DMR Marine Mammal Survey Report, October-December 2025

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 in Maine waters. These data will be used in modeling efforts that assess risk and inform efforts by the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team.

The results presented here are preliminary sighting data from aerial and vessel surveys for North Atlantic right whales and other marine species conducted October – December (2025). These surveys have been conducted monthly since July of 2024. Total effort in nautical miles is summarized by month.

Only large and medium whale sightings are reported, including North Atlantic right, blue, fin, sei, humpback, sperm, and minke whales. To date, there have been no detections of North Atlantic right whales from vessel surveys and three detections from aerial surveys.

More information on the DMR survey program, including monthly and annual reports, can be found on the website www.maine.gov/dmr/science/right-whale/monitoring/visual-surveys.

Sightings of North Atlantic right whales and effort track lines from the Survey Program are posted on the day following each aerial or vessel survey to www.whalemap.org.

DMR Aerial Survey Effort and Sightings October-December 2025

DMR Vessel Survey Effort and Sightings October-December 2025

Data collection by the DMR Survey Program is conducted under U.S. NMFS Permit No. 27858. The Survey Program enthusiastically accepts feedback and/or questions from the fishing community. Please submit feedback/questions to Sarah.Leiter@Maine.gov.