Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute reported four calves off the coast of Florida and Georgia so far this winter. Two new mother-calf pairs were spotted over the weekend. FWC posted on Facebook about it Tuesday.
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In the post, FWC wrote that the third mother is 36 years old and this is her fourth calf. The fourth mother, Porcia, is at least 21 years old and this is her third calf. Both were spotted off the coast of northern Georgia. Another calf was spotted off the coast of Crescent Beach, Florida, Sunday.
FWC provided these boating safety tips during right whale season:
- Go slow, which can give you time to react.
- Post a lookout! Watch for black objects, whitewater and splashes.
- Avoid boating in the dark, when visibility is poor or in rough seas.
- Use the Whale Alert app to see if whales have been sighted in your area.
- Check for signage at your local boat ramp or marina as a reminder of what to look for and how to identify and report right whale sightings.
- If a whale is spotted, slow down, operate at a slow speed or put your engine in neutral if possible. Assess the scene and slowly leave the area while keeping watch. Never pursue or follow a whale and keep at least 500 yards from the right whales (it’s the law).
- Report whale sightings and collisions immediately to the U.S. Coast Guard on marine VHF Ch. 16 or call 1-877-WHALE-HELP (942-5343).
Learn more about what you can do to prevent right whale collisions at MyFWC.com/Research by clicking “Wildlife.”