Right whale: Difference between revisions

*†''[[Eubalaena ianitrix|E. ianitrix]]'' <small>Bisconti, Lambert, and Bosselaers, 2017</small><ref>Bisconti M, Lambert O, Bosselaers M. (2017) Revision of “Balaena”"Balaena" belgica reveals a new right whale species, the possible ancestry of the northern right whale, Eubalaena glacialis, and the ages of divergence for the living right whale species. PeerJ 5:e3464 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.3464</ref>

| range_map_caption = Range map of '''Eubalaena''' species:{{legend|#3fff00|''E. glacialis''<ref rangesname="iucn-glacialis"/>}} {{legend|#ef9b0f|''E. australis''<ref rangename="iucn-australis"/>}} {{legend|#0000ff|''E. japonica''<ref rangename="iucn-japonica"/>}}

All three species are [[Animal migration|migratory]], moving seasonally to feed or give birth. The warm equatorial waters form a barrier that isolates the northern and southern species from one another although the southern species, at least, has been known to cross the [[equator]]. In the Northern Hemisphere, right whales tend to avoid open waters and stay close to [[peninsula]]s and bays and on [[continental shelf|continental shelves]], as these areas offer greater shelter and an abundance of their preferred foods. In the Southern Hemisphere, right whales feed far offshore in summer, but a large portion of the population occur in near-shore waters in winter. Right whales feed mainly on [[copepods]] but also consume [[krill]] and [[pteropod]]s. They may forage the surface, underwater or even the ocean bottom. During courtship, males gather into large groups to compete for a single female, suggesting that [[sperm competition]] is an important factor in mating behavior. [[Gestation]] tends to last a year, and calves are Weanedweaned at eight months old.

Right whales were a preferred target for [[whaling|whalers]] because of their docile nature, their slow surface-skimming feeding behaviors, their tendency to stay close to the coast, and their high [[blubber]] content (which makes them float when they are killed, and which produced high yields of [[whale oil]]). Although the whales no longer face pressure from commercial whaling, mankindhumans remainsremain by far the greatest threat to these species: the two leading causes of death are being struck by ships and entanglement in fishing gear. Today, the [[North Atlantic Ocean|North Atlantic]] and [[North Pacific Ocean|North Pacific]] right whales are among the most endangered whales in the world.

[[File:081012 scan 27.jpg|thumb|North Pacific right whale in [[Half Moon Bay, California]], March 20, March 1982, photo by Jim Scarff]]

The right whales were first classified in the genus ''Balaena'' in 1758 by [[Carl Linnaeus]], who at the time considered all of the right whales (including the bowhead) as a single species. Through the 1800s19th and 1900s20th centuries, in fact, the family Balaenidae has been the subject of great taxonometric debate. Authorities have repeatedly recategorized the three populations of right whale plus the bowhead whale, as one, two, three or four species, either in a single genus or in two separate genera. In the early whaling days, they were all thought to be a single species, ''Balaena mysticetus''. Eventually, it was recognized that bowheads and right whales were in fact different, and [[John Edward Gray]] proposed the genus ''Eubalaena'' for the right whale in 1864. Later, morphological factors such as differences in the skull shape of northern and southern right whales indicated at least two species of right whale—onewhale – one in the Northern Hemisphere, the other in the [[Southern Ocean]].<ref name=Muller>
{{cite journal
|author=Müller, J.
|year=1954
|title=Observations of the orbital region of the skull of the Mystacoceti
|journal=Zoologische Mededelingen
|volume=32 |pages=239–90
|url=http://www.repository.naturalis.nl/document/149549
|format=PDF
}}</ref> As recently as 1998, Rice, in his comprehensive and otherwise authoritative classification, ''Marine mammals of the world: systematics and distribution'', listed just two species: ''Balaena glacialis'' (the right whales) and ''Balaena mysticetus'' (the bowheads).<ref>{{cite book | last = Rice | first = Dale W. | year = 1998 | title = Marine mammals of the world: systematics and distribution | publisher = Society of Marine Mammalogy |series=Special Publication No. 4|isbn=1891276034 }}</ref>

[[File:Southern right whale6.jpg|thumb|alt=Whale at surface|Southern right whale in the breeding grounds at [[Peninsula Valdés]] in, [[Patagonia]] ]]

