Why is there a species of whale called the “right” whale? For whalers, they were the right whale to hunt. They swim slowly in accessible coastal waters, rest at the surface, and float when killed. When whaling was permitted in the United States, they yielded much profitable oil and baleen.  The whales' baleen was used in a variety of commercial products such as umbrellas, corsets, and whips. Right whales were easy, lucrative prey. But being right for whalers hasn’t been right for them: this species is still among the most endangered whales, even though hunting has been banned since 1935.

Learn more about right whales in the Ocean Portal's Right Whale Section.