Total effort in nautical miles (NM) from both survey platforms are summarized by month.
Whale sightings from aerial and vessel surveys conducted in Quarter 3 (July, August and September) of 2026 are listed in the sighting table and displayed in the sighting maps. Only large and medium whale sightings are reported here, which include North Atlantic right, blue, fin, sei, humpback, sperm, and minke whales.
Notably in July, high numbers of fin, humpback, and minke whales were seen inshore, and the average distance from shore for these sightings was about 10 nautical miles. To date, there have been no detections of North Atlantic right whales from vessel surveys and three detections from aerial surveys.
Sighting Table: Number of Whales by Species, July – September 2026
More information on the DMR Survey Program, including monthly and annual program reports, can be found at https://www.maine.gov/dmr/science/right-whale/monitoring. Sightings of North Atlantic right whales and effort track lines are posted on the day following each aerial or vessel survey to www.whalemap.org.
Data collection by the DMR Survey Program is conducted under US NMFS Permit No. 27858. The Program enthusiastically accepts feedback and/or questions from the fishing community. Please contact Sarah.Leiter@Maine.gov.
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