The remains of an endangered North Atlantic right whale have been discovered off Nova Scotia.

Oceana Canada says photos of the adult right whale’s tail and some of its lower body were documented by a Transport Canada aerial surveillance team about 140 kilometres off the southwestern shore.

The cause of death has not been determined as the carcass has not been recovered.

In Wednesday’s release, campaign director Kim Elmslie says, “The gruesome discovery of this latest North Atlantic right whale is another devastating loss to the species. This winter has been especially hard on the population with at least five calves and one juvenile whale dead or presumed dead and the first right whale sighted in Canadian waters having a severe entanglement.

Meanwhile, that sighting off the northeast coast of New Brunswick earlier this month has prompted the DFO’s 15-day temporary closure of Lobster Fishing Area (LFA) 23 C.

Oceana says there are only about 356 North Atlantic whales left in the world.