In 2000, two studies of [[DNA]] samples from each of the whale populations concluded the northern and southern populations of right whale should be considered separate species. What some scientists found more surprising was the discovery that the North Pacific and North Atlantic populations are also distinct, and that the North Pacific species is more closely related to the southern right whale than to the North Atlantic right whale.<ref name="Rosenbaum" /><ref name="Malik">
{{cite journal
|authorauthor1=Malik, S. |author2=Brown, M. W. Brown
|author3=Kraus, S.D. Kraus|author4=White, B.N. White
|name-list-style=amp
|year=2000
|title=Analysis of mitochondrial DNA diversity within and between North and South Atlantic right whales
|journal=Marine Mammal Science
|volume=16 |issue=3 |pages=545–558|issue=3
|doi=10.1111/j.1748-7692.2000.tb00950.x}}</ref> The authors of one of these studies concluded that these species have not interbred for between 3&nbsp;million and 12&nbsp;million years.<ref name="Malik"/>

|label1=&nbsp;&nbspemsp; {{green|''Eubalaena'' (right whales)}} &emsp;

|label1=  
|1= {{green|''[[North Atlantic right whale|E. glacialis]]''   (North Atlantic right whale)}}

|label1=  
|1= {{green|''[[North Pacific right whale|E. japonica]]''   (North Pacific right whale)}}

|2= {{green|''[[Southern right whale|E. australis]]''   (Southern right whale)}}

|label2= ''[[Balaena]]'' (bowhead whales)

[[Whale louse|Whale lice]], [[Parasitism|parasitic]] [[cyamid]] [[crustacean]]s that live off skin debris, offer further information through their own genetics. Because these lice reproduce much more quickly than whales, their genetic diversity is greater. Marine biologists at the [[University of Utah]] examined these louse genes and determined their hosts split into three species 5–6&nbsp;million years ago, and these species were all equally abundant before [[whaling]] began in the 11th century.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Molecular Ecology|year=2005|volume=14|pages=3439–3456|title=Population histories of right whales (Cetacea: ''Eubalaena'') inferred from mitochondrial sequence diversities and divergences of their whale lice (Amphipoda: ''Cyamus'')|author=Kaliszewska, Z. A.|author2=J. Seger|author3=S. G. Barco|author4=R. Benegas|author5=P. B. Best|author6=M. W. Brown|author7=R. L. Brownell Jr.|author8=A. Carribero|author9=R. Harcourt|author10=A. R. Knowlton|author11=K. Marshalltilas|author12=N. J. Patenaude|author13=M. Rivarola|author14=C. M. Schaeff|author15=M. Sironi|author16=W. A. Smith|author17=T. K. Yamada|name-list-style=amp|doi=10.1111/j.1365-294X.2005.02664.x|pmid=16156814|issue=11|s2cid=803511|url=http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1092&context=usdeptcommercepub}}</ref> The communities first split because of the joining of [[North America|North]] and [[South America]]. The rising temperatures of the equator then created a second split, into northern and southern groups, preventing them from interbreeding.<ref name="paleo">

The [[pygmy right whale]] (''Caperea marginata''), a much smaller whale of the Southern Hemisphere, was until recently considered a member of the Family Balaenidae. However, they are not right whales at all, and their taxonomy is presently in doubt. Most recent authors place this species into the [[monotypic]] Family [[Neobalaenidae]],<ref>{{cite book|last1=Jackson|first1=Stephen|last2=Groves|first2=Colin|title=Taxonomy of Australian Mammals|date=2015|publisher=Csiro Publishing|isbn=9781486300136|page=315|url={{google books |plainurl=y |id=RPznCQAAQBAJ|page=305}}|access-date=22 February 2016|quote=The placement of ''Caperea'' within the monotypic Family Neobalaenidae is done with the qualification that future work may corroborate the referral of ''Caperea'' to the † Family Cetotheriidae.}}</ref> but a 2012 study suggests that it is instead the last living member of the Family [[Cetotheriidae]], a family previously considered extinct.<ref>{{Cite journal

| last2 = Marx | first2 = Felix G.

