Tell our decision makers: listen to scientists and protect our right whales!
We are watching as right whales disappear from our planet, largely due to vessel strikes and entanglements in commercial fishing rope. Fortunately, we already have a safe and effective tool to help protect them—a speed rule that helps ships and vessels avoid collisions. We know this rule is safe and effective, but too many whales are still being struck and killed by these smaller vessels.
That’s why NOAA has proposed expanding this rule to include large yachts and vessels 35-65 feet long. While there is room for compromise and future discussion, in recent weeks many of our leaders, including Representative Buddy Carter, are grossly and irresponsibly misrepresenting the facts. Join us in asking him and other leaders to drop the spin and listen to our scientists—and uphold Georgians’ values in protecting North Atlantic right whales.
The Right Whale to Save
Once hunted nearly to extinction, North Atlantic right whales were long considered the “right” whale to hunt by whalers, as they are often found in nearshore waters, swim slowly, and tend to float when killed. The population was severely depleted, and nearly became extinct, before whaling was banned in 1935. Today, right whales are once again facing extinction due to human actions—primarily due to commercial ship strikes and entanglements in fishing gear.
Often referred to as the ‘urban whale,’ North Atlantic right whales spend much of their lifetimes feeding in coastal areas across New England and Canada. However, in the winter months, pregnant females migrate more than a thousand miles down the Atlantic coast to the Georgia and North Florida coasts to give birth—their only known calving grounds in the world. Warming seas, lower calving rates, and commercial industries active in their migration and feeding routes all contribute to these gentle giants’ population decline.
Scientists estimate that fewer than 340 North Atlantic right whales—and most critically, only about 100 calving females—exist in the world today.
We can protect this fragile population by preventing entanglements, preventing boat collisions, and reducing underwater noise pollution.
Georgia’s State Marine Mammal
While much of the attention is focused in the northeast, right whales have a special place in Georgians’ hearts. Every winter, we cheer the return of calving females and celebrate the new births that can help to replenish the population.
Local biologists with our state Department of Natural Resources and other agencies devote significant time and resources to monitoring the whales and responding to entanglements—dangerous endeavors that put their lives at risk.
How you can help
Use the tabs below to more about our Eat Local Not Lobster campaign and simple ways you can advocate for Right Whales every day.
Eat Local—Not Lobster.
It’s important to recognize that no one wants to catch right whales, and many in the industry are working to find better solutions, like new types of rope, breakaway links, ropeless cages and other innovative technologies.
The unfortunate reality is that until effective changes are made to the fishing industries, eating these luxury items contributes to the deaths of North Atlantic right whales. In 2021, One Hundred Miles and partners Glynn Environmental Coalition, St. Marys EarthKeepers, and The Dolphin Project launched the “Eat Local—Not Lobster” campaign.
By forgoing lobster and snow crab, we’re sending a strong message that developing whale-safe practices are important to us. As consumers, we have the power to push suppliers to source more sustainable practices, driving improvements throughout the industry.
Think before you order.
Know how to make healthy and wildlife-friendly choices with the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program and the Glynn Environmental Coalition’s Safe Seafood program. It’s always a good practice to ask where your seafood was caught—shrimp from international waters or even the Gulf isn’t as safe for sea turtles as Georgia’s, for example—and stay as close to home as possible.
Your restaurant, your menu.
If you’re a restaurant owner who offers sustainable seafood options in lieu of lobster and snow crab, contact us for an “Eat Local—Not Lobster” sign and other collateral to share with your customers.
Delicious, safe choices abound!
The good news is that there’s no shortage of delicious and sustainable Georgia-grown alternatives to choose from. Choosing wild Georgia shrimp, oysters, and blue crab support our local fishermen and women and give back to our coastal economy. It’s the “right” choice to make!
Conversation Starters
One of the most effective ways to instigate change is educating yourself and then sharing that information with the people around you. Here are a couple ideas for different scenarios in which you can advocate for right whales.
At the dinner table or when out to eat:
- I love lobster, too! But the more I’ve learned about the industry’s impacts on right whales, I just don’t feel good about it as an option. Until safer practices are developed, I’m sticking with Georgia-grown seafood.
- Did I tell you I’ve stopped eating lobster and snow crab? I’ve been reading about how entanglements from fishing rope is one of the leading reasons for right whale deaths, so I’m encouraging the industry to implement whale-friendly practices by avoiding it for now. I’d be happy to share some resources if you’d like to learn more.
When talking to restaurant owners:
- Thanks for all the delicious local seafood options you offer! I particularly enjoyed the (insert sustainable option here). When you have time, I hope you’ll look into the impacts of the lobster and snow crab industry on our right whales, and see if it’s something you could try to limit on your menu.
- Eating local is so important to me. Thank you for prioritizing local sustainable options. I’ll definitely be back!
Via email (or print out our downloadable comment cards to share):
- I wanted to pass along this resource, as I thought you’d find it interesting. I had no idea about how many dangers right whales face! I’ll have to think twice before ordering lobster and snow crab and look for more sustainable options instead.
- Since you’re a fellow animal lover, I thought you’d want to know about this. Check out OneHundredMiles.org/RightWhales when you get a chance. Maybe we can try to plan a low country boil or oyster roast next time?
Right Whales in the News
The Current | 7/25/23
The Brunswick News | 7/21/23
Post and Courier | 7/10/23
Boston.com | 6/6/23
YELP Action Project | 5/4/23
The Brunswick News | 3/4/23
NOAA Fisheries | 4/24/23
Environment America | 2/16/23
The Virginia-Pilot | 2/15/23
The Current | 2/15/23
Portland Press Herald | 2/14/23
Georgia DNR, WRD | 2/6/23
WBUR | 2/1/23
Florida Politics | 1/23/23
Boston.com | 1/12/23
Florida Politics | 1/10/23
Eat Local, Not Lobster Partners
“Entanglement is the leading cause of death of these whales that travel thousands of miles to our shores to give birth. Until whale-safe fishing practices are implemented throughout the industry, we encourage residents and visitors to Georgia—and all who love our beloved right whales—to Eat Local, Not Lobster.”
Contact Alice for more information about our efforts to protect North Atlantic right whales and the Eat Local, Not Lobster campaign.
