A juvenile North Atlantic right whale that washed up on Martha’s Vineyard in January with fishing gear caught in its tail died from “chronic entanglement” with such equipment in ocean waters, according to federal officials.

A federally-led necropsy into the death of a North Atlantic right whale that washed ashore on the Vineyard earlier this year has been completed and officials are concluding that the whale died from chronic entanglement in fishing gear.

Federal investigators said Maine fishing gear is to blame for the death of an endangered female right found dead near Martha’s Vineyard in January. While some lobstermen say they’re sad to hear about the death of the whale,

Federal authorities say a rare whale found dead off Massachusetts earlier this year died as a result of entanglement in Maine lobster fishing gear

According to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, North Atlantic right whales are approaching extinction, and there are roughly 360 whales of this species left.

The female North Atlantic right whale was found dead near Martha’s Vineyard in January due to chronic entanglement.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) confirmed Wednesday that a North Atlantic right whale died of chronic entanglement, and the rope removed from the whale was from Maine. NOAA was notified of a dead female right whale near Joseph Sylvia State Beach on Martha's Vineyard on Jan.