Clearwater Marine Aquarium

2024-2025 Right Whale Calving Season

Calving season is vital for the research and conservation efforts for critically endangered North Atlantic right whales. Spanning from mid-November to mid-April, teams take to the sky to survey the waters for mother and calf pairs. Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute has collected more than 20 years of aerial survey data and monitors the waters from North Carolina to Florida. This data is crucial for learning more about the current right whale population, which is estimated to be approximately 372 remaining.

According to NOAA, 20 newborns in a calving season would be considered a relatively productive year based on the current number of females. However, 50 or more calves are needed per year for multiple years to stop the decline and allow for recovery. 20 right whale calves were spotted during the 2023-2024 season.

Mom-Calf Pair Sightings Season: 6

Catalog #3540

Age: >44
Sighted: 1.16.25
Previous Calves: 9

Grand Teton right whale calf
Photo credit: Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute, taken under NOAA permit #26919. Funding source: Georgia DNR and NOAA Fisheries

Right whale Catalog #1145 Grand Teton and calf sighted January 16, 2025 approx. 11.1nm east Amelia Island, FL..

Catalog #3540

Age: 20
Sighted: 12.30.24
Previous Calves: 1

Photo Credit: FWC right whale aerial surveys are funded by USACE, USCG, U.S. Navy, and NOAA Fisheries. Florida Fishand Wildlife Conservation Commission, NOAA permit #26919

Right whale Catalog #3540 Black Heart and calf sighted December 30, 2024 approx. 1.5NM off South Ponte Vedra, FL.

Catalog (#3503)

Age: 20
Sighted: 12.30.24
Previous Calves: 0

Photo Credit: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, NOAA permit #26919.
FWC right whale aerial surveys are funded by USACE, USCG, U.S. Navy, and NOAA Fisheries

Right whale Catalog #3503 Caterpillar and calf sighted December 30, 2024 approx. 4NM off South Ponte Vedra, FL.

Catalog (#4540)

Age: 12
Sighted: 12.18.24
Previous Calves: 0

Photo Credit: HDR Inc., taken under NOAA permit #28184. Research is led by HDR Inc., funded by United States Fleet Forces Command, and managed by Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Atlantic under the U.S. Navy’s Marine Species Monitoring program.
All scientific activities are conducted under NMFS scientific research permit #28184.

Right whale Catalog #4540 and calf sighted on December 18, 2024 approximately 6 nautical miles off Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge in southern Virginia.

Catalog (#2430)

Age: At least 31
Sighted: 12.9.24
Previous Calves: 3

Photo Credit: Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute, taken under NOAA permit #26919.
Funding source: Georgia DNR and NOAA Fisheries

Right whale Minus One and calf sighted on December 9, 2024 approximately 4.8nm east of Amelia Island, FL.

Catalog (#2413)

Age: 31
Sighted: 12.1.24
Previous Calves: 4

Photo Credit: Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute, taken under NOAA permit #26919.
Funding source: Georgia DNR and NOAA Fisheries

Right whale Nauset and calf, were sighted approximately 4NM off Sapelo Island, GA on December 1,2024.