New York whales rebound as boat traffic raises risks

Humpback whales are being seen more often off New York, thrilling whale watchers while raising concerns about collisions in one of the busiest port regions in the United States.

Marine scientists and naturalists say the increase reflects several factors, including the recovery of whale populations, cleaner water, more Atlantic menhaden for whales to eat and warming waters that are shifting bait fish distributions.

Carl LoBue, New York oceans director at The Nature Conservancy, said whale sightings were once extremely unusual near Long Island and New York City. He said he now sees the animals almost every time he is on the water, usually humpbacks and sometimes other species, including the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale.

Gotham Whale, a marine research organisation that tracks whales in the New York Bight, began formal monitoring in 2012 with five whales in its catalogue. Naturalist Chris St. Lawrence said the organisation now sees 80 to 100 unique whales annually and has identified its 500th individual whale around New York City since tracking began.

The comeback has brought new risks. New York's waters are used by tankers, cargo ships, cruise ships, fishing boats and recreational vessels. Many whales can be identified by scars as well as by their distinctive tail patterns.

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration declared an Unusual Mortality Event for humpbacks along the Atlantic coast in 2017, one year after humpbacks in the New York area were delisted as endangered. The designation remains in effect.

Advocacy groups and government trackers worldwide identify vessel strikes and entanglements as leading causes of whale deaths.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed the Whale Awareness Act this month. The law requires marine mammal protection efforts and education to be integrated into state boater safety courses and vessel registration.

LoBue said boaters now need to learn how to recognise whale behaviour, report sightings and avoid collisions because many did not grow up navigating waters where whales were common.