Maine News Updates

A federal boat carrying whale researchers struck an endangered right whale in the waters off Massachusetts on Sunday.

The Auk, a 50-foot research vessel, is owned by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the federal agency that regulates commercial fishing and is working to restore the North Atlantic right whale. With a population of 300 to 400, the species is considered the most endangered large whale on earth and vessels are supposed to take precautions and keep a safe distance from the animals.

“We are conducting an investigation into what took place,” said David Miller, a NOAA spokmesman.

The Auk was returning to port Sunday afternoon after carrying researchers to study humpback whales feeding in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, Miller said.

It was traveling at a speed of 22 mph off Scituate when the whale surfaced about 10 feet in front of the vessel, Miller said. The vessel had three people posted as lookouts but they did not see the whale in time, he said.

The whale suffered a propeller injury on a tail fluke, but did not appear to be otherwise affected by the collision, the crew reported.

Right whales are now migrating north off the New England coast. Many of the whales bear scars from ship strikes and the collisions are considered one of the primary human threats to the species. NOAA has imposed shipping speed limits along some parts of the East Coast, although the collision on Sunday was not in a restricted zone, Miller said.

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