This winter, we completed our 4th season of large whale aerial surveys in the Mid-Atlantic region. This research was conducted in compliance with the NMFS Research Permit No. 27066 and under contract to the NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science Center. Our survey area covers coastal, shelf, and offshore waters between the New York Bight and just south of Virginia Beach, Virginia. We sighted fin, humpback, sperm, and minke whales in addition to our primary target, North Atlantic right whales, which we recorded throughout our survey area. A total of 15 individual right whales were matched to the North Atlantic Right Whale Catalog and included a mix of females and males. Dynamic Management Areas were initiated in areas where three or more right whales were observed. Sightings from our surveys can be viewed on WhaleMap.


