North Atlantic right whales, among the rarest of all large whales, are often spotted hanging out in and around Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary. Only about 500 of these whales are still alive, and sanctuaries like Gray's Reef can help protect the endangered right whale from threats like ship strikes and disturbance from whale watching vessels and other boat traffic. Marine protected areas like national marine sanctuaries can offer animals like the right whale safe spaces to mate and raise their young, encouraging healthy population growth over time.