August 14, 2014 — Along the Atlantic Coast, whale sightings surge, but why? Experts credit "abundant" food sources, like menhaden
Mendy Garron, a marine mammal specialist with NOAA, told the New York Post: "Humpback whales are in the North Atlantic this time of year for feeding. Increase or longer presence in certain areas usually mean that there is an abundant food source."
Artie Raslich, Gotham Whale's staff photographer, said the increased abundance of menhaden and has lured other predators such as blue fish, striped bass, and thresher sharks.
But humpback whales are putting on a spectacular exhibition in nearshore waters off New York and New Jersey, too, gorging on schooling menhaden.
Two weeks ago, we profiled the stunning humpback whale feeding display occurring close to shore off Monterey, California. Enthusiasts are still watching in awe as the giant mammals lunge upward through vast shoals of anchovies to ingest thousands of the small fish in a single gulp.
But humpback whales are putting on a spectacular exhibition in nearshore waters off New York and New Jersey, too, gorging on schooling menhaden.
The East Coast phenomenon is unique in that more whales are showing up, and staying longer than in previous years, according to the research group Gotham Whale, because water flowing into the Atlantic from New York Harbor is much cleaner than it used to be.
The cleaner water is believed responsible for luring more bait fish to the area, and as a result humpback whales are no longer compelled to migrate farther north to feeding grounds off Cape Cod or Maine.
"The river used to bring nothing but pollution, but in the last five years or so there is cleaner water, more nutrients, and less garbage," Paul Sieswerda, director of Gotham Whale, told the Guardian. "My boat captain says New York is the new Cape Cod."
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