Yet another species of right whale was proposed by [[Emanuel Swedenborg]] in the 18th century—the so-called ''Swedenborg whale''. The description of this species was based on a collection of fossil bones unearthed at Norra Vånga, Sweden, in 1705 and believed to be those of [[giant (mythology)|giant]]s. The bones were examined by Swedenborg, who realized they belong to a species of whale. The existence of this species has been debated, and further evidence for this species was discovered during the construction of a motorway in [[Strömstad]], Sweden in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090605110420.htm|title=Prehistoric Whale Discovered On The West Coast Of Sweden|publisher=Sciencedaily.com|date=June 5, 2009|access-date=May 10, 2012}}</ref> To date, however, scientific consensus still considers ''Hunterius swedenborgii'' to be a North Atlantic right whale.<ref>{{cite web|last=Perrin|first=W.F.|title=Hunterius swedenborgii Lilljeborg, 1867|url=http://www.marinespecies.org/cetacea/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=383652|publisher=World Cetacea Database|access-date=29 September 2012|year=2012}}</ref> According to a DNA analysis conducted, it was later confirmed that the fossil bones are actually from a bowhead whale.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sciencenordic.com/whale-bones-found-highway-were-not-mystery-whale|title=Whale bones found in highway were not from mystery whale|publisher=ScienceNordic.com|date=February 7, 2013|access-date=March 26, 2013}}</ref>

A total of five ''Balaena'' fossils have been found in Europe and North America in deposits ranging from the late [[Miocene]] (about 10 [[mya (unit)|mya]]) to early [[Pleistocene]] (about 1.5 mya). These five specimens each have their own species status—''B.  affinis'', ''B.  etrusca'', ''B.  montalionis'', ''B.  primigenius'' and ''B.  prisca''. The last of these may prove to be the modern bowhead. Prior to these, there is a long gap before reaching the next related cetacean in the fossil record—record — ''Morenocetus'' was found in a South American deposit dating back 23 million years. -->

An unusually large 40% of their body weight is [[blubber]], which is of relatively low density. Consequently, unlike many other species of whale, dead right whales tend to float.<ref name="morphology">{{cite journal|url=http://darwin.wcupa.edu/~biology/fish/pubs/pdf/2006jmorph.pdf |title=Morphological Specializations of Baleen Whales Associated With Hydrodynamic Performance and Ecological Niche |journal=Journal of Morphology |year=2006 |volume=267 |pages=1284–1294 |quote=The true buoyancy of a particular whale is dependent upon its body composition, particularly the relative quantities of muscle and blubber tissues. Balaenopterid whales have a higher proportion of muscle tissue and tend to be negatively buoyant while the opposite is true for right whales (Lockyer, 1976). |last1=Woodward |first1=Becky L. |last2=Winn |first2=Jeremy P. |last3=Fish |first3=Frank E. |doi=10.1002/jmor.10474 |pmid=17051544 |issue=11 |s2cid=14231425 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305070553/http://darwin.wcupa.edu/~biology/fish/pubs/pdf/2006jmorph.pdf |archive-date=March 5, 2016 }}</ref><ref name="Lockyer">{{cite journal|title=Body weights of some species of large whales|author=Lockyer, C.|journal=Journal du Conseil International pour l'Exploration de la Mer|year=1976|volume=36|issue=3|pages=259–273|doi=10.1093/icesjms/36.3.259}}</ref> Many of southern right whales are seen with rolls of fats behind blowholes that northern species often lack, and these are regarded as a sign of better health condition due to sufficient nutrition supply, and could have contributed in vast differences in recovery status between right whales in the southern and northern hemisphere, other than direct impacts by humankind.<ref>Oceanus Magazine. [http://www.whoi.edu/oceanus/v2/article/images.do?id=9211 Images: Doing the Right Thing for the Right Whale]. [[Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution]]. Retrieved on November 5. 2014</ref>

