The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) is working to prevent the extinction of the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale. With fewer than 350 animals known to remain, the survival of each individual is vitally important to ensure the survival of this species. Since 1986, at least half of the known mortalities to this species have resulted from human-induced causes including entanglements in fishing gear and ship strikes. The rate of these tragic deaths may be on the increase. Since January 2004 eight right whale deaths have been reported and confirmed. These data are a minimum estimate of the actual impact as they do not account for the numbers of animals that may have died at sea and gone undetected. At least four of these mortalities were linked to ship strikes. Seven (87% of those confirmed deaths) of them were reproductively mature female and three of them were pregnant at the time of death. These data alone represent a loss of more than five percent of the total breeding population adding yet more pressure to this species. One area where we can and need to dramatically improve our knowledge is in the year round distribution of right whales. Existing federally funded surveys operate seasonally, and only in specific areas leaving many right whales undetected and as a result putting them at an avoidable and unnecessary risk. To try and improve population distribution knowledge, WDCS has offered its right whale sightings data to the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary as well as a number of research and conservation groups to help fill in these gaps.