Right Whale (Eubalaena glacialis) 



Right whale populations in the North Atlantic and 

 elsewhere were severely depleted by commercial exploitation 

 in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The remnant population 

 of right whales in the North Atlantic is thought to number 

 no more than a few hundred animals and may well be the 

 most endangered cetacean population occurring in U.S. 

 coastal waters. 



Commercial exploitation has been prohibited since 

 the mid-1930s and no longer constitutes a threat to the 

 continued existence of right whale populations. In some 

 areas, however, offshore oil and gas development and other 

 human activities pose new threats to the whales and their 

 habitat. 



The Commission, as noted in Chapter VII, has advised 

 the Minerals Management Service that additional studies, 

 monitoring programs, or lease stipulations may be required 

 to assure that right whales are not jeopardized by exploration 

 or exploitation of oil and gas resources offshore the U.S. 

 east coast. The Commission also has provided funds, as noted 

 in Chapter II, to develop a right whale sighting network 

 in the southeastern United States and to hold a workshop 

 on the biology and status of right whales. 



In 1983, the Commission, in consultation with its 

 Committee of Scientific Advisors, will review the workshop 

 report and other relevant information, and, as appropriate, 

 will recommend that the National Marine Fisheries Service and 

 the Minerals Management Service take additional steps 

 to assure the continued existence and welfare of right 

 whales and their habitat in U.S. waters. 



Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) 



The bottlenose dolphin is the most common cetacean in 

 the coastal waters of the southeastern states and is the 

 cetacean species most frequently taken alive for purposes 

 of scientific research and public display. Live-captures 

 began in the early 1900s and, although records are poor, it 

 may be that as many as 1,800 animals were captured and taken 

 from the coastal waters of the southeastern states prior to 

 passage of the Marine Mammal Protection Act in 1972. From 

 1970 through 1972, at least 600 animals were taken from the 

 coastal waters of Florida alone — 215 in 1970, 172 in 1971, 

 and 214 in 1972. 



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