Why are the whales dying? Sea mammal deaths hit record in New York and New Jersey
Whales are washing up on East Coast shores at an alarming rate, leaving researchers to dissect decomposing carcasses and determine whether ship strikes or fishing gear played a role in each demise. So far in 2023, at least 14 humpbacks and minke whales have been found dead in waters off New York and New Jersey, a significant increase from last year’s nine deaths. Two humpbacks were recently found dead in Raritan Bay off Keansburg, New Jersey, and Wainscott on Long Island, both with blunt force trauma as the suspected cause of death. With ongoing spikes in fatalities among humpbacks, minke and North Atlantic right whales, there is growing concern about the reasons behind it.
According to NOAA data, this year alone, 11 other humpbacks have been found dead in other states, including from Maine in the north to Florida in the south, and two North Atlantic right whales have perished off the coasts of Virginia and North Carolina. As the number of whale deaths continues to increase, people are calling for an end to plans to build offshore wind farms amid claims that the development is endangering sea mammals.
Some whales die due to and human activities such as ship strikes and getting caught in fishing gears. Since 2016, 40% of dead humpbacks examined by scientists have shown evidence of being hit by ships or caught in fishing nets. But more whales in our waters could also be a contributing factor. Globally, numbers have bounced back since a worldwide ban in 1986, but whether the abundance of whales has increased in recent years enough to make the spike in deaths merely a reflection of abundant numbers is unclear.
Bigger ships are also more of a danger to whales as they represent bigger targets, which is a growing concern in the Port of New York and New Jersey. Ships pose a definite threat to whales, with 12 of the 98 documented right whale fatalities in the Atlantic since 2017 caused by ship strikes.
FAQS:
Q: How many whales have been found dead so far in 2023 in waters off New York and New Jersey?
A: At least 14 humpbacks and minke whales have been found dead in waters off New York and New Jersey so far in 2023, which is a significant increase from nine deaths last year.
Q: What is causing the spike in whale deaths?
A: There are several reasons behind the increase in whale deaths, including ship strikes, getting caught in fishing gears, and the growing number of whales in our waters.
Q: Are offshore wind farms endangering sea mammals?
A: There are claims that offshore wind farms are endangering sea mammals and contributing to the increase in whale deaths, which has led to calls to stop building them.
Q: Are bigger ships more of a danger to whales?
A: Yes, bigger ships represent bigger targets, which is a growing concern in the Port of New York and New Jersey. Ships pose a definite threat to whales, with 12 of the 98 documented right whale fatalities in the Atlantic since 2017 caused by ship strikes.
Q: Why are there more whales in our waters?
A: It is unclear whether the abundance of whales has increased in recent years enough to make the spike in deaths merely a reflection of abundant numbers. The reason for the increase in whales could also be the result of whales seeking a food source along their historical migration routes.
Record Number of Sea Mammal Deaths in New York and New Jersey: What is Causing the Decline of Whales?
Multiple whales have been washing up on the shorelines of the East Coast, causing concern for both researchers and beachgoers. Scientists are dissecting the carcasses to determine the cause of death, such as ship strikes or fishing gear. This year, at least 14 humpback and minke whales have been found dead in waters off New York and New Jersey, compared to nine in the entirety of last year. The most recent deaths occurred in Raritan Bay off Keansburg, New Jersey, and Wainscott on Long Island. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the suspected cause of death for both humpbacks was blunt force trauma. Federal investigators believe one female humpback whale found dead in New Jersey was hit by a ship. Other humpback and North Atlantic right whales have also been found dead in other states, from Maine in the north to Florida in the south. This spike in fatalities has increased the debate on the reasons, with calls to stop offshore wind farms as it may be endangering sea mammals.