Two right whales entangled off Massachusetts coast

The latest: Scientists at the New England Aquarium's Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life say the two entangled whales are:

• A 13-year-old female, Catalog #4120, with two fishing lines caught in her mouth
• A 3-year-old male, Catalog #5110, with a thick line across his head and back

NOAA expects the younger whale to die from his injuries.

• He comes from a family with a history of entanglements. He's the third calf of a whale named "Binary" who's been entangled three times.

What they're saying: "North Atlantic right whales continue to be entangled at levels that could push this critically endangered species to extinction," Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life senior scientist Amy Knowlton said in a statement.

By the numbers: This incident marks the 149th and 150th cases in what experts call an "unusual mortality event" that has claimed at least 41 whales.

• 38 whales have been seriously injured.
• 71 whales have been injured or become ill.

Background: New England Aquarium researchers maintain the North Atlantic Right Whale Catalog, which has documented over 1,800 entanglement events since 1980, affecting more than 85% of the right whale population.

State of play: Whale response teams are monitoring the whales and could attempt a rescue if conditions allow.

What's next: Aquarium officials are calling for immediate changes to fishing practices like the adoption of ropeless gear and weaker ropes to prevent future incidents.