According to AFP, humpback whales appearing more and more in the waters off New York (USA) have attracted the attention of people and tourists. However, the return of this animal has also raised concerns about the risk of collision with ships because this is a sea area with high maritime traffic density.
Ocean expert Carl LoBue in New York said that whales used to rarely appear in this sea area. But now he almost always encounters them on voyages.
In addition to humpback whales, many other species sometimes appear in the waters around New York, including the North Atlantic cowhead whale - one of the whale species at serious risk of extinction.
Researchers believe that the recovery of whale populations along with improved marine environmental quality has contributed to making this animal appear more frequently.
Previously, humpback whales mainly migrated through New York Bight - waters off New York, Long Island and New Jersey - on a journey between northern fishing grounds and breeding grounds in the Caribbean.
However, abundant food sources are making the New York sea area a place where whales often stop to forage. One of the important food sources of this animal is the Atlantic sardines - an oil-rich fish used as bait and raw material for producing omega-3 supplements.
Sea urchins are also a food source for dolphins and many marine birds. An adult humpback whale can be as long as a large bus and consume about 1,360kg of fish per day.
In addition, climate change is said to be affecting the distribution of fish species that whales use as food. Naturalist Chris St. Lawrence of the Gotham Whale research organization said that warming seawater is causing schools of fish to change positions, forcing whales to leave traditional foraging areas to find new food sources.
When Gotham Whale began tracking whales in New York in 2012, this organization only recorded 5 individuals. To date, the organization records about 80-100 different individuals each year and has just recorded the 500th whale to appear around the city since the program began.
The increasing number of whales also leads to safety concerns. New York is an area with bustling maritime activities, with oil tankers, cargo ships, cruise ships, fishing boats and many recreational vehicles operating regularly.
Researchers identify whales through characteristic patterns on the bottom of the tail. However, many individuals have been found to carry scars from collisions with vehicles at sea or encountering fishing gear. According to conservation organizations, these are also 2 of the leading causes of death for whales.
Recently, Governor Kathy Hochul of New York signed the Whale Cognitive Act, requiring the inclusion of marine mammal protection content in safety training courses for ship operators and vehicle registration procedures.
Ocean expert Carl LoBue is also developing guidance materials, including an online course to help crew members recognize whales, report when detected and proactively avoid collisions. He believes that even experienced fishermen have never had to learn how to control ships among schools of whales, because this animal rarely appeared in New York waters before.
