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Breaching whale lands on fishing boat off coast of Massachusetts in stunning moment caught on camera

Updated on: July 26, 2022 / 7:43 AM EDT / CBS News

A breaching whale landed on the bow of a fishing boat off the coast of Massachusetts on Sunday in a dramatic moment caught on camera. No one was injured and the boat was not seriously damaged, town officials said.

CLOSE CALL: Breaching whale lands on fishing boat off Manomet Point in Plymouth https://t.co/hu2tLZuJJS pic.twitter.com/rntkAHGr0c — WBZ | CBS Boston News (@wbz) July 24, 2022

CBS Boston reports the incident happened around 10 a.m. a few hundred yards off of Manomet Point in Plymouth, where whales have been spotted in the area feeding. Last week, a photographer captured an image of a  whale surfacing not far from a paddleboarder.

Because the whales have been in the area, a Plymouth Harbormaster boat was monitoring the waters this weekend as a precaution.

"This is definitely both a sense of excitement and concern," said Regina Asmutis-Silvia of North American Whale and Dolphin Conservation.

A man on the shore captured photographs as the whale, which appeared to be a humpback, breached and landed on the boat's bow, briefly submerging the front of the vessel, before sliding back into the water. The boat did not capsize.

In a statement posted on Facebook , the Town of Plymouth said the occupants of the 19-foot boat "reported no injuries and no major damage that affected the seaworthiness of the vessel," it said.

Harbormaster Chad Hunter said the fishermen headed back to the boat ramp and left the area.

Asmutis-Silvia said the whale's actions weren't intentional. "They're not going to pay attention to what's going on around them. So they're not looking around for kayakers or paddleboarders or even boaters. They're just kind of focusing on food," she said. 

Hunter said that while there have been concerns about boaters getting too close to the whales in recent weeks, it appears everyone, in this case, was "doing the right thing" and simply fishing when the whale breached.

Brooke Perry, a photographer from Ohio, scurried down to the Plymouth coastline when she learned the whales were close.

"Really nice for tourists to be able to see them up close because a lot of time you can't," she said.

But Asmutis-Silvia cautioned that the size of even a small whale would be potential dangerous to boaters.

"Even a small humpback whale, you're still talking about something that's probably 50 to 60 thousand pounds," said Asmutis-Silvia. 

Massachusetts Environmental Police are investigating.

"This interaction, while rare, is a reminder that these interactions can be dangerous for both boaters and whales," the town said on Facebook.

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Dramatic video shows humpback whale landing on small boat: ‘It was insane’

The 19-ft fishing vessel sustained minimal damage and there were no injuries reported by the two people on board during the splash, article bookmarked.

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Video footage captured the shocking moment that a humpback whale burst through the water in Massachusetts and landed facedown on an unsuspecting fisherman’s deck.

On Sunday at around 10am local time, Plymouth Harbormaster Chad Hunter says that the giant mammal was seen splashing around close to moored boats off the coast of White Horse Beach in Cape Cod Bay, according to NBC 10 Boston .

The 19-ft fishing vessel reportedly incurred a minimal amount of damage to the bow of the boat and was able to return to shore without the need of assistance.

There were two people onboard the vessel at the time of the big splash, and neither reported any injuries from the incident.

“The Plymouth Harbormaster Department recommends a distance of at least 100 yards to minimize potential interactions with whales,” said Plymouth officials in a Facebook post after the incident. “This interaction, while rare, is a reminder that these interactions can be dangerous for both boaters and whales.”

Video footage captured the stunning moment a humpback whale crashed onto the deck of a 19-ft fishing vessel on Sunday

Witnesses who saw the splash unfold told NBC 10 that they’d never encountered a sight such as the one they were treated to on Sunday.

“All of a sudden, full breach, ten feet out of the water, slams on top of his guy’s boat, like his bow goes down, basically, into the water, engine out, full thing pops off, whale rolls over the side of it, totally fine, but his boat was messed up,” Ryder Parkhurst told the local news station.

“It was insane, the guy was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, that’s all. Pops up, bang...right on the bow of the guy’s boat,” he said, adding that he “saw the boat go freaking flying, it was crazy.”

