North Atlantic right whales, Eubalaena glacialis, were called "right whales" because they were the best whale for early whalers to kill. They have long baleen and lots of blubber and oil. When killed, they could be towed back to land for processing because they float. They once numbered in the millions, but the entire population of the species is now less than 400. The history of the right whale is an example of

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The history of North Atlantic right whales being overexploited by early whalers and current threats such as entanglement in fishing gear indicates that overexploitation is the best choice. The other options of pollution, habitat destruction, and competition may also be threats to the species, but they are not the primary cause of its decline.

North Atlantic Right Whales, Eubalaena Glacialis, Were Called "Right Whales