BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — The New England Aquarium celebrated the second annual Massachusetts Right Whale Day on Wednesday, highlighting the importance of conserving and protecting the critically endangered species.
“They come to our waters, they’re our state marine mammal. We should be proud of them and want to protect them,” said Kara Mahoney Robinson, a research technician with the aquarium.
There are less than 360 right whales left, shared the aquarium.
Read More: MSPCA-Angell Rescues 25 Texas Dogs Affected By Failed Rescue Organization
At the event, state officials shared their thoughts, aquarium scientists spoke about right whale research, and experts and entrepreneurs discussed new fishing tools that would benefit whales and fishermen.
Right Whale Day was inspired by Matt Delaney, a South Shore native who had a life-changing encounter with a right whale 20 years ago that kick-started his love of the animal.
“When you have a 50-ton creature swim within 20 feet of your car, raise its super-huge black head, and open an eyeball the size of a softball and look at you, it’s something you’ll never, ever forget,” he said.
For years, Delaney and his family celebrated their own personal “Whale Day.” It wasn’t until he called his state representative, Josh Cutler (D-Plymouth), and pitched the idea of making his family’s whale day a larger celebration that Right Whale Day became a reality.
The state law designating April 24 as Right Whale Day was signed in 2023, and Wednesday was the second annual day highlighting the critically endangered species.
Experts and entrepreneurs at the event on Wednesday brainstormed how to ensure both whales and fishermen can thrive, like through a rope-less retrieval system for lobster traps.
“It’s really, really critical that we keep up the pressure to try to protect them,” said a person at the Right Whale Day event.
On display at the aquarium on Wednesday was a 42-foot-long inflatable right whale named Calvin, a recreation modeled on a real whale.
The aquarium said that they want people to “try to help people connect to the individuals.”
“We talk about right whales as a species [and] it’s a little abstract. But we identify all the individuals in the species here at the aquarium,” explained Philip Hamilton, a senior scientist.
WBZ NewsRadio's Madison Rogers (@MadisonWBZ) reports.
Follow WBZ NewsRadio: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | iHeartmedia App | TikTok