NOAA Launches Probe into Increase in Humpback Whale Deaths

Credit: MERR Institute under NMFS Permit No. 18786-01

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A drastic increase in the number of humpback whale deaths along the Atlantic Coast since the beginning of last year has triggered and investigation by NOAA Fisheries.

An unusual mortality event has been declared as 41 humpbacks have been found dead between Maine and North Carolina.

The average number of strandings per year is eight.

“NOAA Fisheries will work with external experts to review data from the past 41 cases and to develop recommendations for future responses, sampling and data collection efforts and data analyses,” said Mendy Garron, the stranding coordinator for NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Region. “Humpback whale stranding events will continue to be closely monitored and prioritized for response efforts throughout Maine to North Carolina.”

Twenty of the humpbacks have been examined with 10 showing evidence of vessel interaction.

No infectious diseases have been found among the deceased whales, but there have been signs of low levels of bio toxin exposure, according to Garron.

“[That] can be a typical finding for large whale species, but is not considered to be unusual,” Garron said.

Environmental and habitat conditions, including human caused threats, will also be monitored and accessed for risk factors that could impact the whales.

The deaths were evenly distributed among the east coast states in 2016 and the majority of the strandings this year have been found off Virginia and North Carolina.

There are approximately 10,400 humpback whales alive.

According to Garron, the investigation could take months or even years to complete.

By BRIAN MERCHANT, CapeCod.com NewsCenter

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