The penis on a right whale can be up to {{convert|2.7|m|ft|abbr=on}} – the [[testes]], at up to {{convert|2|m|ft|abbr=on}} in length, {{convert|78|cm|ft|abbr=on}} in diameter, and weighing up to 525&nbsp;kg (1157&nbsp;lbs), are also by far the largest of any animal on Earth.<ref name="Feldhamer">{{cite book|last1=Feldhamer|first1=George A.|last2=Thompson|first2=Bruce C.|last3=Chapman|first3=Joseph A.|title=Wild mammals of North America : biology, management, and conservation|year=2003|publisher=Johns Hopkins University Press|location=Baltimore, Md.|isbn=9780801874161978-0-8018-7416-1|url={{google books |plainurl=y |id=-xQalfqP7BcC|page=432}}

|edition=2nd|page=432}}</ref> The [[blue whale]] may be the largest animal on the planet, yet the testicles of the right whale are ten times the size of those of the blue whale. They also exceed predictions in terms of relative size, as well – they arebeing six times larger than would be expected on the basis of body mass. Together, the testicles make up nearly 1% of the right whale's total body weight. This strongly suggests [[sperm competition]] is important in mating, which correlates to the fact that right whales are highly [[promiscuous]].<ref name=ADW>{{cite web|url=http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Eubalaena_glacialis.html|title=Eubalaena glacialis: North Atlantic right whale: Information|publisher=[[University of Michigan]] Museum of Zoology|work=Animal Diversity Web|year=2002|access-date=April 30, 2006|author=Crane, J.|author2=Scott, R.}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Brownell|first1=Robert L. Jr.|title=Potential for sperm competition in baleen whales|last2=Ralls|first2=K.|journal=Report of the International Whaling Commission|year=1986|volume=8|issue=8|pages=97–112}}</ref>

The three ''Eubalaena'' species inhabit three distinct areas of the globe: the North Atlantic in the western Atlantic Ocean, the North Pacific in a band from Japan to [[Alaska]] and all areas of the [[Southern Ocean]]. The whales can only cope with the moderate temperatures found between 20 and 60 degrees in latitude. The warm equatorial waters form a barrier that prevents mixing between the northern and southern groups with minor exclusions.<ref name=StatusPeru>{{cite journal|author=Waerebeek, V. K.|author2=Santillán, L.|author3=Suazo, E.|author4=The Peruvian Centre for Cetacean Research|year=2009|title=ON THE NATIVE STATUS OF THE SOUTHERN RIGHT WHALE EUBALAENA AUSTRALIS IN PERU|journal=Boletín del Museo Nacional de Historia Natural, Chile|volume= 58 |pages=75–82 |doi=10.54830/bmnhn.v58.2009.235 |url=http://www.vliz.be/imisdocs/publications/242935.pdf.|format=PDF|access-date=2016-08-03}}</ref> Although the southern species in particular must travel across open ocean to reach its feeding grounds, the species is not considered to be [[pelagic]]. In general, they prefer to stay close to [[peninsula]]s and bays and on [[continental shelf|continental shelves]], as these areas offer greater shelter and an abundance of their preferred foods.<ref name="paleo"/>

Almost all of the 400 North Atlantic right whales live in the western North Atlantic Ocean. In northern spring, summer and autumn, they feed in areas off the Canadian and northeast U.S. coasts in a range stretching from [[New York (state)|New York]] to [[Newfoundland (island)|Newfoundland]]. Particularly popular feeding areas are the [[Bay of Fundy]] and [[Cape Cod Bay]]. In winter, they head south towards [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] and [[Florida]] to give birth.<ref>{{cite web|author=Moore, M.|date=November 3, 2004|title=Whither the North Atlantic Right Whale?: Scientists explore many facets of whales' lives to help species on the edge of extinction|publisher=Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution|access-date=August 10, 2012|url=http://www.whoi.edu/oceanus/viewArticle.do?id=2482}}</ref> There have been a smattering of sightings further east over the past few decades; several sightings were made close to [[Iceland]] in 2003. These are possibly the remains of a virtually extinct eastern Atlantic stock, but examination of old whalers' records suggests they are more likely to be strays.<ref name="Kenney2009"/> However, a few sightings have happened between Norway, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, the Canary Islands and Italy;<ref>{{cite journal|author=Notarbartolo di Sciara, G.|author2=E. Politi|author3= A. Bayed|author4=P.-C. Beaubrun|author5=A. Knowlton|name-list-style=amp|year=1998|title=A winter cetacean survey off Southern Morocco, with a special emphasis on suitable habitats for wintering right whales|journal=Reports of the International Whaling Commission|volume=48|pages=547–550}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|vauthors=Martin AR, Walker FJ |title=Sighting of a right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) with calf off S. W. Portugal|date=May 16, 1996|journal=Marine Mammal Science|volume=13|issue=1|pages=139–140|doi=10.1111/j.1748-7692.1997.tb00617.x|url=http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/119947961/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0|archive-url=https://archive.today/2011.08.13-18180420110813181804/http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/119947961/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 13, 2011|access-date=October 26, 2006}}</ref> at least the Norway individuals come from the Western stock.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Jacobsen |first1=K.O. |title=Two-Way Trans-Atlantic Migration of a North Atlantic Right Whale (Eubalaena Glacialis) |last2=Marx |first2=M. |last3=Øien |first3=N. | date = 2003-05-21 | volume = 20 | issue = 1 | pages = 161–166 | url = http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/119922229/abstract | archive-url = https://archive.today/2011.08.13-18181620110813181816/http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/119922229/abstract | url-status = dead | archive-date = 2011-08-13 | access-date = 2006-10-26 | doi = 10.1111/j.1748-7692.2004.tb01147.x | journal = Marine Mammal Science}}</ref>

