Whales Drive into Ice‑Free East Greenland Waters
· World · BBC News
Sea ice loss along East Greenland’s coast has opened feeding grounds for giant whales that were previously excluded from the area. Ship‑based surveys recorded no humpback sightings until 2006; by 2024 there were 150 such sightings, with an estimated 4,000 humpbacks, 6,000 fin whales and 6,000 minke whales visiting the Greenland Sea that summer. Researchers combined aerial surveys from 2015 and 2024, satellite tracking of 15 whales and Inuit hunter reports to conclude a major ecological regime shift. The warming sea, rising temperatures and increased food availability have enabled the whales to consume at least 800,000 tonnes of fish and krill during the season. It is unclear whether the shift reflects a population rise or a redistribution from other areas, and whether the influx originates from West Greenland. The study suggests that opportunistic baleen whales may be benefiting from climate‑driven habitat changes, while other Arctic species remain at risk.
Why it matters
The movement of large whales into new feeding areas signals a clear impact of climate change on Arctic marine ecosystems and could influence traditional Whale hunting practices in Greenland.
Read the original report — BBC News
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