The endangered whales are North Atlantic right whales, which number fewer than 400 and are vulnerable to ship collisions and entanglement.

A North Atlantic right whale was seen near North Carolina wrapped in fishing rope and buoys. Two others were spotted off Massachusetts.

There are about 370 North Atlantic right whales alive. In the last week, NOAA has spotted three entangled in fishing gear, two likely fatal.

The current population of the North Atlantic right whale stands at less than 400 as the species has grown increasingly vulnerable to collisions with ships and entanglements in gear.

Three critically endangered North Atlantic right whales have been spotted entangled in fishing gear off the Eastern Seaboard this month, a number that a researcher says is "devastating but not unusual.

The sighting of this juvenile whale comes just a week after two other North Atlantic right whales were seen entangled in fishing gear off the Massachusetts coast

Entanglements and vessel strikes in U.S. and Canadian waters are the main causes of death of North Atlantic right whales, and scientists say fewer than 400 are in existence

Three North Atlantic right whales have been spotted entangled in fishing gear off the coast of the U.S. just this month, according to information from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries.

A 3-year-old male, seen southeast of Nantucket with lines wrapped across his head and back, is unlikely to survive. An adult female with ropes hanging from her mouth was sighted in the same area. Altogether,

For the second time in a week, researchers have spotted an entangled North Atlantic right whale off the American coastline.

The whale spotted off North Carolina has suffered a serious injury and is likely to die as a result of the entanglement, NOAA said.