Maine Right Whale Surveys Update

By DMR Division of Marine Mammal Research staff

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. These surveys have been conducted monthly since July of 2024 and the program began publishing quarterly reports in 2025. 

The results presented here are preliminary findings from aerial and vessel surveys conducted in Quarter 1 & 2 (January – June) of 2026. Only large and medium whale sightings are reported, including North Atlantic right, blue, fin, sei, humpback, sperm, and minke whales. Aerial surveys detected two North Atlantic right whales in January 2026 just north of Cashes Ledge. Other large whale species sighted during the first half of the year were primarily humpback and fin whales.

Total survey effort in nautical miles from both survey platforms is summarized in the table by month. Aerial and vessel survey effort in the first half of the year totaled over 10,000 nautical miles. “I am proud of the diligent work by the Division’s Survey Program and contractors over the past two years that has allowed us to collect this vital data,” Sarah Leiter, acting director of the Division of Marine Mammal Research, said.

More information on the DMR survey program, including monthly and annual reports, can be found at https://www.maine.gov/dmr/science/right-whale/monitoring. Sightings of North Atlantic right whales and effort track lines from the Survey Program are posted the day following each aerial or vessel survey to www.whalemap.org. 

The Survey Program data are collected under US 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.