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North Atlantic right whales are critically endangered — only about 360 are left in the world. Since 2017, 46 of these extremely rare creatures have been found dead or gravely injured, though the actual number of deaths could be much higher. In the past decade, the population has declined by an astonishing 25%.

Entanglement in fishing gear is one of the primary causes of right whale deaths and the species' sharp decline. When whales get tangled up in that gear, lines cut into their flesh, sapping their strength and often leading to exhaustion, reproductive failure or drowning.

After years of delay, federal officials have finally announced a proposed rule to reduce the risk to these whales from fishing gear off the New England coast. It’s a step in the right direction?but doesn’t go nearly far enough to protect these vanishing animals.??