“Concerns rise as Humpback Whales mysteriously beach themselves along East Coast of America”

Jakarta –

Along the east coast of America, an unusual and sad phenomenon has been occurring since 2016. During that time, many humpback whales have died and beached themselves along the east coast. This makes the researchers worried and trying to find out the cause of death.

The humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is a baleen whale, one of the largest rorqual species. Adult humpback whales are 12-16 meters long and weigh 36,000 kilograms.

From Maine to Florida, the US coastal states, are reporting higher-than-average numbers of humpback whale deaths. In New York, 36 humpback whales have died in the last seven years, and 35 whales were found in the same period in Massachusetts.

Between 2017 and 2020, 34 and 33 dead whales were found in 13 states, respectively. In total, 191 whales have beached themselves in the past seven years along the east coast.

In 2017, the event was declared an Unusual Mortality Event, which is defined as an ‘unexpected stranding’, and involved the death of a significant population of marine mammals according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Quoted from IFL Science, the results of necropsies performed on about 90 whales, found that about 40% of the whales examined were involved in boat attacks or entangled in fishing gear. While these findings are far from conclusive evidence of an increase in humpback whale deaths, a research team has been set up to review the data and continue to monitor these associated mortality events.

Another allegation that the cause of the increase in humpback whale deaths comes from groups opposing the construction of wind farms to source wind energy offshore. They suggest that the planning and scanning stages of wind farm development, particularly off the coast of New Jersey, may have an impact on the whales. However, so far there is no evidence linking whale strandings to the development of wind energy.

Warming ocean temperatures and the effects of climate change may also contribute to whale deaths. In addition, researchers are also studying the impact of large amounts of microplastic ingested by humpback whales.

NOAA has compiled an interactive map showing the whereabouts of every whale that has beached itself. Their website also provides guidance on who to contact if members of the public find a stranded whale carcass.

Watch Video “Sightings of 10.5 Meter Humpback Whales Stranded in New York“

(rns/rns)