Federal officials say the fading North Atlantic right whale will remain protected under the Endangered Species Act and requires a series of protective steps to stave off extinction.

A new sighting of a right whale calf brings the total spotted this season to 15, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said Friday.

A once-in-a-lifetime encounter with rare whales just off the coast of St. Johns County comes with a stern warning.

A 19-year-old right whale known as Infinity and her first calf were sighted Sunday off Amelia Island. Another right whale calf was spotted this year with its mother off the coast of Northeast Florida. So far, there have been 12 calves sighted this right whale season, NOAA said. 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. 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.

Conservation groups filed suit Wednesday against the federal government, saying it has taken too long to act on proposals to expand protections for critically endangered right whales. Last year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimated the population of North Atlantic right whales has dropped below 370. Scientists have documented cases of 12 right whales being struck by vessels since 2013. “The clock is running out for right whales, and further delay is unacceptable,” Kristen Monsell, oceans legal director at the Center For Biological Diversity, said in a statement. National Marine Fisheries Service spokeswoman Allison Garrett said the agency does not comment on pending litigation.

Two right whale calves and their mothers were spotted last week off the coast of Northeast Florida. So far, there have been seven calves sighted this right whale season, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Southeast. On Friday, a right whale known as Minus One and her new calf were sighted off South Ponte Vedra Beach. A right whale known as ‘Minus One’ is a mom again! Right whales are an endangered species that usually migrate south along the Georgia and Florida coastline to give birth to their calves.