Right whale season is off to a busy start. Thirty-three North Atlantic right whales were observed in Cape Cod Bay during an aerial survey conducted Saturday, January 10th, by the Center for Coastal Studies (CCS).
CCS made its first sighting of North Atlantic right whales of the 2025-2026 field season in the bay on December 5th, when ten individuals were observed.
Saturday’s observations puts the total number of right whales observed this season (November 2025 to present) at 54.
“Most of our sightings in December and early January have been of animals in what we call surface active groups, but almost all of the whales on Saturday’s flight were observed in shallow subsurface feeding,” said CCS Aerial Observer Ryan Schosberg
According to Schosberg, Saturday’s survey may be the highest number of right whales documented in the bay in a single day in January in the history of CCS aerial surveys.
Saturday’s survey was particularly noteworthy because researchers also observed right whale EgNo 1050, a male that is at least 45 years old and has only been documented one other time in the last 15 years, as well as the 2025 calf of 2460, Monarch. That calf surprised researchers last season when it was documented for the first time ever during a survey of Cape Cod Bay.
Ship strikes represent one of the greatest threats to North Atlantic right whales. Important efforts are being taken to reduce this danger. NOAA’s seasonal management area limiting vessels 65 feet and longer to 10 knots or less in Cape Cod Bay has been in effect since January 1st. Additional restrictions regarding vessel speeds for smaller vessels and fixed fishing gear go into effect on February 1st.
Boaters, kayakers, paddle-boarders, swimmers and light aircraft and drone pilots are reminded that it is illegal to approach a North Atlantic right whale within 500 yards without a federal research permit. However, whales often feed very close to shore, offering watchers on the beach unbeatable views of one of the rarest of the marine mammals.
CCS right whale research and response operations are conducted in partnership with the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries and NOAA under federal permits issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service. Support also comes from the Massachusetts Environmental Trust and contributions from other foundations, businesses and CCS supporters through the Center’s Right Whale Emergency Initiative.
Photo above: EgNo 5194, 5196, 3725 Swallowtail, & 2705 Silver; CCS Photo taken under NOAA permit 25740-02