A 4-year-old North Atlantic right whale named "Division," found dead off the coast of North Carolina, is the first detected fatality in this critically endangered species since May 2024. The carcass was spotted January 27 by an aerial survey team about 25 miles off Avon, North Carolina, and visual assessments showed that the whale's health had declined and its injuries worsened as a result of entanglement with fishing gear.
According to the New England Aquarium, Division had been entangled at least three times before his most recent incident in December 2025. Fishing line was wrapped around his head and mouth, cutting into his blowhole and embedding in his upper jaw. A partial disentanglement was carried out by local response teams, but scientists noted that the whale had multiple signs of being entangled for an extended period and was experiencing a worrisome decline in its health.
Weather conditions and the whale's distance from shore prevented further rescue efforts, with Division last seen alive on January 21 off Cape Hatteras. Heather Pettis, senior scientist at the Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life at the New England Aquarium, expressed that while the outcome is not a surprise given the severity of the entanglement, it's disheartening to bear witness to the death of a critically endangered whale.
Federal authorities are analyzing the fishing gear recovered during December's disentanglement. Pettis noted that Division's entanglement and ultimate death serve as a stark reminder that human activities remain a clear and present threat to this species. The incident highlights the need for continued conservation efforts and stricter regulations on fishing practices to protect vulnerable marine life.
As the world mourns the loss of another critically endangered species, it's essential to take action to prevent similar incidents in the future. By supporting conservation efforts and advocating for policy changes, we can work towards a safer and more sustainable future for our oceans and their inhabitants.
According to the New England Aquarium, Division had been entangled at least three times before his most recent incident in December 2025. Fishing line was wrapped around his head and mouth, cutting into his blowhole and embedding in his upper jaw. A partial disentanglement was carried out by local response teams, but scientists noted that the whale had multiple signs of being entangled for an extended period and was experiencing a worrisome decline in its health.
Weather conditions and the whale's distance from shore prevented further rescue efforts, with Division last seen alive on January 21 off Cape Hatteras. Heather Pettis, senior scientist at the Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life at the New England Aquarium, expressed that while the outcome is not a surprise given the severity of the entanglement, it's disheartening to bear witness to the death of a critically endangered whale.
Federal authorities are analyzing the fishing gear recovered during December's disentanglement. Pettis noted that Division's entanglement and ultimate death serve as a stark reminder that human activities remain a clear and present threat to this species. The incident highlights the need for continued conservation efforts and stricter regulations on fishing practices to protect vulnerable marine life.
As the world mourns the loss of another critically endangered species, it's essential to take action to prevent similar incidents in the future. By supporting conservation efforts and advocating for policy changes, we can work towards a safer and more sustainable future for our oceans and their inhabitants.
division was just 4 yrs old he had already been through so much 
entanglement with fishing gear must have been hell for him... the fact that it happened to another critter in a species on the brink of extinction is just heartbreaking 
we gotta do better, like, way more better 
i'm so tired of hearing about these tragic incidents but maybe this one can spark change? 
we need stricter regulations and more conservation efforts ASAP 
? Entanglement with fishing gear is like, so preventable, ya know? I mean, we're still using the same old methods and gear that are literally killing these amazing creatures. It's just heartbreaking to see another one go 
. I mean, entangled three times already? Are they even trying to catch fish or what? 
It's not like it's hard to spot a fishing line around a whale's head and mouth... come on people! 
And now we get to deal with the aftermath of their carelessness. Poor Division, didn't deserve to go out that way 
We need to do more to protect them, like tightening those fishing regulations 
It's not just about Division, it's about all the other whales out there who could be next. We gotta act fast 
!
. my heart goes out to his family and the team at the aquarium who were trying to help him 
. every small action counts, whether it's supporting conservation efforts or just spreading awareness about the importance of marine life 
I mean I know we gotta do something about entanglement but it's just another reminder of how messed up our fishing practices are 
. Like we're supposed to be taking care of these incredible creatures and yet we're still causing them harm. And the worst part is, most people probably won't even remember this whale existed in a year or two 
. We gotta do better than that 
. I hope the investigation into the gear helps us learn more about what went wrong and can prevent this in the future. We gotta keep pushing for stricter regulations and conservation efforts 
i mean, entanglement with fishing gear is super preventable, but our gov/regs aren't doing enough 
, not the welfare of marine life 
... and even then, there's a chance something like this could happen again 
. i mean, we gotta do better, right? more regulation on that kind of thing would be a huge step in the right direction 
. so many ppl are already working towards conservation efforts... now's the time to take it up another notch 
. As someone who's lived for many years, I've seen many changes & sadly, conservation is something that keeps coming up over & over again. Maybe one day we'll get it right & the oceans will be safe for all the creatures living in them 
it's time for us to step up our game and make some real changes 
. And the worst part is, we could've done something to prevent it if only the weather conditions were better or he was closer to shore 
. And what's up with the delay between his last sighting and when his body was found? Did they even have any resources out there looking for him in Jan? 
.
Um, no... probably not, so I guess we should keep working towards stricter regulations? 