Along the east coast of America , an unusual and deplorable phenomenon has been pass since 2016 : Humpback heavyweight have been washing up dead and stranded on the beaches of the east coast , induce concern among researchers as to the cause of these deaths .

From Maine through to Florida , coastal US states are report higher than average numbers ofhumpback whalemortality . In New York , 36 humpback have rinse up short in the last seven year , while 35 have been set up in the same time frame in Massachusetts . In 2017 and 2020 , 34 and 33 whales respectively were found beat across all 13 country . In full , 191 hulk have washed up dead in the last seven years across the east coast .

In 2017 , the event was declared an Unusual Mortality Event , determine as " a stranding that is unexpected ; involves a significant die - off of any nautical mammal population ; and involve immediate reception . " by theNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ( NOAA ) .

Necropsies were perform on around 90 of the whale , get that around 40 percent that were canvass had been involve in either a ship strike or entanglement with sportfishing apparatus . While this is far from conclusive grounds as to the climb of humpback whale whale decease , a squad of research worker has been put together to refresh the datum and continue monitor these occupy mortality event .

Other proffer for the cause of this gain total from groups opposed to offshore wind instrument farms . They have suggested that the preparation and scanning stage of development for the wind farm , particularly off the seashore of New Jersey , may have impacted the whale , although theMarine Mammal Commissionresponded by saying that “ there is no evidence to join these strandings to offshore flatus energy development ” in astatement .

Warming ocean temperatures and the impingement of mood change could also be contributing to these whale events as humpback whale feed onkrill , petite sea crustacean , that are hugely impact by warm up stipulation . Researchers are already study the impact of the huge numbers ofmicroplasticsthat humpbacks swallow with each mouthful .

NOAA has put together aninteractive mapshowing the whereabouts of each stranded whale . Their websitealso provides counselling on who to contact should a member of the public come across a carcass .