Federal authorities say a rare whale found dead off Massachusetts earlier this year died as a result of entanglement in Maine lobster fishing gear.

Federal investigators said Maine fishing gear is to blame for the death of an endangered female right found dead near Martha’s Vineyard in January. While some lobstermen say they’re sad to hear about the death of the whale,

The whale, right whale #5120, was found dead off the coast of Massachusetts in January 2024, and a necropsy in February was entangled in gear with markings that NOAA said were consistent with rope used in Maine state water trap/pot buoy lines used for lobster fishing.

Federal biologists say Maine fishing gear killed an endangered right whale that washed up on Martha’s Vineyard back in January.

Federal biologists say Maine fishing gear killed an endangered right whale that washed up on Martha’s Vineyard back in January. The cause of death of that female right whale w

Maine fishing gear is being blamed for the death of an endangered right whale that washed up on Martha’s Vineyard in January.

A rare whale found dead off Massachusetts earlier this year died as a result of entanglement in Maine lobster fishing gear, federal authorities said. The North Atlantic right whale was found dead off Martha’s Vineyard in January.

According to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, North Atlantic right whales are approaching extinction, and there are roughly 360 whales of this species left.