Marine Mammal Research

Humpback Whales are the most common baleen whale species documented by Gotham Whale. Humpback Whales in the Western North Atlantic have been shifting their distribution further south from their primary feeding grounds in the Gulf of Maine and Canada in response to ocean warming and changes in forage fish distribution. This has brought them to an unlikely area: the busy waters surrounding New York City. Beginning in roughly the 2010s, Humpback Whales have become a regular part of the New York City coastal ecosystem, often seen feeding near busy shipping lanes within view of the famous skyline. Their presence has become so consistent that it has generated a successful whale watching industry.

Gotham Whale has been documenting Humpback Whales in New York City (NYC) waters since 2011. These early sightings led to the establishment of the New York City Humpback Whale Catalog, the largest and longest-running catalog in the region. As of December 2025, Gotham Whale has documented nearly 500 individual Humpback Whales in the waters surrounding NYC.

In the last 15 years, Gotham Whale's research has changed what we know about Humpback Whales in the NYC region. Previously, it was thought that whales were only passing through the New York Bight on their migratory routes. However, we now know that some whales stay for weeks or months. Humpback Whales feed in the region, using the area as a supplemental feeding ground outside the areas where the species is most commonly found.

The youngest Humpback Whales can be found feeding close to shore, often taking advantage of large schools of Atlantic Menhaden. Menhaden are a coastal forage fish species in the herring family that serve as important prey for marine mammals, sharks, birds, and recreationally fished species such as Striped Bass, Bluefish, and even Bluefin Tuna. Menhaden form large bait balls at the surface that are easily accessible to young humpback whales. Unfortunately, surface feeding so close to boat traffic can be risky for these youngsters.

On average, 50-70 humpback whales are seen annually. However, in 2024, a record number of more than 150 whales were documented in the region. As the North Atlantic ocean warms and humpback whales and their prey continue to shift, there will be increased overlap between whales and human activities in urban areas such as New York City.

Although Humpback Whales are the most common, they are not the only species documented near NYC! Gotham Whale has also documented Minke Whales, Fin Whales, and even the critically endangered North Atlantic Right Whale! Bottlenose Dolphins are also very common in our area, particularly nearshore.

In the last decade, some of our whale watching partners have added extended trips 20-100 miles offshore, allowing Gotham Whale to document some other rare and exciting species. Sperm Whales, Pilot Whales, Risso's Dolphins, Striped Dolphins, and even Cuvier's Beaked Whales have all been documented in the New York Bight! Learn more about all of the marine mammals found in our area here.

Some of the very first marine mammals that Gotham Whale studied were seals! In 2009, when Gotham Whale began, our main purpose was to document Harbor Seals and Gray Seals near New York Harbor.