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2h ago

January Survey Logs Likely Record 33 Right Whales in Cape Cod Bay

Researchers say the concentrated sightings reflect Cape Cod Bay's seasonal importance for a species still hovering around 384 whales.

Image
A North Atlantic Right Whale sounds while feeding on plankton in Cape Cod Bay, off the coast of Provincetown. A team from the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies, was researching the right whale’s food supply today during their migration north.
A North Atlantic right whale with calf. Image via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain).
North Atlantic right whales "Batman" and "Dune" spotted south of Nantucket last week. (New England Aquarium photo credit)

Overview

  • The Center for Coastal Studies counted 33 North Atlantic right whales in a single aerial survey on Saturday, believed to be a January record for the bay.
  • Since November, 54 individual right whales have been documented in the Cape Cod Bay area, underscoring sustained use of the habitat this winter.
  • Scientists estimate the global population at 384 whales at the end of 2024, up just over 7% from the 2020 low of 358.
  • About 15 calves have been identified so far this calving season, short of NOAA’s estimate that roughly 50 per year would be needed for a clear recovery path.
  • NOAA activated a voluntary 10-knot Dynamic Management Area south of Massachusetts through Jan. 20 after aerial surveys identified at least 23 whales near Nantucket.