Odd Gathering Of Nearly 30 Right Whales Seen In Cape Cod Bay

CAPE COD, MA — Nearly 30 right whales have been spotted in the lower and eastern portions of Cape Cod Bay. The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries urges mariners to take caution when operating in that area.

According to officials, at least 27 right whales were spotted by the Center for Coastal Studies aerial survey team on Jan. 18, an unusual development for the winter months.

DMF officials said a grouping of this size in Cape Cod Bay is typical in the spring months, but for an aggregation of this size to pop up in January is strange.

Mariners are urged to take caution in the area, primarily due to the surface-feeding nature of this particular group.

According to officials, zooplankton sampling shows that there are high concentrations at the surface and that the trend is expected to last for at least a week, if not more.

Eventually, the whales are expected to shift back to feeding on zooplankton closer to the seafloor, but that hasn't happened yet.

"Due to the early presence, behavior, and size of the aggregation, DMF is urging mariners to use extreme caution when transiting Cape Cod Bay," officials said.

"For the safety of both mariners and whales, vessel operators in this area are strongly urged to proceed with caution, reduce speed (less than 10 knots), and post lookouts to avoid colliding with these highly endangered whales."

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) estimates there are fewer than 350 North Atlantic right whales remaining in the world, meaning the 27 whales in the waters near Cape Cod make up more than 7 percent of the remaining species.

On Jan. 8, an aerial survey team spotted a "heavily entangled" whale near Rodante, North Carolina, that was previously seen in Massachusetts Bay in May 2022.

The whale's condition was noted as "seriously injured", which means the whale is likely to die from the injury, according to NOAA officials. Scientists with the New England Aquarium identified the whale as right whale #4904, a 4-year-old juvenile female.

Another right whale was found dead near Morehead City, North Carolina, on Jan. 7.