Big Whales in the Big Apple
By Andrew Bloy, Biology, 2017
In New York City, tourists flock from every corner of the globe to see the majestic skyscrapers, storied avenues, and iconic landmarks like the Statue of Liberty. However, less than five miles from Lady Liberty’s feet, there are new sights to see for visitors to the Big Apple: whales and sharks.
For the first time in decades, these marine giants are making a resurgence in the waters of New York Harbor and down the Jersey Shore. Through summer 2014, Gotham Whale, a group of New York-based whale scientists and trackers, counted fifty-seven whales in the waters of New York Harbor, up around 33 percent from 2013 and around 1000 percent from 2011. This includes six species of whale, including the two largest species, the blue whale and the fin whale, as well as the majestic humpback whale. Of these six species, three are endangered: the blue whale, fin whale, and the North Atlantic right whale, of which only around 400 individuals remain.
Back in New York’s colonial days, whales were abundant in the waters of New York Harbor. Dutch settlers in the colony of New Amsterdam frequently reported seeing whales in the harbor. One account even reports seeing a small group of whales about 150 miles up the Hudson River in Albany, NY. However, the abundance of whales declined around the dawn of the industrial revolution, with pollution and large-scale whaling as the culprit. So why have the whales made their triumphant return to the Big Apple these last few years? Head of Gotham Whale, Paul Sieswerda suggests that a marked increase in water quality may be responsible.
Over the last ten years, concentrated efforts have been made to clean the waters of the Hudson River and New York Harbor. Removing pollutants such as polychlorinated biphenyl and cracking down on major polluters on the river such as foundries and power stations has improved the water quality tremendously. Now, instead of providing a steady stream of pollution into New York Harbor, the Hudson now provides a flow of clean, nutrient rich water. Because of this, the ecosystem in New York Harbor has made a resurgence. Skyrocketing plankton stocks have led to a massive increase in the number of fish, which means a greater population of whales can be supported.
An increase in whale population, however, is not without its drawbacks. New York harbor is one of the busiest harbors in the world for boat traffic. A constant stream of container ships, supertankers, cruise ships, ferries, yachts, and barges make the harbor a hostile environment for these gentle giants. Yet with whale watching on the rise around New York, hopefully, the presence and visibility of these whales will inspire a new generation of conservationists to help secure the presence of these whales for years to come.