The southern right whale spends the summer months in the far Southern Ocean feeding, probably close to [[Antarctica]]. It migrates north in winter for breeding, and can be seen around the coasts of [[Argentina]], [[Australia]], [[Brazil]], [[Chile]], [[Mozambique]], [[New Zealand]], [[South Africa]] and [[Uruguay]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Southern right whales of Patagonia |publisher=Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society |access-date=August 7, 2012 |url=http://www.wdcs.org/submissions_bin/southern_right_whales_patagonia_argentina.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100706061208/http://www.wdcs.org/submissions_bin/southern_right_whales_patagonia_argentina.pdf |archive-date=July 6, 2010 }}</ref> The South American, South African and Australasian groups apparently intermix very little, if at all, because of the strong fidelity of mothers to their feeding and calving grounds. The mother passes these instincts to her calves.<ref name="Kenney2009"/>

The southern right whale has made [[Hermanus]], South Africa, one of the world centers for whale watching. During the winter months (July–October), southern right whales come so close to the shoreline, visitors can watch whales from strategically placed hotels.<ref>{{cite web|title=Whale Watching in Hermanus at the Windsor Hotel|publisher=Windsor Hotel website|access-date=August 10, 2012|url=http://www.windsorhotel.co.za/}}</ref> The town employs a "whale crier" ([[cf.]] [[town crier]]) to walk through the town announcing where whales have been seen.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hermanus Whale Crier|publisher=SA Venues.com|access-date=August 7, 2012|url=http://www.sa-venues.com/attractionswc/hermanus-whale-crier.htm}}</ref> In Brazil, Imbituba in [[Santa Catarina (state)|Santa Catarina]] has been recognized as the National Right Whale Capital and holds annual Right Whale Week celebrations in September<ref>{{cite web|title=News From Brazil|publisher=Cetacean Society International|access-date=August 10, 2012|url=http://csiwhalesalive.org/newsletters/csi04209.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/2013.04.14-13123420130414131234/http://csiwhalesalive.org/newsletters/csi04209.html|archive-date=April 14, 2013|df=mdy-all}}</ref> when mothers and calves are more often seen. The old whaling station there has been converted to a museum dedicated to the whales.<ref>{{cite web|author=Ribeiro, P.|title=Whale Watching in Santa Catarina, Brazil: Fascinating Encounters With Southern Right Whales|publisher=About.com Brazil Travel|access-date=August 10, 2012|url=http://gobrazil.about.com/od/brazilianwildlife/a/rightwhalesc.htm}}</ref> In winter in Argentina, [[Península Valdés]] in [[Patagonia]] hosts the largest breeding population of the species, with more than 2,000 animals catalogued by the Whale Conservation Institute and [[Ocean Alliance]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oceanalliance.org|title=Ocean Alliance website|publisher=Oceanalliance.org|access-date=May 10, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150304202223/http://www.oceanalliance.org/|archive-date=March 4, 2015|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

