Another North Atlantic right whale found dead in U.S. waters

The carcass of a North Atlantic right whale has been spotted off the coast of the U.S., the thirdendangered whale to be found dead this year.

The 35-footwhale which has been deemed a sub-adult male was spotted Sunday, about 160 kilometreseast of Nantucket, and island off Cape Cod, Mass., by a vessel with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

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"The carcass is severely decomposed, but photographs show multiple wounds indicative of human interaction," the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said in a statement.

"The initial examination revealed marks consistent with entanglement."

But the agency said it was still too early to speculate on the cause of death.

More whales die in U.S. waters

The first North Atlantic right whale to die this year, also because ofentanglement, was found off the coast of Virginiain January.

In August, the body of a second right whale was spotted off Martha's Vineyard, a Massachusetts Islandsouth of Cape Cod. The whale was so decomposed a necropsy was not performed.

At least 17 North Atlantic right whales were found deadlast year 12 inCanadian waters and five in U.S. waters. Scientists believe human activity, includingshipping and fishing, was the primary cause.

Only about450 North Atlantic right whales are left in the world.

Because of Canadian efforts to prevent the severe whale losses suffered last year,the 2018 fishing season was controversial, with fishermen in the Acadian Peninsulaprotesting againstmeasuresthat restricted where they could fish.

Severalfishing zones were closed whenwhales were present in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Other protection measures included increased surveillance and mandatory speed reductions for ships.

An Atlantic-wide meeting is plannedto help decide what measures will be renewed or changedbefore the fishing season next spring.