Saving whales one plate at a time.

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Saving whales one plate at a time.
Everyone loves catching a glimpse of a whale on one of Massachusetts’ famed whale watches. Of all the whales that visit Massachusetts, the North Atlantic Right Whale is the most endangered. It’s hard to believe the dangers these spectacular animals face from ocean vessels and fishing gear. With only about less than 500 individual right whales left, the loss of even one can push the species closer to extinction. Your Whale Tail license plate can make a real difference. Did you know that the Whale Tail plate really helps whales? Proceeds support whale research, fund the teams that disentangle whales, improve water quality, restore aquatic habitat, and provide environmental education.
RMV registration fee: | $60 |
The special plate fee is: | $40 (tax-deductible contribution) |
Total first time fee: | $100 |
Renewal fee every 2 years | $100 |
Plate swap fee: | $20 |
The special plates are renewed once every two years.
You can also visit any Mass full service RMV. Before you go contact your car insurance provider and ask them to send you a signed RMV-3 Form for a plate swap. As long as your registration is in good standing, you will leave with new with plates in hand!
Having trouble? Contact us and we can walk you through it: 617-626-1045 or env.trust@mass.gov.
The sight of a whale from a boat or from the shore is one of the most exciting spectacles of nature. The waters of Massachusetts are home to numerous species of whales but none capture the imagination quite like the Humpback Whale and the North Atlantic Right Whale.
With only about less than 500 individuals left, right whales find refuge in Massachusetts to feed on the vast resources here from December through April each year. These slow moving animals swim near the surface where they can be hit by vessels or entangled in fishing gear. For a population so small, the loss of even one whale can push to species closer to extinction.
In addition to helping whales, the MET funds water projects in areas such as ecosystem restoration, water quality improvement, and environmental education. If you are interested in seeing where the money goes, a list of the most recent projects can be found here.