While ship strikes are known to kill individuals of nearly every species of large whale, right whales appear especially susceptible. Their feeding and calving areas and migratory corridors are near several designated shipping lanes. Right whales also spend much of their time at the surface, feeding, resting, mating and nursing. Particularly vulnerable are calves, which must remain near the surface due to their undeveloped diving capabilities. At the surface, right whales appear focused on what they are doing and make little effort to move from the path of oncoming ships.
Right whales are difficult to spot because of their dark color and low profile in the water.
In some cases, ships may hit right whales without ever knowing a collision occurred. The Northern Atlantic right whale was listed as endangered throughout its range in 1970. Several thousand right whales once existed in the North Atlantic Ocean. Years of commercial whale hunting at the turn of the century severely depleted the stocks. Today, despite more than 60 years of protection, right whales have not fully recovered.