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BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — With former Governor Charlie Baker signing the state's Right Whale Day into action, the New England Aquarium in Boston was on the forefront of the day, bringing attention to the dwindling population of the sea mammals on Monday.
WBZ's Suzanne Sausville was there on Boston's waterfront to hear from advocates of the North Atlantic right whales, a species population that sits just under 350 worldwide.
"They suck up a lot of carbon from the atmosphere, so when we talk about fighting climate change and keeping biodiversity, we can't lose a right whale. The two biggest impacts to the whale are entanglements in predominantly fishing gear and vessel strikes," James Sutherland of the NEA said.
Because of that, the state filed fishing regulations that prohibit both commercial and recreational fishers to abandon fixed gear in the water, including seasonal closures on gillnets and traps to last until May 15 (though that date can be extended depending on where the right whales are).
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Matt Delaney of Pembroke, who came up with the idea for Right Whale Day, said he was in utter disbelief and cried in joy when Baker signed the designation into state law. Delaney said the official day pays homage to April 24, 2004, the day he and his family had a close encounter with a right whale just off Race Point, Provincetown. The 50-foot sea marine life breached just 20 feet away from him.
"We had an amazing moment with a right whale, to have a creature like that lift it's entire body out of the water— it was an amazing thing to witness," Delaney said.
According to Delaney, Baker's signature came in just an hour before Governor Maura Healey swore into office— bringing him and his wife to tears.
WBZ's Suzanne Sausville (@wbzSausville) reports.
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