A state assemblywoman from Manhattan is on a mission to find out why so many humpback whales are dying in the waters off the East Coast.
Rebecca Seawright, who represents the Upper East Side, wants the state Department of Environmental Conservation to investigate the cause of several whales washing up on beaches in and around New York City.
“The tragedies have occurred in Orchard Beach, the Bronx and the Rockaways in Queens as well as in New Jersey and other states,” Seawright said.
“Forty-one whales have died since last year along the eastern seaboard, a totally unprecedented amount.”
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Marine Fisheries is investigating the cause and declared an “unusual mortality event.”
On average, 14 whales die along the eastern seaboard annually. In 2016, that number shot up to 26. Nine have died in the area already this year.
The cause of death is unknown but necropsies have shown a high number of the whales have been injured by blunt trauma from watercraft and their propellers.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Marine Fisheries is trying to determine whether the whales are migrating through areas with dense shipping traffic in search of food or if other factors are behind the surge in deaths and injuries.
DEC Spokeswoman Lori Severino said the state is working on the problem with other stakeholders.
“DEC remains concerned about this phenomenon as well and has an ongoing aerial whale monitoring program along this state’s coastline,” she said.
“This summer it will be expanded to include a whale acoustic monitoring program near the shipping lanes.”
In addition to the minke whale that died after landing on Orchard Beach on Sunday, whales washed ashore in Queens on Jan. 13 and April 4.