Catching Up With Coral – Georgia Wildlife Blog

Here’s some sweet drone footage of two adult North Atlantic right whales about 18 nautical miles off St. Catherines Sound.

The duo includes right whale catalog No. 4980 — a female nicknamed Coral — and a male known only as No. 3950. These two have been seen together a few times this winter calving season. Even more significant, Coral, born in 2019, is a potential mom.

DNR team videos right whales Coral and No. 3950 Jan. 2. (DNR/NOAA permit 26919)

The Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute aerial survey team contracted by DNR spotted the whales Jan. 2 and our marine mammal team responded by boat. The crew videoed the whales and biopsied Coral.

Two things about the footage:

One, it shows how these bus-sized animals can stay just below the surface for much of the time. That’s a key factor in the risk of vessel strikes, a leading cause of injuries and death for this imperiled whale species.
Also, the DNR researchers shown here have the training and federal permits required to approach right whales safely and legally. It is illegal to approach right whales in U.S. waters without a research permit. Other vessels, aircraft and drones must maintain a distance of at least 500 yards from these endangered whales.

When boating off the coast of Georgia, northeast Florida and the Carolinas in winter, please keep watch for whales. Look for dark objects at the surface, large splashes, fluke swirls (slick spots on the surface) and recurring whitewater that could be made by a whale’s tail, and the “V” shaped spout whales create when they breathe. (For more, see “Where’s the Whale?“)

Report sightings by calling 877-WHALE-HELP (877-942-5343) or by hailing the U.S. Coast Guard on marine VHF channel 16.

If you do see a whale, slow down further, operate at slow speed or put your engine in neutral. Assess the scene and slowly leave the area while keeping watch — other whales could be nearby. Stay at least 500 yards from any right whale you see (it’s the law) and never pursue or follow one.