Baleen Whale Occurrence in the Waters Off Virginia and North Carolina, U.S.A. From 2001 to 2019

ABSTRACT Eighteen years of visual survey and strandings data were used to describe baleen whale occurrence along the continental shelf of Virginia and North Carolina, U.S.A. This region experiences heavy anthropogenic use, which poses risks for mortality and injury to baleen whales. Between 2001 and 2019, six species of baleen whales were recorded, and whales occurred year‐round. The total number of (on‐ and off‐effort) sightings and strandings amounted to 838 whales, including humpback ( Megaptera novaeangliae , n = 503) , fin ( Balaenoptera physalus , n = 197) , North Atlantic right ( Eubalaena glacialis , NARW, n = 76 ), common minke ( B. acutorostrata , n = 51), sei ( B. borealis , n = 10), and blue ( B. musculus , n = 1) whales. Spatial modeling and abundance estimates indicated whale density and distribution changed seasonally. The highest densities of all whales combined occurred in winter and spring. Across seasons, average densities were highest in the northern portion of the study area. Ninety percent of NARW sightings were outside the designated Seasonal Management Areas in place for their protection. The stranding record offered a complementary view of species richness and seasonality. This study provides a baseline of baleen whale occurrence in an area experiencing increasing anthropogenic pressures (e.g., ship traffic and offshore wind‐energy development).

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Publication Details

Journal
Marine Mammal Science
Published
2026-06-16
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.70179
Primary Topic
Marine animal studies overview
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Baleen Whale Occurrence in the Waters Off Virginia and North Carolina, U.S.A. From 2001 to 2019

Erin W. Cummings, W. Mark Swingle, Mark P. Cotter, Sarah D. Mallette et al.
Marine Mammal Science
Marine animal studies overview
article

Baleen Whale Occurrence in the Waters Off Virginia and North Carolina, U.S.A. From 2001 to 2019

Erin W. Cummings, W. Mark Swingle, Mark P. Cotter, Sarah D. Mallette, Andrew J. Read, Robert L. Brownell, M. Louise Burt, Len Thomas, Ryan J. McAlarney, William A. McLellan, Peter G. Fisher, D. Ann Pabst, Joel T. Bell, Philip K. Hamilton, Jackie Bort Thornton, Susan Barco, Matthew B. Ogburn, Gwendolyn G. Lockhart, Tiffany F. Keenan
article en

Abstract

ABSTRACT Eighteen years of visual survey and strandings data were used to describe baleen whale occurrence along the continental shelf of Virginia and North Carolina, U.S.A. This region experiences heavy anthropogenic use, which poses risks for mortality and injury to baleen whales. Between 2001 and 2019, six species of baleen whales were recorded, and whales occurred year‐round. The total number of (on‐ and off‐effort) sightings and strandings amounted to 838 whales, including humpback ( Megaptera novaeangliae , n = 503) , fin ( Balaenoptera physalus , n = 197) , North Atlantic right ( Eubalaena glacialis , NARW, n = 76 ), common minke ( B. acutorostrata , n = 51), sei ( B. borealis , n = 10), and blue ( B. musculus , n = 1) whales. Spatial modeling and abundance estimates indicated whale density and distribution changed seasonally. The highest densities of all whales combined occurred in winter and spring. Across seasons, average densities were highest in the northern portion of the study area. Ninety percent of NARW sightings were outside the designated Seasonal Management Areas in place for their protection. The stranding record offered a complementary view of species richness and seasonality. This study provides a baseline of baleen whale occurrence in an area experiencing increasing anthropogenic pressures (e.g., ship traffic and offshore wind‐energy development).

Marine Mammal ScienceVol. 42(3)
NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (US), University of North Carolina Wilmington (US), George Mason University (US), University of St Andrews (GB), Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (US), Duke University (US), New England Aquarium (US), Marine Conservation Institute (US), Urology of Virginia (US), Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center (US), NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service Southwest Fisheries Science Center (US), College of Exploration (US), Associação Brasileira de Oncologia Veterinária (BR), Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (US), Tetra Tech (United States) (US)
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President, George Mason University, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, National Marine Fisheries Service, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southeast
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