The 19-ft fishing vessel sustained minimal damage and was still deemed seaworthy after the incident, officials said

The Massachusetts Environmental Police are reportedly investigating the incident as well, according to WCVB.

The area where the breaching occurred on Sunday has become a hotspot for spotting humpback whales in recent weeks, with several sightings being reported over the last month.

Humpback whales, which can measure up to 55 ft and weigh up to 40 tonnes, pictured at this shoreline are oftentimes engaged in what’s called “lunge feeding.” The Whale & Dolphin Conservation group describes this as when the mammals bait fish by gulping large mouthfuls of water to corral fish into their mouths.

There were two people onboard the vessel at the time of the incident and no injuries were reported, officials said

Just last week, a paddleboarder at Manomet Point, located just 1.5 miles down the beach from where the breaching occurred on Sunday, was treated to the sighting of a humpback whale bursting out of the water just metres away from where he stood.

"The thing comes out of the water, thing is like 25 ft in the air, there’s fish flying out of its mouth,” Michael Manfredi told WCVB last week. “It’s just amazing, it’s incredible. It’s just one of those moments you’ll never forget.”

The paddleboarder added that he “was so happy when I got home.” Fortunately, photographer Craig Picariello was nearby and managed to snap a picture of the pair on the water in the rare moment, helping cement the memory Mr Manfredi is likely to not forget to permanent art.

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“He just seemed to be at the right place at the right time, so I kind of just followed him, and that’s where I got the pictures. It was crazy,” Mr Picariello told WCVB after snapping the iconic picture.

Humpback whales are found around the world, but the groups that are found frequenting the Massachusetts shores are part of the Western North Atlantic Humpback population. The mammals are classified as an Endangered species in Massachusetts, as there remain about 10,000, with 5,700 frequenting the western North Atlantic, according to the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife.

The humpback whale, its food resources – such as shrimp-like crustaceans (krill) and small fish – and its habitat are all threatened by human-influenced factors, such as pollution, entanglement with fishing gear and crashing with fishing vessels.

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Video Shows Whale Breaching Off Mass. Coast, Landing on Boat: ‘It Was Insane!'

No injuries were reported in the incident off the coast of plymouth, massachusetts, the harbormaster said, by kaitlin mckinley becker and eli rosenberg • published july 24, 2022 • updated on july 25, 2022 at 9:40 am.

Talk about a truly wild tale. A humpback whale was caught on camera breaching the water and landing on top of a boat off the coast of Plymouth, Massachusetts, on Sunday.

Plymouth Harbormaster Chad Hunter told NBC10 Boston the close encounter occurred around 10 a.m. off the coast of White Horse Beach. The 19-foot vessel sustained light damage to its bow but was shockingly still seaworthy. The boat was able to return to the boat ramp on its own power, and the boat operator fortunately reported there were no injuries.

“The boat was in the right place at the wrong time. This could have been much worse for all involved," Hunter said. "Children like to lean over the side of the boat to watch the fish so it is very lucky that nobody got hurt here. An incident like this is pretty rare but very dangerous to boaters.”

An incredible picture captured the moment right before impact.

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“IT WAS INSANE!” #NEW pictures show a whale breaching this AM outside #Plymouth , landing on a 19 foot boat. Harbormaster: No one injured. Witnesses say this was the most INTENSE thing they’ve seen on the water in decades. @NBC10Boston pic.twitter.com/Cm8MzymnU6 — Eli Rosenberg NBC10 Boston (@EliNBCBoston) July 24, 2022

Those who know the area, with some having fished there for decades, told NBC10 Boston they have never seen something like this before.

"All of a sudden, full breach, ten feet out of the water, slams on top of his guy's boat, like his bow goes down, basically, into the water, engine out, full thing pops off, whale rolls over the side of it, totally fine, but his boat was messed up," Ryder Parkhurst said. "It was insane, the guy was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, that's all. Pops up, bang...right on the bow of the guy's boat."

"I just saw the boat go freaking flying, it was crazy," Parkhurst added. "It was nuts. I couldn't believe the thing was still floating."

