Humpback deaths in 2023 tie yearly record set in 2002 — Humpback whale photo by Erez Shor

TOMS RIVER, NJ – According to data released by the Marine Mammal Stranding Center, more humpback whales have washed up deceased along the Jersey Shore in 2023 than in any full year dating back to 2002.

According to the center, seven humpback whales have been reported deceased along the New Jersey coast since January 1st.

Before that, the record was seven for the entire year of 2019.

Between 2002 and 2015, the Jersey Shore averaged between zero and one humpback whale stranding per year at the Jersey Shore.

Since 2016, there has been an increase, with the peak in 2019 at seven humpbacks.

Whale strandings 2002-2023 – data by marine mammal stranding center.

As of March 8th, there were seven reported strandings in 2023. New Jersey could see 28 humpback whale strandings this year if that rate continues.

At this point, nobody knows why the whales are dying. Necropsies on the whales show vessel strikes, but they don’t show why so many humpback whales are being struck by vessels this year.

Many opponents of the offshore wind farms being built by Governor Phil Murphy are using sonar and other sound disruptions that are forcing the whales into shipping lanes or worse, deeper into the ocean to escape the sonar, which causes disorientation and even the bends.

Governor Phil Murphy has so far refused to heed calls to halt his offshore wind farms temporarily. He says this year’s whale die-off is nothing to be concerned about. Murphy claims it is related to the seven-year trend, however the MMSC data shows a disproportionate amount of humpback whales dying at the Jersey Shore in 2023.

So far, state or federal officials have provided no scientific evidence regarding the root cause of the most recent rise in deaths to confirm either side’s position.

Here are 2023’s humpback whale stranding incidents and resolutions:

Date	Location	Notes	Preliminary Results	Final Results
1/7	Atlantic City	Stranded, Dead	Possible vessel strike	Pending
1/12	Brigantine	Stranded, Dead	Possible vessel strike	Pending
1/18	Brigantine	Floating, Dead	No tests, inaccessible	Pending
1/28	Brigantine	Floating, Dead	No tests, inaccessible	Pending
2/14	Manasquan	Stranded, Dead	Possible vessel strike	Pending
2/27	Sandy Hook	Floating, Dead	No tests, inaccessible	Pending
3/7	Seaside Heights	Stranded, Dead	Possible vessel strike	Pending

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