Once the prey of Martha's Vineyard whalers whose owners' homes still stand today, right whales have remained an endangered species long after the American whaling industry shut down.
There may be as few as 400 right whales remaining on the planet, and eight of them have been seen near Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket in recent days, according to NOAA.
"The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has issued a voluntary vessel speed reduction zone until March 1, asking mariners to avoid the area or travel through at less than 10 knots," in an effort to protect the whales from shipstrikes, writes Boston Globe reporter Billy Baker.
For more about right whales, please see:
- Wanted: Right Whale Caller ID (Wired magazine)
- North Atlantic Right Whale Sightings (NOAA)
- Right Whale Facts (NOAA)
- Right Whale, Calf Make Rare Winter Appearance off Plymouth Harbor (Patch)
Have you ever spotted right whales in Cape and Islands waters? Tell us in the comments.