New research has found that if just two more female whales could be saved each year, the species would probably survive.
The whales live in the waters off the eastern United States coast.
This is a busy area for ships, and northern right whales swim particularly slowly - which means they get hit by ships or trapped in fishing nets.
Reduce the deaths
According to the report's authors, a system introduced in 1999 which allows sightings of whales to be reported to ships in the area has helped reduce the deaths.
They want this extended, along with other ideas, including:
- Keeping ships out of breeding areas
- Better ways of rescuing whales from nets
- Nets which break more easily
If some of these aren't adopted, they warn that the northern right whales's days could be numbered.
Hear story!
Watch Becky Jago's report
Killing endangered whales