The southern right whale, listed as "endangered" by CITES and "lower risk - conservation dependent" by the IUCN, is protected in the jurisdictional waters of all countries with known breeding populations (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, New Zealand, South Africa and Uruguay). In Brazil, a federal [[Environmental Protection Area (Brazil)|Environmental Protection Area]] encompassing some {{convert|1560|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} and {{convert|130|km|mi|abbr=on}} of coastline in Santa Catarina State was established in 2000 to protect the species' main breeding grounds in Brazil and promote whale watching.<ref>{{cite web|title=Área de Proteção Ambiental|url=http://www.baleiafranca.org.br/area/area.htm|publisher=Projeto Baleia Franca|access-date=4 September 2012|language=pt|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728001411/http://www.baleiafranca.org.br/area/area.htm|archive-date=July 28, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

In 2020, NOAA published its assessment and found that since the speed rule was adopted, the total number of documented deaths from vessel strike decreased but serious and non-serious injuries have increased.<ref name=NOAA2022>{{cite report|date=June 2020|title= North Atlantic Right Whale (''Eubalaena glacialis'') Vessel Speed Rule Assessment |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |url=https://media.fisheries.noaa.gov/2021-01/FINAL_NARW_Vessel_Speed_Rule_Report_Jun_2020.pdf?null|accessdateaccess-date=May 4, 2022}}</ref> A report by the organization [[Oceana (non-profit group)|Oceana]] found that between 2017 and 2020, disobedience of the rule reached close to 90% in mandatory speed zones while in voluntary areas, disobedience neared 85%.<ref>{{cite web|title=Speeding Toward Extinction: Vessel Strikes Threaten North Atlantic Right Whales|website=Oceana.org|url=https://usa.oceana.org/reports/speeding-toward-extinction-vessel-strikes-threaten-north-atlantic-right-whales/|accessdateaccess-date=May 4, 2022}}</ref>

A second major cause of morbidity and mortality in the North Atlantic right whale is entanglement in [[ocean plastic|plastic]] [[fishing net|fishing gear]]. Right whales ingest plankton with wide-open mouths, risking entanglement in any rope or net fixed in the water column. Rope wraps around their upper jaws, flippers and tails. Some are able to escape, but others remain tangled.<ref>{{cite web|title=Whales Entangled In Fishing Lines: What Can Be Done?|publisher=Science Daily|access-date=August 7, 2012|url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/04/070426143431.htm}}</ref> Whales can be successfully disentangled, if observed and aided. In July 1997, the U.S. NOAA introduced the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan, which seeks to minimize whale entanglement in fishing gear and record large whale sightings in an attempt to estimate numbers and distribution.<ref>{{cite web|title=Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan|publisher=[[NOAA|National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]|year=1997|url=http://www.nero.noaa.gov/whaletrp/|access-date=May 2, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080924080039/http://www.nero.noaa.gov/whaletrp/|archive-date=September 24, 2008|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

In 2012, the U.S. Navy proposed to create a new undersea naval training range immediately adjacent to northern right whale calving grounds in shallow waters off the Florida/Georgia border. Legal challenges by leading environmental groups including the [[Natural Resources Defense Council]] were denied in federal court, allowing the Navy to proceed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/09/10/50119.htm|title=Whale Defenders Lose Navy Training Challenge|publisher=Courthouse News Service|date=September 12, 2012|author=Strachan, Deshayla|access-date=September 20, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923222557/http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/09/10/50119.htm|archive-date=September 23, 2015|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrdc.org/experts/taryn-kiekow-heimer/right-whales-wronged-judge-allows-navy-expand-sonar-use-florida-calving|title=Right Whales Wronged: Judge allows Navy to expand sonar use in Florida calving area|date=September 10, 2012|publisher=Natural Resources Defense Council|author=Heimer, Taryn Kiekow|access-date=October 9, 2012}}</ref> These rulings were made despite the extremely low numbers (as low as 313 by some estimates) of right whales in existence at this time, and a very poor calving season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://savannahnow.com/news/2012-04-01/poor-calving-season-right-whales#.UFeT2Y1lQrM|title=Poor calving season for right whales|work=savannahnow.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150107233308/http://savannahnow.com/news/2012-04-01/poor-calving-season-right-whales#.UFeT2Y1lQrM|archive-date=January 7, 2015|df=mdy-all}}</ref>