 In early history, North Atlantic right whales and gray whales were present in region, perhaps using the shallow, calm waters for feeding and breeding.It has been theorized that they were hunted to extinction in this region by shore-based whalers in medieval times.They are generally considered long-extinct in the region, but in the Netherlands a possible right whale was observed close to beaches on Texel in the West Frisian Islands and off Steenbanken, Schouwen-Duiveland in July 2005.