Potential encounters between humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) and vessels in the New York Bight apex, USA

Abstract

Vessel collisions contribute significantly to humpback whale injury and mortality. In 2017, an Unusual Mortality Event was declared for the species along the Atlantic Coast of the United States, with many whales exhibiting signs of vessel strike. Though not previously known as a whale dense area, the New York Bight apex has seen an upsurge in both humpback whale sightings and strandings in recent years. Whales feed in close-proximity to the entrance of the Port of New York and New Jersey, creating potentially dangerous situations for both vessels and whales. Documenting humpback whale presence and identifying the risks are crucial for both short- and long-term management. In this study, we examine the overall distribution of opportunistic sightings collected from 2011 to 2016. We isolate sightings from 2016 and compare to vessel traffic from that year using AIS vessel position data. From 2011 to 2016, there were 409 humpback whale sightings documented in the New York Bight apex, with 184 sightings (45%) less than 3 km from shore. In 2016, 95.1% of humpback whale sightings were located within 100 m of at least one vessel transit, and the density ranged from 1 to 51,103 transits per year. This study is the first step in assessing the risk of vessel collision to humpback whales in the New York Bight apex. The results provide insight into the distribution of potential encounters, and further demonstrate the need for more formal research into the fine-scale distribution of humpback whales in this highly-trafficked area.