The North Atlantic right whale consortium databases were established in 1986 as part of a cooperative right whale research program conducted by the University of Rhode Island, New England Aquarium, Center for Coastal Studies, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and other organizations forming the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium. The data are comprised of two major datasets: the survey and "Sightings Database”, maintained and curated by the University of Rhode Island, and the “Identification database” (formally the “Photo-Identification Database"), maintained and curated by the New England Aquarium.