Since December, 25 humpback and 2 North Atlantic right whales have washed up along the shores of the East Coast – including at least 7 in New Jersey alone.
Experts with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and several environmental groups have concluded that these whales were likely killed by entanglement in fishing gear or collision with ships, and their concerns have led to the declaration of ongoing Unusual Mortality Events for both species. These collisions have become more common as warmer waters – caused by climate change – which have been altering the whales’ feeding patterns and may be putting them in greater danger of ship strikes.
The above excerpt was originally published in The Star-Ledger.
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