Tragically, an endangered 44-foot Sei whale met its demise in the East River at the Port of Brooklyn on Saturday morning, likely after a collision with a 19-deck cruise ship. Marine experts have expressed uncertainty regarding the duration the deceased mammal was towed by the vessel prior to its discovery. According to a spokesperson for MSC Cruises, the adult female whale was found as the MSC Meraviglia docked at the Port. The colossal Meraviglia, renowned for its heroic assistance to 24 Cuban migrants in distress off the Florida coast last year, boasts an impressive gross tonnage of 171,600 and towers 214 feet high. Spokesperson Andrea Gomez of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries stated that the endangered whale was removed from the ship and transported to Sandy Hook, New Jersey, for a necropsy on Tuesday. However, she emphasized that it is premature to determine whether the whale was already deceased before the impact. Rob DiGiovanni, founder and chief scientist of the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society, expressed the likelihood that the “interaction with the vessel contributed to her death.”
DiGiovanni further noted that the whale appeared to have been feeding, indicating that it was a healthy individual with relatively fresh food in its stomach. The exact time and location of the whale’s collision remain undetermined. However, according to NOAA, Sei whales typically inhabit deeper waters, far from the shore. DiGiovanni revealed that the whale’s body was “pretty decomposed,” hindering experts’ efforts to pinpoint the precise time of death. The decomposition process of a whale carcass can be accelerated by several days when the water temperature is unusually high.
Regrettably, collisions between whales and ships are not uncommon, but determining the frequency of such incidents is challenging as whales may sink to the ocean floor after being struck. The vast size of cruise vessels can make it difficult for staff or guests to detect a whale strike, rendering even the world’s largest mammal virtually unnoticeable. These ship strikes may contribute to the unusual mortality event in the New York Bight Apex, which includes waters stretching from Fire Island to the Manasquan Inlet in New Jersey. DiGiovanni reported that since 2016, the number of humpback, Mackey, and North Atlantic Right whale deaths has increased from one to three per year to 12 to 14 per year. This spike in whale fatalities is a distressing consequence of the rising number of whales frequenting the waters near New York City annually.
While some whales reside in the area year-round, the population in the East River surges during the spring months. DiGiovanni implores boaters to exercise caution, stating, “We start to see increases in whale sightings now, so we urge boaters to use caution in the waters.” He encourages ship captains to adopt a “Slow: Children at Play” mentality when navigating the open seas. NOAA urges mariners operating along the US East Coast to reduce their vessel speed, maintain vigilance, and report any sightings of right whales or any dead, injured, or entangled whales.
Sei whales rank among the largest whale species and are protected worldwide, with vessel strikes posing one of the most significant perils to their dwindling population. International efforts are underway to mitigate these threats and ensure the survival of these majestic creatures.
