#humpback-whales

#humpback-whales

The number of whales getting tangled up in fishing nets, line, buoys and other miscellaneous rope off the coasts of the United States hit a record high in 2024, with California taking the ignominious lead. According to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, there were 95 confirmed entangled whales in U.S. waters last year. Eighty-seven were live animals, while reports for eight came in after the animals had died.

It is the beginning of August and a crowd is gathered on the deck of the American Princess cruise boat waiting for one thing and they are not disappointed. Suddenly, a juvenile humpback whale, known as NYC0318 in local records, bursts through the surface of the water, engulfing thousands of small, oily fish. For those onboard the 29-metre (95ft) vessel, the scene is a thrill to watch.

"In a way, we're reading the mind through the nose," says neurobiologist and study co-author Noam Sobel, referring to how breathing patterns could indicate physical or mental states.

Humpback whales, which now number between 30,000 and 50,000, have made a remarkable recovery, returning from near extinction due to aggressive hunting efforts in the past.

Despite their large eyes, humpback whales possess limited visual acuity, comparable to nearsightedness, which significantly increases their risk of entanglement in fishing gear.

More than 200 confirmed sightings of newborn humpback calves across a vast area, suggesting a shift in the perceived calving range for these whales.