Population of critically endangered North Atlantic right whales hits near 20-year low — and humans are largely to blame

North Atlantic right whales, an already critically endangered species, have hit the lowest population numbers in nearly 20 years, researchers announced on Monday. The species has seen a sharp decline since around 2011 — and experts say, humans are largely to blame. 

The North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium said that the whale's population dropped from an estimated 366 in 2019 to 336 in 2020, a decline of 8%. The group said this is the lowest population number for the species in nearly two decades.

In the past decade alone, researchers said, the species has declined by 30%.