Climate Change / Wildlife

RED ALERT: Right Whales Spotted Over Canyons

Report Courtesy of Viking Yachts

Whale

The dark circles were the locations of right whales when spotted from the air from July 12 to July 26, 2024. The green lines indicate observers’ grid patterns. Image from Whalemap.org.

See a whale, report it to Whalemap.org.

An abnormally high number of North Atlantic Right Whales (NARW) have been spotted in and around the Northeast canyons from the Hudson up to Block Island canyons. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has used airplane surveillance and other assets to identify the whales and believes they are present due to a high level of food in these areas. 

Mariners are advised to be particularly vigilant while operating in these waters. If whale(s) are seen, mariners are asked to provide a wide berth. For the latest information about the location of the whales, visit whalemap.org.

NOAA realizes this is the height of offshore pelagic fishing in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, with many tournaments planned, and therefore wants to raise awareness about this unusually high number of NARW.

NOAA Posting Info on Social Media

NOAA is posting information on its Instagram and Facebook, and the U.S. Coast Guard is including the information in its Local Notices to Mariners (LNMs) on channel 16. NOAA information designates two 15nm x 15nm square voluntary slow zones in which the whales have been spotted.

Whale

The dark circles are actual whale sightings and the red ones are from acoustical observations.

NOAA (which plans to conduct weekly aerial surveys for the next seven weeks) will keep boaters informed through its social media and other outlets. Right whale sightings from Maine to Virginia can be reported to (866) 755-6622 or to the Coast Guard via channel 16.