Overview

• Six whale carcasses were discovered in one week, raising the 2025 death toll in the Bay Area to 15, including 14 gray whales and one minke whale.
• Necropsy efforts have been hindered by inaccessible locations and advanced decomposition, leaving most causes of death undetermined.
• Three gray whales were identified as probable vessel-strike victims, prompting The Marine Mammal Center to work with harbor authorities on ferry-lane adjustments.
• Photo identification has confirmed 33 individual gray whales in the bay this year compared with four in 2024, with about one-third lingering for at least 20 days.
• Earlier this year Southern California reported record-low gray whale calf counts, heightening concerns about the species’ recovery.