NOAA Announces Alarming Spike , in Stranded and Dead Whales , Washing Ashore.<br />'Newsweek' reports that in recent weeks, <br />there has been an "unusual" spike in the number <br />of stranded and dead whales washing ashore.<br />'Newsweek' reports that in recent weeks, <br />there has been an "unusual" spike in the number <br />of stranded and dead whales washing ashore.<br />A notable number of these strandings <br />have reportedly occurred on <br />the East Coast of the U.S.<br />Strandings occur for either natural reasons <br />like age or disease or human-related factors <br />such as vessel collisions or ocean noise. , Kate Wilson, a spokesperson for the International Whaling Commission, via 'Newsweek'.<br />Strandings occur for either natural reasons <br />like age or disease or human-related factors <br />such as vessel collisions or ocean noise. , Kate Wilson, a spokesperson for the International Whaling Commission, via 'Newsweek'.<br />Some strandings occur due to a combination <br />of factors and it's often very difficult to <br />identify the cause of a stranding, Kate Wilson, a spokesperson for the International Whaling Commission, via 'Newsweek'.<br />According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric <br />Administration (NOAA), there have been <br />nine whale strandings since December 1, 2022.<br />Among those strandings were <br />two sperm whales and <br />seven humpback whales.<br />There's concern recently about this <br />increased number and all of these <br />happening in a relatively tight <br />geographic area and time. , Sarah Wilkin, coordinator of the Marine Mammal Health <br />and Stranding Response Program of the NOAA Fisheries <br />Office of Protected Resources, via 'Newsweek'.<br />NOAA fisheries have reported <br />178 humpback whales involved with <br />this "unusual mortality event" since 2016.<br />There are also ongoing unusual <br />mortality events for minke whales in <br />the North Atlantic and North Atlantic <br />right whales along the Atlantic coast. , Sarah Wilkin, coordinator of the Marine Mammal Health <br />and Stranding Response Program of the NOAA Fisheries <br />Office of Protected Resources, via 'Newsweek'.<br />So unfortunately, it's been a period <br />of several years, where we have had <br />elevated strandings of large whales. <br />But we are still concerned about this <br />pulse over the past six weeks or so, Sarah Wilkin, coordinator of the Marine Mammal Health <br />and Stranding Response Program of the NOAA Fisheries <br />Office of Protected Resources, via 'Newsweek'.<br />So unfortunately, it's been a period <br />of several years, where we have had <br />elevated strandings of large whales. <br />But we are still concerned about this <br />pulse over the past six weeks or so, Sarah Wilkin, coordinator of the Marine Mammal Health <br />and Stranding Response Program of the NOAA Fisheries <br />Office of Protected Resources, via 'Newsweek'
