New York Whales – New York whales and seals have returned to the waters just outside New York Harbor bringing whale and seal watchers with them.
The New York whales have dramatically increased in number and as many as 30 to 50 fin whales now make these waters their full-time home.
New York Harbor Hosts Whales And Seals
New York Harbor is also now home to so many more seals and dolphin than earlier this month.
So many more in New York Harbor that Tom Paladino, the captain of two ferry boats from the Rockaways, has started weekend tours on his boat, the American Princess. He says that pods of whales and seals off New York’s coast has “increased tenfold.” “We used to see 10 whales a year. Now we see 100,” he said. “We saw dolphins almost on a daily basis between June and September.”
See Whales From New York Harbor Ferry Tour
Cornell University Professor Chris Clark said that acoustical monitors were installed by Cornell in and near New York Harbor in 2008, but the project was abandoned due to budget cuts. Recent review of the monitors has discovered that there are six species of whales touring the New York and New Jersey shores. The numbers are “far, far more than expected, even for me,” Clark said. “I’ve been surprised elsewhere in the world, but off New York – yikes!”
Clark said the study of New York Harbor whales needs to be revived to learn how to better protect them. A Right Whale, an endangered species, was spotted locally along with Humpback, Fin, Sei, Minke and Blue whales. The Right Whale is a very slow-moving animal, moving at no more than 10 knots, and is the most prone to being killed by ships. Clark hopes to raise $1 million to get the study up and running again and install a sophisticated monitoring system that will notify boats to slow down.
Next time you are in the area, sign up for a ferry tour to see the New York Whales.