Rare Endangered Whales Detected Off Atlantic City Coast
Atlantic City, N.J. — As "Scotty" famously said in the movie Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, "Admiral, there be whales here!"
In addition to any number of sharks that are frequently tracked up and down the Jersey Shore, we now have whales passing by.
North Atlantic right whales, to be exact.
North Atlantic Right Whale Facts
Before we dive in (no pun intended), check out these facts from the Smithsonian Institution to see how big of a deal this is...
- Up to 55 feet long and weighing up to 70 tons, the North Atlantic Right Whale is one of the world's largest animals, making them extremely endangered
- Scientists believe only 300 to 400 remain on Earth
- Collisions with ships and entanglements in fishing gear are the two biggest threats for the whales; about 58% of deaths occur due to entanglement
- Some scientists fear that right whales could become extinct within 20 years
Endangered Whales off Atlantic City
According to New Jersey Fish & Wildlife, on June 10th, the Atlantic City Passive Acoustic Monitoring buoy, operated by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, detected the presence of North Atlantic right whales southeast of Atlantic City.
NOAA Fisheries has implemented a Right Whale Slow Zone, which will be in effect through June 25th.
So, what exactly does that mean?
Should you find yourself boating in the ocean in this yellow shaded area, mariners are asked to slow to 10 knots or less, or completely avoid the area if possible.
How To Track Whale Sightings Along the East Coast
And here's some pretty cool information...
- You can track what whales have passed by that buoy daily by visiting its website
- You can also track whale sightings up and down the entire East Coast at whalemap.org
- If you are out at sea, you can report whale sightings to NOAA
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Leaping Dolphins and Whales Near Cape May NJ
Gallery Credit: Kristen at Cape May Whale Watcher
Chris Coleman is a South Jersey native and has been a cornerstone of the Atlantic City radio market since 1998. He serves as Brand Manager for WPG Talk Radio 95.5 and afternoon on-air personality for Cat Country 107.3. A five-time President's Circle award winner and Townsquare Media's 2024 Content Creator of the Year, Chris covers news, events, and stories of interest across Southern New Jersey. Story tips: chris.coleman@townsquaremedia.com
