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☆ A grey whale was seen in the Atlantic for one of the only times in the last 200 years. Scientists say it's bad news for the planet.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Patrick Whittle | Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Grey whales have been extinct from the Atlantic Ocean since the 18th century. Scientists were thrilled to see the whale, but its presence is probably linked to climate change. Researchers with the New England Aquarium in Boston found the gray whale while flying 30 miles south of Nantucket, Massachusetts, on March 1. Gray whales were almost hunted to extinction during the era of commercial whaling. They also sound very different — while humpback whales are known for their haunting songs, gray whales make gurgles, grunts and croaks.

Persons: Orla O'Brien, O'Brien, Gray Organizations: Service, —, New, Aquarium, Anderson Cabot Center, Ocean, Atlantic, International Union for Conservation of Nature Locations: England, PORTLAND , Maine, Boston, Nantucket , Massachusetts, Atlantic, Florida, Massachusetts, Canada, New England, Asia

The whales were buoyed by a strong birthing year in 2021, when 18 calves were born into the population, the consortium said. However, consortium members cautioned that the high mortality faced by the whales from collisions and entanglement remains an unsustainable burden. Scientists say one reason the whales are now in decline has to do with warming oceans and climate change. Numerous lobster fishermen have opposed proposed fishing restrictions they fear would put them out of business rather than help whales. The right whale consortium said sublethal injuries to whales from collisions and fishing gear are also a major concern for the remaining population.

Persons: ”, Philip Hamilton, they're, Dave Cousens, Katie Moore, Janet Coit, Coit Organizations: U.S ., Atlantic, Whale Consortium, Anderson Cabot Center, Ocean, New, Maine Lobstermen’s Association, International Fund for Animal Welfare, National Marine Fisheries Service Locations: PORTLAND, Maine, North Atlantic, U.S . East Coast, Florida, Georgia, New England, Canada

The scientists found large whales such as humpbacks and North Atlantic right whales were among the most vulnerable to climate change, and that other toothed whales and dolphins were also at high risk. The scientists looked at the animals' degree of exposure to climate change and sensitivity and capacity to adapt to it. “The U.S. is one of the most data-rich countries when it comes to marine mammals, and those data should be driving what are arguably some of the world’s strongest laws to protect marine mammals," she said. But the way climate change affects the giant animals is global in nature, so the broader approach is helpful, she said. Climate change also could affect the distribution and behavior of marine mammals, the study states.

Persons: Matthew Lettrich, ” Lettrich, Regina Asmutis, Silvia, “, Laura Ganley, Ganley, ”, Gib Brogan, ” Brogan, Patrick Whittle Organizations: —, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, U.S, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, Conservation, Anderson Cabot Center, Ocean, New, Aquarium, AP Locations: PORTLAND, Maine, U.S, North Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, Massachusetts, Boston, New England, United States, of Maine, Georgia, Florida, Canada, Oceana

☆ Rare sighting of killer whales off New England coast
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Amaya Mcdonald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —New England Aquarium researchers spotted something unusual on Sunday afternoon during an aerial survey — a group of four killer whales swimming just 40 miles south of Nantucket, Massachusetts. Killer whales, also known as orcas, are more commonly seen in areas surrounding the Arctic ice-edge and the Caribbean, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Katherine McKenna, assistant research scientist at the New England Aquarium in Boston, was the first to notice the group, or pod. Another atypical killer whale sighting — involving particularly large numbers — also occurred last weekend in coastal waters on the other side of the United States, in California’s Monterey Bay. “That was the best sighting I’ve seen in my 35 years of killer whale research,” Black told CNN.

Persons: Katherine McKenna, ” McKenna, ” Katherine McKenna, Orla O’Brien, Anderson, Nancy Black, Black, ” Black, “, CNN’s Laura Studley Organizations: CNN —, England Aquarium, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, New, Aquarium, New England Aquarium Scientists, Anderson Cabot Center, Ocean, Whale Watch, CNN Locations: Nantucket , Massachusetts, Caribbean, Massachusetts, Boston, New, United States, Monterey Bay ., Canada, Monterey, California, Monterey Bay

☆ Orcas were spotted swimming unusually close to Massachusetts
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Rebecca Harrington | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Two of the orcas shown swimming in the waters off Nantucket, Massachusetts, on June 11, 2023. A pod of orcas swims in the waters off Nantucket, Massachusetts, on June 11, 2023. A pod of orcas swims in the waters off Nantucket, Massachusetts, on June 11, 2023. A bottlenose dolphin swims in the waters off Nantucket, Massachusetts, on June 11, 2023. Mother and calf fin whales swim in the waters off Nantucket, Massachusetts, on June 11, 2023.

Persons: Orcas, —, Katherine McKenna, Anderson, White, Insider's Kelsey Vlamis, Orla O'Brien Organizations: England Aquarium, Service, Privacy, New England Aquarium, Sunday, Anderson Cabot Center, Ocean, Aquarium Sailors, New England Locations: Nantucket, Spain, North, Nantucket , Massachusetts, New, Portugal

☆ Rare photos show a pod of orcas swimming 40 miles off the coast of Massachusetts
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Rebecca Harrington | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

They said in a press release that it's "unusual" to see killer whales in the North Atlantic as their population is very small there. Two of the orcas shown swimming in the waters off Nantucket, Massachusetts, on June 11, 2023. A pod of orcas swims in the waters off Nantucket, Massachusetts, on June 11, 2023. A pod of orcas swims in the waters off Nantucket, Massachusetts, on June 11, 2023. Mother and calf fin whales swim in the waters off Nantucket, Massachusetts, on June 11, 2023.

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