WASHINGTON - A critically endangered North Atlantic right whale entangled in commercial fishing gear was found again yesterday off the coast of Cape Cod by researchers with the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies, after being spotted earlier this month. Attempts to disentangle the whale have so far proven unsuccessful because of inclement weather. The whale has been identified as a reproductively active 16-year-old mother of two calves.

Just 3 days after the entangled right whale was first sighted March 9, a young humpback whale had to be freed from fishing gear off the coast of Virginia that was anchoring it to the sea floor and threatening its life.

Commercial fishing gear entanglement is a major threat to marine mammals, especially highly endangered whales. Responding to the lack of action on the part of the National Marine Fisheries Service, the federal agency responsible for protecting these animals, The Humane Society of the United States and the Ocean Conservancy filed suit last month for excessive delay in implementing adequate protections.

"The appearance of yet another entangled right whale in Cape Cod Bay reminds us of the dire need for new regulations to protect these magnificent but vulnerable whales," said John Grandy, Ph.D., senior vice president of wildlife for The HSUS. "While the National Marine Fisheries Service stalls to protect whales, the North Atlantic right whale and other whale species are up against grave odds to survive."

"The National Marine Fisheries Service has a responsibility to protect right whales based on the best available science and input from fishermen and other stakeholders," said Vicki Cornish, director of marine wildlife at the Ocean Conservancy. "This incident is another example of how delays and bureaucratic red tape can be deadly for marine life."

Facts

• Approximately 350 North Atlantic right whales are known to remain.
• Right whales migrate between their only known winter calving grounds off Georgia and Florida to summer feeding areas in New England and Canada.
• Right whales are slow to reproduce, having only one calf approximately every 3-4 years starting at approximately age 10.
• Females and calves die in entanglements and collisions with ships more than adult males.
• Humpback whales migrate between winter breeding grounds in the Caribbean and summer feeding areas off the coast of New England.
• Humpbacks give birth to one calf every-other year starting at about age 5.  Calves stay with their mothers for a single year.
• Juvenile humpbacks are often seen in the winter off the mid-Atlantic coast of the U.S. where they feed on small schooling fish.

Time Line

• February 12, 2007: The HSUS and The Ocean Conservancy file suit against the National Marine Fisheries Service for delays in issuing new regulations to protect endangered whales from fatal entanglements in commercial fishing gear.
• November 2002-March 2007: seven right whales, 14 humpback whale and four fin whales are seriously injured or killed by commercial fishing gear
• November 2002: female right whale becomes fatally entangled in fishing gear that the National Marine Fisheries Service had determined would likely prevent lethal entanglements. This death caused the agency to admit in 2003 that their plan to reduce entanglements was a failure.  To date, the agency still has taken no action to issue a revised plan.

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The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization – backed by 10 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education, and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty -- On the web at www.humanesociety.org .

The Ocean Conservancy strives to be the world's foremost advocate for the oceans.  Through science-based advocacy, research, and public education, we inform, inspire, and empower people to speak and act for the oceans.  The Ocean Conservancy is headquartered in Washington, DC, and has offices in New England, Florida, the Caribbean, Texas, and California with support from more than half a million members and volunteers.  www.oceanconservancy.org