Right Whale Alert: Cape Cod Bay Trap Ban Extended

BARNSTABLE, MA — A Cape Cod Bay trapping ban has been extended until May 7 due to record numbers of endangered North Atlantic right whales. There are only an estimated 520 whales left on the planet. In mid-April a record 206 whales were spotted in Cape Cod Bay.

Boat strikes and fishing gear entanglements pose huge threats to the ocean behemoths. Right whales, which grow up to 50 feet and 80 tons, are drawn to Cape Cod Bay to feed on plankton near the ocean surface. The whales spend hours feeding near the surface, making them vulnerable to hitting boats and getting tangled in fishing gear. Last month, a right whale calf and an adult right whale were killed by boat strikes, according to federal marine officials.

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The whales usually depart Cape Cod around May 1 but hundreds remain, officials said. The trapping ban usually ends April 30 each year but state officials decided to extended it until May 7.

"(Right whales) can be somewhat oblivious to their surroundings," the Division of Marine Fisheries said in a statement. "If whales depart early or change their distribution, the closure will be rescinded or modified to ease the burden on commercial and recreational lobstermen."

This map shows the trapping ban area:

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• Right Whale Dies In Cape Cod Boat Collision
• Record 206 Right Whales In Cape Cod Bay
• Endangered Right Whale Calf Killed By Boat Strike Off Cape Cod

Lead photo: Right whales near Cape Cod Bay in late April 2017. (Credit: Center for Coastal Studies)