Another right whale calf was spotted this year with its mother off the coast of Northeast Florida.
The mother, 19-year-old Infinity, and her first calf were sighted Sunday off Amelia Island, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Southeast.
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So far, there have been 12 calves sighted this right whale season, NOAA said.
We have another new right whale - #12 for the season! Known mom "Infinity" and calf were sighted off Amelia Island, FL Sunday. Infinity is 19yo and this is her 1st calf!
— NOAA Fish Southeast (@NOAAFish_SERO) January 19, 2021
Photo credit:@myfwc, under NOAA permit #20556-01 pic.twitter.com/RWFkF4JV58
Last week, two other right whale calves and their mothers were also spotted off Amelia Island.
NOAA said 13-year-old Bocce and her second calf, as well as a 20-year-old right whale and her third calf, were seen Wednesday.
We have two new right whales! Moms known as "Bocce" and whale #3130 were seen with their new calves off Amelia Island, FL yesterday. Bocce is 13yo, this is her 2nd calf and #3130 is 20yo, this is her 3rd calf.
— NOAA Fish Southeast (@NOAAFish_SERO) January 14, 2021
Our new total of calves =11
Photos:@MyFWC under NOAA permit #20556-01 pic.twitter.com/KIn0Owy7D5
According to NOAA, the North Atlantic right whale calving season begins in mid-November and runs through mid-April.
Right whales are an endangered species that usually migrate south along the Georgia and Florida coastline to give birth to their calves. Every fall, right whales can travel up to 1,000 miles from their feeding grounds up north to the shallow calving waters down south. They stay there through the winter months to give birth.
In the 2020 calving season, there were 10 calves born, which was up from seven in the 2019 season. Despite the increase in calves, the species is still endangered. Right whales have been listed under the endangered species list since 1970.
These whales like to swim close to shore and tend to stay by the surface, making them susceptible to being struck by vessels and caught up in fishing nets. To try and help avoid vessel strikes, there are speed restricted zones to slow down and keep an eye for the whales. These zones can be seasonally monitored when the whales migrate.
If you’re along the coast and see a right whale and it’s a calf, it’s very important to give them space -- 500 yards to be exact. You can also call the hotline and report the sighting to 1-877-WHALE-HELP (1-877-942-5343) or U.S. Coast Guard on VHF Channel 16.