A North Atlantic right whale washed ashore on a Virginia barrier island, according to federal scientists, marking the second whale of the endangered species to be found dead off the U.S. East Coast this year and the 43rd confirmed death under an ongoing unusual mortality event.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced the development Thursday in a statement.
According to the agency, it was informed of the carcass Tuesday after biologists from The Nature Conservancy found the carcass of the 3-year-old female whale in a remote area of a barrier island off Virginia’s eastern shore.
By reviewing images taken of the carcass, New England Aquarium officials were able to identify the whale as the calf of “Porcia,” a 25-year-old right whale, NOAA said.
The New England Aquarium said the deceased had a “rich family history.” Porcia, its mother, had given birth to three whales, now all dead after the other two died from fishing gear entanglements.
“The loss of a young female is especially impactful for an already small population,” Amy Warren, scientific program officer in the New England Aquarium’s Anderson Cabot Center, said in a statement. “Given the opportunity, a single female could add at least 10 whales to the right whale population in her lifetime.”
While this week is a time to celebrate whales, we also know that they face many risks, and we wanted to share some sad news. On 2/10/26, the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center notified us of a dead N. Atlantic right whale on a barrier island off Virginia's eastern shore. pic.twitter.com/nXzWgFHRcZ— NOAA Fisheries (@NOAAFisheries) February 12, 2026
Scientists said the young whale was spotted as recently as October with no sign of injury or health issues.
NOAA officials are working with Marine Mammal Stranding Network partners to examine, document and necropsy the animal to the extent possible because it is located in a remote area with limited access.
“Another whale is gone, a young female that could have helped contribute to the future of a population already on the brink of extinction,” Nora Ives, a marine scientist with Oceana, the largest international ocean conservation advocacy organization, said in a statement.
“We can and we must do better.”
The whale is the second right whale to be found dead off the U.S. East Coast in as many weeks, after a partial carcass of a 4-year-old male was seen floating on the ocean about 25 miles offshore of Avon, N.C., on Jan. 27.
This whale, identified as “Division,” had been tracked by conservation officials since he was discovered entangled in fishing gear on Dec. 3 off Jekyll Island, Ga.
The next day, officials were able to remove some of the fishing gear from the whale, but some remained. Officials also said the whale suffered serious injuries.
Adverse weather and the whale’s distance from shore prevented further on-water response attempts, according to NOAA, which said no attempts to retrieve the carcass and bring it ashore will be made.
The deaths of the mammals are a significant blow to the species, of which only about 380 individuals remain according to NOAA estimates.
Starting in 2017, the North American right whale began experiencing a spike in deaths, prompting NOAA Fisheries to declare an “Unusual Mortality Event” requiring an immediate response.
The 3-year-old whale is the 43rd confirmed death since the declaration was made and the 170th whale to be documented as either dead, seriously injured or ill during that period.
NOAA states that primary causes of the UME are entanglements with fishing gear and vessel strikes in U.S. and Canadian waters, though only about one-third of right whale deaths are documented.
“To see a juvenile female, who held so much potential to grow this population, needlessly die is infuriating,” Kathleen Collins, senior marine campaign manager with the International Fund for Animal Welfare, said in a statement, calling on the Trump administration to do more to protect these animals.
“These deaths are not isolated events.”
