Federal officials say the fading North Atlantic right whale will remain protected under the Endangered Species Act and requires a series of protective steps to stave off extinction.

A new sighting of a right whale calf brings the total spotted this season to 15, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said Friday.

A once-in-a-lifetime encounter with rare whales just off the coast of St. Johns County comes with a stern warning.

U.S. Reps. John Rutherford (R-Jacksonville) and Stephanie Murphy (D-Orlando) introduced the Scientific Assistance for Very Endangered (SAVE) Right Whales Act that would invest $5 million annually in grants that states, nonprofits and members of the fishing and marine shipping industries can use to fund research and efforts that restore the North Atlantic right whale population.

Two spotter planes on Tuesday searched for a right whale whose calf was killed in a boat strike last week. The right whale calf, possibly 2 months old, washed up Saturday on the shore of Anatasia State Park beach. The boat that struck the right whale is now at the St. Augustine Marine Center. Pitchford says people need to remain aware of their surroundings when they’re in a boat, especially during right whale calving season. If you see a right whale, it’s important to give the animal space -- 500 yards to be exact.

Crews were studying the right whale calf and prepared to move it off the beach out of the tide zone. AdA 19-year-old right whale known as Infinity and her first calf were sighted Sunday off Amelia Island. (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission)North Atlantic right whales are endangered, and researchers estimate there are less than 400 left. Every fall, right whales can travel up to 1,000 miles from their feeding grounds up north to the shallow calving waters down south. If you see a right whale, it’s important to give the animal space -- 500 yards to be exact.