Monday October 10, 2022
Ocean Coast Beach Connection —
Fewer newborn calves and lessening numbers: those statistics on the gray whale population off the Oregon coast and Washington coast are starting to worry experts.
Scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s marine life branch, NOAA Fisheries, have found a decline in the numbers of gray whales that migrate off the West Coasts of the U.S. and Canada, finding that they’re down 38 percent from its peak in 2015 and 2016. Also dropping in numbers are the number of calves being born, according to another report by the agency.
There could end up being fewer whales to see off the Oregon coast and Washington coast.
NOAA Fisheries said gray whale populations in this part of the North Pacific hit their peaks at 27,000 in 2016, but this year clocking in at 16,550 – some 38 percent less.