The right whale population in the Atlantic is showing signs of recovery.

Estimates suggest that the North Atlantic right whale population currently numbers only around 384 individuals. While this number has increased by more than 7% compared to 2020 after years of continuous decline, scientists believe the recovery rate remains very fragile.

Each winter, right whales migrate to the waters off the southeastern United States to give birth before returning north to find food.

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced on Monday that researchers have identified 15 whale calves born this winter.

This number is higher than in two of the last three winters. However, NOAA emphasizes that this whale species needs at least 50 calves each year and to maintain this continuously for many years.

Data shows that the number of whale calves born this year is higher than last winter, when only 11 were recorded. Since 2010, the number of calves reaching 20 has only happened twice, and notably, during the disastrous breeding season of 2018, no births were recorded for this species.

Scientists say that right whales tend to reproduce less when they are injured or do not have an adequate food supply.

There is still time to record more whale calves born this winter, but the target of 50 is unrealistic, given the limited number of reproductively viable female whales in the population.

Experts assert that relying solely on natural reproduction is insufficient to save the species. Bow whales face two major threats: collisions with ships and entanglement with fishing gear.

Gib Brogan, director of the environmental organization Oceana, emphasized: "We cannot simply sit and wait for whales to reproduce naturally to revive the population; we need more decisive action to prevent the impacts of human activities."