With fewer than 350 North Atlantic right whales remaining, the species faces extinction primarily due to ship strikes and entanglement in fishing gear. Conservationists and marine biologists, like those at the Center for Coastal Studies and New England Aquarium, are working to protect and monitor the whales, but their efforts clash with the Maine lobster industry, which faces strict regulations to prevent whale entanglements. Lobstermen argue the regulations threaten their livelihood without conclusive evidence, sparking a tense battle between conservation and economic survival. Innovative solutions, such as on-demand lobster traps, offer some hope, but the future of both the whales and the lobster industry remains uncertain.