5 large whales found entangled off the Maine coast in 2025

Maine Lobstermen Celebrate 2025 Whale‑Entanglement Numbers, but Conservationists Remain Skeptical

Portland, Maine – A federal report released on Thursday found that five large whales were caught in heavy ocean ropes off Maine’s coast in 2025, but none were the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale. The finding comes amid growing tension between Maine’s multimillion‑dollar lobster industry and wildlife‑protective regulators.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recorded three humpback whales, one fin whale, and one minke whale entangled in lobster‑trawl lines in Maine waters. In the same year, NOAA logged 76 confirmed large‑whale entanglements nationwide, down from 95 in 2024 but slightly above the 18‑year average of 73. Humpbacks alone accounted for 65 of those cases. In New England, entanglements dropped to the lowest level since 2013, while West‑Coast incidents rose.

The sole North Atlantic right whale entanglement in 2025 occurred off the coast of Georgia, in the species’ calving grounds. The report was issued this week, following a surge in public interest after the death of a young female right whale—identified as “No. 5120”—in early 2024. That whale was found dead on Martha’s Vineyard on January 28, 2024, after having been caught in a Maine lobster trawl. The incident was the first known death of a right whale tied directly to Maine gear.

The North Atlantic right whale population is critically endangered. Scientists estimate only about 380 individuals remain alive today. Their numbers have hovered near the brink of extinction for decades, prompting federal regulators to impose strict rules on lobster‑gear design and deployment. The primary focus has been on seabed‑to‑surface buoy ropes—long lines that connect ocean‑floor traps to floating buoys. These ropes can wrap around migrating whales, causing painful wounds and impeding reproduction.

Despite the ongoing regulatory pressure, the 2025 entanglement data have provided a boost to Maine’s lobster sector. The federal report was released just after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Northeast Lobstermen Protection Act, which was co‑sponsored by Representative Jared Golden (Maine, D‑2nd District). If the Senate approves the bill, the existing congressional pause on new whale‑regulation proposals would be extended from 2028 until 2035. Industry groups, including the Maine Lobster Association, have welcomed the extension, arguing that the absence of right‑whale entanglements in Maine waters indicates that stricter regulations would be unnecessary and could harm a historic industry.

Gov. Janet Mills and President Donald Trump have also voiced support for the industry’s position. “We’re confident that the data show Maine lobster gear is not harming right whales,” Mills told reporters in a statement. “The industry can continue to thrive while protecting wildlife.”

Federal officials, however, caution that the current data do not eliminate all threats to right whales. “Rising birth rates and lower entanglement numbers give regulators some breathing room,” NOAA spokesperson Elena Reyes said. “But right whales still face serious risks from vessel strikes and heavy‑rope entanglements in other regions.”

Conservationists remain wary. Rachel Rilee, an oceans policy specialist at the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a statement, “We’re utterly failing to solve this deadly problem. Pop‑up fishing gear could help end this gruesome problem. Federal officials and the fishing industry need to stop making excuses.”

The report also highlighted encouraging developments at the southern calving grounds. In the winter that followed the 2024 death, scientists recorded 23 newborn right‑whale calves—an unprecedented number that represents the species’ most successful calving season since 2009. The data suggest that the population may be slowly rebounding, but Rilee and others warn that continued vigilance is essential.

For Maine fishermen, the 2025 entanglement figures suggest a possible path forward. “Last year’s numbers demonstrate that working waterfronts and endangered wildlife can coexist with just the right mix of ocean safeguards,” Rilee said, echoing a sentiment shared by many in the industry. “We need to keep moving forward.”

The debate over lobster‑gear regulation is likely to intensify as the industry’s new lobbying push takes center stage. As the House passes the Northeast Lobstermen Protection Act, the Senate and federal agencies will weigh the data from the 2025 report against the broader risks facing the North Atlantic right whale.

The outcome will have lasting implications for Maine’s economy and for the survival of one of the ocean’s most iconic yet endangered species.