DMR's Right Whale Research Program Moving Full Steam Ahead
- Melissa Waterman
- Apr 3
- 5 min read
Eighteen months ago the Department of Marine Resources (DMR) created its right whale research program drawing on federal dollars allocated through the Inflation Reduction Act. DMR staff spoke about the program’s work at a packed session at the Maine Fishermen’s Forum in March.
DMR’s right whale research program is focused on generating Maine data to inform new risk reduction models and to input to NMFS’s Decision Support Tool, a computer model used to estimate the level of risk posed by the lobster fishery to right whales. The program also generates peer-reviewed data that, once published, becomes part of the best available science that must be used by NMFS. In addition, the program studies alternative gear for the lobster fishery and provides lobstermen opportunities to test and evaluate such gear at sea.
In 2010, the North Atlantic right whale population estimate was 477 individuals. By 2023 that estimate had dropped to 370 whales, said Erin Summers, director of the Division of Marine Mammal Research. After a large number of right whale deaths, many of which took place in Canada, NMFS declared an Unusual Mortality Event in 2017, which is ongoing.
Current right whale mortalities are nowhere near the levels of 2017 and 2019, instead are closer to the historic average, Summers said. That figure, however, is well over the number of right whale deaths allowed under federal law, which is less than four whales every five years. In 2024 there were five known deaths and four presumed dead calves, the highest mortality rate since 2019. However, ten calves have been born thus far during the 2024-2025 right whale calving season.
During 2024, DMR conducted monthly aerial surveys along the Maine coast from July to December in a grid pattern to spot right whales. The surveys flew a total of 4977 nautical miles. Vessel surveys took place from March through December and covered 1494 nautical miles. All sightings of right whales and other whale species are uploaded to the website Whalemap.org, which produced an annual report of whale sightings in March. DMR has managed a grid of 26 passive acoustic monitors along the coast since 2023. The monitors record the sounds of marine creatures as they move through the areas.
All the data gathered through the various surveys is being used by the department to create alternative computer models to reflect more precisely the risk posed by lobster gear to right whales found in the Gulf of Maine. DMR is partnering in this work with Duke University and Stony Brook University.
In 2025, DMR will begin a new sampling program looking at plankton habitat in the Gulf; begin assessment of real time acoustic and other technologies; and begin dynamic management scenario planning.
Summers emphasized the importance of 100% harvester reporting and vessel tracker data. Prior to 2023 only 10% of lobstermen had to report their trips. “The 100% harvester reporting is being used to test the Decision Support Tool methodology. The Decision Support Tool was built using 10% harvester reporting. More data allows DMR to describe the fishery more accurately,” Summers said. “It helps to have good data on the fishery side.”
DMR’s innovative gear library provides free on-demand and other experimental fishing gear to lobstermen to test at sea. Lobstermen are paid for their time testing the gear; feedback on the gear is passed on to manufacturers for improvements. Currently the library has 85 acoustic, 21 spring release, and 21 timed release systems to loan. Sixty-five lobstermen are listed on the department’s experimental fishing permit. Currently 11 are testing gear and 11 more are onboarding to test gear.
Megan Ware, DMR director of external affairs, spoke about right whale protection measures soon to be developed by NMFS in concert with the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team (TRT). The TRT, a consortium of more than 50 researchers, environmental representatives, fishermen and regulators, drafts recommendations to NMFS on how to prevent mortality or serious injury to right whales. Maine representatives on the TRT are Jeff Putnam, Patrice McCarron, Erin Summers, Kristan Porter and Dwight Carver. “This is one of the most stressful groups to participate in,” Ware said. “Thank your representatives for being there.”
Risk to right whales is calculated as the amount of fishing effort times presence of whales times amount of risk from gear. Since 2023 all commercial lobstermen must report on their fishing trips. Since 2024, federal fishing vessels must report via electronic trackers on their trips. The larger amounts of data are important because the more data the TRT has on where lobstermen fish and when, the more accurate the ultimate figure describing the risk posed by the lobster fishery will be.
Ware noted that it is very important that lobstermen be engaged in the process of making new regulations right now. “The regulatory process starts with the TRT in 2025. There will be meetings in the summer and fall. The proposed risk reduction target [for the lobster fishery] will be revealed at the summer meeting,” she said. In January 2026 the TRT will vote on its recommendations to NMFS on how best to meet that target.
NMFS must come up with a new Biological Opinion on the lobster fishery and whale regulations to protect right whales by December 31, 2028. It is likely the proposed rule will come out early in 2027 and the final rule in late 2027 or early 2028 in order to meet that deadline.
“We bring the perspective of fishermen to that process,” said Jeff Putnam, Lobster Advisory Council chair and Zone F lobsterman. “It helps the group [TRT] understand what measures would mean to fishermen and to the whole coast. The challenge is that the group is so broad and its goal is to achieve consensus. Fundamentally we disagree on the premise that our gear is harming whales.” He urged lobstermen to attend the zone council meetings this spring where DMR will be soliciting ideas on protection strategies fishermen.
Patrice McCarron, who has served on the TRT for nearly 25 years, recalled how dangerously close the group came to closing the lobster fishery entirely just a few years ago and how important it was to have lobstermen in the room. “Lobstermen can communicate to the TRT about what proposed measures mean on the water and the actual effect they could have on the future. They show them that lobstering is a way of life, not just a business. I’m very grateful for our representatives, that we are able to fight for the fishery.”
She emphasized how important it is for lobstermen to attend the zone council meetings this spring and to fully engage in the long and frustrating process of influencing future federal regulations. “DMR has knocked it out of the park in terms of generating data. We have so much more to fight with. Our goal is to keep the fishery going and to have a future for our children.”