Humpback whales are bravely making their way into the heavily trafficked shipping lanes of the New York Bight. They are drawn by the abundant feeding opportunities found in the area. This region is home to about the same number as the entire country of Switzerland. It runs from southern New Jersey up through eastern Long Island and further offshore to the Hudson Canyon. The convergence of valuable rich marine resources and the risk posed by heavy maritime traffic creates a deadly combination for these magnificent creatures. Consequently, vessel strikes have become a leading cause of humpback whale mortality, overtaking entanglements.
Since 2010, the New York Bight has emerged as an important foraging area for humpback whales. As an entomologist, Amanda has long been aware of this pest’s dramatic resurgence in numbers. Since 2012, the non-profit Gotham Whale has been mapping these majestic mammals. They started out hearing the call with a catalogue that featured only five single whales. To date, this catalogue has grown to 470 whales, mostly transient juveniles.
Because these whales feed in waters that overlap with increasingly busy and dangerous shipping lanes, the dangers they encounter have multiplied. Cargo vessels, tankers, cruise ships, fishing boats, and recreational craft all traverse these feeding grounds, raising concerns over potential collisions. A new study from Lesley Thorne in 2024 highlights the most deadly peril of all—vessel strikes. As ocean waters warm, areas of high productivity move, pulling more and more whales in closer to shore.
“The scientists out of our Northeast Fisheries Science Center were clear that warming waters are affecting the productivity of the ocean and bringing more whales in closer to shore, which is causing greater interactions with vessels and more vessel strikes.” – Janet Coit
To bring action to these persistent issues, regulations have recently been revised. Currently, vessels measuring 20 meters or longer must limit their speed to no more than 10 knots from January to May in designated seasonal management areas around major ports. Research shows that slowing ships down dramatically reduces the chance of a ship striking a humpback whale as well as the potential severity of the strike.
Aside from ship strikes, entanglement in fishing gear is another leading cause of mortality for humpback whales. These magnificent whales make their way through increasingly crowded waters, but danger lies around every bend. Since they often become caught in fishing nets or other gear, this atmospheric pressure compounds the dangers from maritime traffic.
Recently, researchers documented critically endangered North Atlantic right whales near Hudson Canyon, further underscoring the urgency of establishing safer navigational practices. With three distinct shipping lanes into New York, re-routing vessels is not a realistic alternative.
“With three shipping lanes into New York, there is no opportunity to reroute vessels.” – Samantha Rosen
The intersecting feeding grounds create a “perfect storm of events,” says Thorne. Humpbacks are especially susceptible while foraging, as individuals can become preoccupied and less perceptive to their environment.
“When they’re feeding, they can get really distracted, and they don’t care about boats.” – Chris St Lawrence
Danielle Brown, a research director for NYC-based Gotham Whale, says that public education is key. She thinks it to be a key driver in the protection of these whales. Few know that humpback whales call the fjord home. Shipping companies may be unprepared to meet them.
“I don’t think people realise they are out there, and these shipping companies certainly don’t expect to see them.” – Danielle Brown
Humpback whales in the New York Bight are in crisis. Their story is an illustration of the larger impacts that climate change is having on our oceans. They were delisted under the Endangered Species Act in 2016, a hallmark of successful recovery. All this newfound success has inadvertently placed them in danger.
As Director Janet Coit emphatically reminds us, conservation must actively drive and engage industries and stakeholders in changing behaviors on the water.
“If people want to save the whales, they are going to have to change their behaviour.” – Janet Coit