Whale Sighting - Stellwagen Bank

Sailing from Cape Ann to Cape Cod , we decided to go a little more east to Stellwagen Bank in search of some whale sightings. It was a beautiful and unique experience. A journey of approximately 65 nautical miles that takes you through the scenic waters of the Atlantic Ocean. As you depart Gloucester, you will pass the beautiful New England coastal scenery, picturesque landscapes, and eventually the abundant wildlife of Stellwagen Bank - a National Marine Sanctuary. Arriving on the bank, you may experience the thrill of encountering the varied marine life, such as whales, dolphins, seals, and seabirds. We came across numerous humpback whales on our trip which created a lasting memory.

Stellwagen Bank

Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary is an 842-square-mile federally protected marine sanctuary located at the mouth of the Massachusetts Bay, between Cape Cod and Cape Ann. It is known as an excellent whale watching site. You will often find right whales, minke whales and the playful humpback whale. It is home to other species of marine life as well.

The Humpback Whale

The humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is a species of cetacean belonging to the baleen whale suborder. It is known for its long pectoral fins, knobbly head, and complex whale songs. The humpback whale has a distinctive body shape, with a knobbly head and long pectoral fins. It is an acrobatic animal, often breaching and slapping the water with its tail and fins.

Humpback whales can be found in most of the world’s oceans, generally in temperate and polar waters. They migrate up to 25,000 km (15,500+ miles) each year, often traveling in pods of up to 12 individuals. The humpback whales in these waters will migrate down to the Dominican Republic and beyond once the waters here cool down.

Humpback whales have a long history of interaction with humans. They were hunted extensively in the past for their meat and blubber, and are still hunted by some cultures today. In some parts of the world, humpback whales are also hunted for their oil. The humpback whale is now recently considered a protected species and is listed on the IUCN Red List. Unlike the North Atlantic Right Whale, who is on the critically endangered portion of the list, the humpback is considered LC, least concern and hopefully with growing awareness will not climb the endangered species ladder.

The IUCN Red List

The IUCN (The International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of plant and animal species established in 1964. It uses a set of criteria to evaluate the extinction risk of thousands of species and subspecies. The IUCN Red List is set upon precise criteria to evaluate the extinction risk of thousands of species and subspecies. These criteria are relevant to all species and all regions of the world. The aim is to convey the urgency of conservation issues to the public and policy makers, as well as help the international community to try to reduce species extinction.