By Steffen Klenk
Whales are majestic creatures. The fact that several have been washing up along our coast begs the question, “Why? And what else is there to learn about our marine mammal neighbors?”
Their ancestry can be traced back millions of years to a lineage that originates on land, coming into existence over 50 million years ago! Long before there were dinosaurs, there were whales.
Science has shown that their ancestors were ancient artiodactyla – or four-legged hoofed land mammals.
One of the most common species you will find off our coast is the humpback whale. The average adult ranges in length from 46 to 56 feet and weighs up to 44 tons.
They have a distinctive body shape, with knobs known as tubercles on their heads and large pectoral fins. The average lifespan of a humpback whale can be anywhere from 45 to 50 years.
The average humpback whale travels 5,000 miles each year, swimming from Nova Scotia and Maine all the way to the Dominican Republic between seasons.
The colder waters are preferred for mating and calving in the north, and in the Caribbean, whales enjoy a delicious bounty of krill (shrimp-like crustaceans) and small fish. All they have to do is open their mouths, and they’ll ingest hundreds of pounds of seafood!
Here is an interesting fact: Most humpback whales won’t eat for about half the year.
Their peak feeding season occurs during migration when they often feed on small fish and microscopic organisms. When they are off the New Jersey coast, they feed on a species of fish known as Atlantic menhaden, a small, oily baitfish 6 to 8 inches in length. The whales often use their own bubbles as a distraction to feed on their prey.
According to Melissa Laurino, research director at the Cape May Whale Watch and Research Center, not all of them will make that long, annual trek. “A lot of humpback whales that stay in the Mid-Atlantic year round could possibly be some sub-adult (not fully grown) whales,” Laurino said.
Cape May Whale Watch and Research Center is one of several tour boat operators in the region that are devoted not only to eco-tourism, but also whale conservation efforts. Laurino said they collect vital data to learn more about the species and any changes in habit.
“We collect anything from weather and sea conditions to behavior data, group characteristics and a lot of water parameters like water temperature, depth and tidal height,” she said.
There has been a steady increase in whale sightings since 2014. There has also been a diversity of whale species sighted in recent excursions including finback whales.
The second-largest whale species on our planet, an adult finback can weigh up to 100,000 pounds. The endangered North Atlantic right whale has also made appearances. These baleens can live up to 70 years in optimal conditions.
Whale conservation efforts continue to be a topic of conversation, and not just throughout the region. NOAA Fisheries has noticed a rise in the number of humpback mortalities known as Unusual Mortality Events (UME).
Since 2016, there have been 178 fatalities along the East Coast, 40 percent of which showed evidence of human interaction, meaning either a ship strike or entanglement in nets.
Locally, the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine has observed an average of seven whale strandings per year between 2002 to present day. These strandings included live humpbacks stranded on sandbars or injured just offshore. Lifetime statistics can be found at http://mmsc.org/stranding-statistics.
All marine mammals, including whales, dolphins, and seals, are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, passed by Congress in 1972, and several whale species, such as the bowhead and blue whale, are listed as endangered.
According to NOAA, some of the humpback’s biggest threats include inadvertent vessel or ship strikes, entanglement in fishing gear and vessel-based harassment. Climate change can also impact the humpback species, though its extent is unknown.
Humpback whales are a vital part of the ocean and the communities that they benefit from. All marine mammals off our coast are migratory and travel great distances. Laurino stresses the importance of collecting data while collaborating with other research organizations to better understand these creatures.
“Our environment is constantly changing, and our marine mammals are going to have to adapt to any changes that could be caused by us humans,” Laurino said.
In the event you should spot a sick, injured, entangled, or deceased sea creature or marine mammal, it is recommended that you stay at a distance of at least 150 feet. Whales, dolphins, sea turtles and seals are protected by state and federal law.
Report your sighting to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center by calling 609-266-0538. You can also connect on Facebook.
Steffen Klenk is a photographer and multimedia journalist who enjoys capturing the eclectic moments of shore life. You may contact Steffen at shorelocalsteffen@gmail.com.
