Why right whales return to Florida and how to report a sighting

Florida’s Atlantic coast is part of a long seasonal journey for North Atlantic right whales. Each fall, some leave northern feeding grounds for shallow coastal waters off the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida, where they give birth. NOAA Fisheries identifies calving habitat extending from Cape Fear, North Carolina, to below Cape Canaveral.

That gives Space Coast residents a reason to know what they are looking at before a whale appears offshore. These are endangered whales, and fishing-gear entanglement and vessel strikes are leading causes of death. A sighting can provide useful information, but getting closer for a better look can put an animal at risk.

A right whale has a stocky, dark body and no dorsal fin. Look for a V-shaped blow and rough, pale-looking patches on its head. Those patches, called callosities, have patterns that help researchers identify individual whales. Describe what you actually see when reporting; you do not need to invent an identification or an animal’s age.

NOAA’s guidance is to stay at least 500 yards away. The approach restrictions cover vessels, aircraft including drones, and people using watercraft such as kayaks, surfboards and jet skis. A vessel already within that distance must leave immediately at a safe, slow speed. Keep a reference photograph or a sighting report as information, not a reason to approach.

For sightings from Florida to North Carolina, call 877-WHALE-HELP (877-942-5343). Note the date, time, location, number of whales and visible features, and provide contact information. A nearby landmark can help describe the location if you do not have coordinates. Photos or video obtained safely can help responders; do not move closer to get them.

If your curioud before heading out on the water, take a look at NOAA’s linked WhaleMap for recent detections and management measures. The map is a planning aid, not a guarantee: whales move continuously, so a plotted location can be outdated within minutes. An empty patch on the map does not mean there are no whales there.

This guide explains the species’ seasonal habitat and reporting process. It does not identify a whale currently off a particular Brevard beach or predict when one will arrive. Use current detections and official guidance rather than an old sighting to make decisions on the water.