Penobscot Bay has seen a surge of inshore humpback whale sightings, with multiple juveniles and at least one mother-calf pair feeding close to shore on large schools of menhaden, according to marine researchers and local residents who have observed the animals from docks and cars over the past month.
Feeding Frenzy Brings Humpbacks Close to Mainers
More than a hundred people attending a lobster bake and art show in Northport’s Bayside enclave watched a humpback whale swim back and forth just offshore for an hour on a recent Sunday. According to Michelle Zagardo, a vacationer from Bethel who witnessed the Bayside whale, sharing space with the animal was exciting, though she noted that boats were getting too close to the feeding whales.
Lois Grover of Searsmont, a former sternman on lobster boats, saw a whale jump from her car at Belfast City Park, marking her first time seeing a whale from shore. Tanya Lubansky, the director of photo-identification research at Allied Whale, stated that the past month of whale activity appears more prolonged than past seasons, noting the presence of multiple whales, including a mother-calf pair and mostly juveniles based on size.
Driving Factors Behind the Inshore Migration
The sightings in Penobscot Bay reflect a broader regional phenomenon of inshore humpback activity stretching from New York to the Bay of Fundy, according to Jooke Robbins, who directs the Humpback Whale Studies Program at the Center for Coastal Studies in Provincetown, Massachusetts. Robbins explained that the movement is driven by food, specifically large schools of menhaden, commonly known as pogies.
Did you know? While whale researchers maintain a catalog of more than 13,000 individually identified humpbacks across the Atlantic, tracking the Penobscot Bay whales has proven challenging because shallow water and surface-feeding habits mean the animals rarely show their tail flukes, which are typically used for identification.
Lubansky noted that researchers are working to build a local catalog using dorsal fins to estimate and identify the whales in the bay. However, the proximity to shore creates increased risks of human-whale interactions.
Boater Safety and Federal Protections
Two dead whales have been reported in the area over the past three weeks, according to Lubansky. One was a fin whale found south of Stonington, and the second was a humpback named Bowling, whose carcass was discovered off Petit Manan island. While neither whale’s cause of death is known, Robbins pointed out that East Coast incidents involving vessel strikes and fishing gear are proportional to the number of whales near the shore.
To reduce these risks, Robbins recommended slowing boats down, giving whales extra space, and observing them from the shore. In July, the Maine Department of Marine Resources issued reminders for fishermen and boaters to maintain a distance of at least 100 feet, and preferably 300 feet, operate at speeds of 10 knots in whale areas, and avoid fishing near the animals.
Whales are protected under the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act, which prohibits harming, injuring, chasing, killing, or harassing marine mammals. According to the agency, harassment includes any activity that alters natural behaviors like feeding, with violations carrying penalties of up to $35,000 in fines and one year in prison.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are humpback whales coming so close to the shore in Maine?
According to Jooke Robbins of the Center for Coastal Studies, the whales are driven inshore by the presence of large schools of menhaden, or pogies, which they feed on.
How close are boats legally required to stay to whales in Maine?
The Maine Department of Marine Resources advises boaters and fishermen to maintain a distance of at least 100 feet, and preferably 300 feet, while keeping speeds to 10 knots in areas where whales are present.
How do researchers identify individual humpback whales?
Researchers primarily identify humpbacks using the unique patterns on their tail flukes, though researchers in Penobscot Bay are currently working to build a local catalog of dorsal fins because shallow-water feeding limits deep dives.
Are humpback whales protected by federal law?
Yes, whales are protected by the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act, which makes harassing, harming, or chasing them illegal and subject to heavy fines and imprisonment.
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