TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. — Splashing and spinning. Drone video shows the happy-go-lucky juvenile North Atlantic right whale video having fun in the ocean off Melbourne, Florida.
Less than two weeks, later, February 14, that same whale was spotted dead of the coast of Tybee Island, Georgia.
Friday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said the whale died from what appears to be a boat strike.
Joel Cohen is the wildlife photographer who shot the drone video of the whale in early February. He is legally able to fly over wildlife that that rare North Atlantic right whale.
"It's so surreal for me. I just shot that video of the happy and healthy whale, and now I'm here on Tybee Island for her necropsy," Cohen told First Coast News.
A necropsy was performed Friday. According to the NOAA, the female juvenile whale showed signs of blunt force trauma and fractures to the skull, consistent with a vessel strike.
It's one of only 350 some north Atlantic right whales left in the world.
"Each of these whales that dies, we need to start assigning responsibility. And the inaction that's happening right now is inexcusable," Gib Brogan said. He is with the conservation group, Oceana. He said the Biden administration and specifically the Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo have not implemented rules that NOAA researched and suggested in 2022. Those rules would put more speed restrictions on boats and ships in order to reduce the number of right whales getting struck.
"We are outraged that this this inaction continues," Brogan told First Coast News. "The Secretary of Commerce has the legal responsibility to take action. And she's not. She has not ever take the step to move the proposal forward for consideration."
Brogan said this makes the third North Atlantic right whale to die from a boat strike since the new speed rules have been suggested.
There are a number of maritime industries that are opposed to the proposed stricter speed regulations.
First Coast News reached out to the Secretary of Commerce's office for comment. We have not heard back.