Harbormaster crews had actually been monitoring the area since 5 a.m. trying to ensure everyone's safety after a boat was bumped by a whale on Friday .

The harbormaster noted there were many boats in the area Sunday for recreational fishing due to an abundance of bait fish, adding that's also what is attracting whales to the area to feed.

"They've been out there for the last three days continuously so there's a lot of whales, but they're also attracting a lot of boaters, which creates a problem obviously after today," longtime boater Chris Grant said. "They're beautiful creatures but you know, you gotta keep their distance, they are still animals you know?"

Crowds gathered at the point Sunday evening, hoping to catch a glimpse.

"I love whales," 9-year-old Daniel Morse said. "The three things I love are music, video games and whales."

The harbormaster is using this incident as a reminder, telling boaters to stay at least 100 yards away from whales whenever possible.

Environmental police were contacted and will investigate, including to determine if there was a violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The harbormaster said no such violations had been determined at the time of the incident.

More whale encounters

‘I Got That on Video!' Watch a Whale Bump a Boat Off Mass.

Whale Leaps Out of Water Alongside South Shore Paddleboarder

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Video captures ‘insane’ moment whale breaches and lands on boat

A boater had a whale of an encounter off the coast of Massachusetts on Sunday that was caught on camera.

A stunning video captured a humpback whale breaching the surface and landing on a 19-foot boat in a wild scene that occurred off the coast of White Horse Beach in Plymouth, according to NBC10 Boston .

The whale slammed into the bow of the boat before bouncing back into the water. A photo also captured the frightening moment before impact.

No injuries were reported, and the boat only sustained light damage and was able to return to the boat ramp without any assistance.

"It was insane, the guy was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, that’s all," bystander Ryder Parkhurst told NBC10. "Pops up, bang ... right on the bow of the guy’s boat.

“I just saw the boat go freaking flying, it was crazy,” he continued. “It was nuts. I couldn’t believe the thing was still floating.”

Another boat was bumped by a whale in the same area two days earlier, according to NBC10. An abundance of bait fish attracted the whales along with several boats filled with people fishing.

Scott Stump is a trending reporter and the writer of the daily newsletter This is TODAY (which you should subscribe to here! ) that brings the day's news, health tips, parenting stories, recipes and a daily delight right to your inbox. He has been a regular contributor for TODAY.com since 2011, producing features and news for pop culture, parents, politics, health, style, food and pretty much everything else. 

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Whale lands on boat off Massachusetts coast in ‘insane’ moment caught on video

A whale breached and landed on the bow of a small boat briefly submerging it in the water, in a stunning moment caught on video Sunday morning off the Massachusetts coast.

In footage of the encounter, the whale, which appears to be a humpback, can be seen emerging from the water before landing on the 19-foot vessel, bringing it crashing down into the water before bouncing upright again.

The incident unfolded around 10 a.m. in the area of White Horse Beach in Plymouth, town officials said.

“It was insane," one witness, Ryder Parkhurst, told NBC Boston . "The guy was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, that’s all. Pops up, bang ... right on the bow of the guy’s boat.”

“I just saw the boat go freaking flying, it was crazy,” Parkhurst said. “It was nuts. I couldn’t believe the thing was still floating.”

In a statement published Sunday, the town said a Plymouth Harbormaster Department boat assigned to the area responded to check on the vessel occupants.

"The operator reported no injuries and no major damage that affected the seaworthiness of the vessel," it said. It was unclear whether the whale sustained any injuries in the incident.

The department's crews had been monitoring the area since around 5 a.m. Sunday in a bid to ensure everyone's safety after a boat was bumped by a whale Friday , NBC Boston reported.

Plymouth Harbormaster Chad Hunter said many boats had been out in the area for recreational fishing Sunday due to an abundance of bait fish, which he said was also attracting whales to the area.

The town said the Plymouth Harbormaster Department had forwarded information about the incident to the Massachusetts Environmental Police. The police department did not immediately respond to a request for comment from NBC News.

The town said the Harbormaster Department recommended boaters keep a distance of at least 100 yards from whales to "minimize potential interactions."

“This interaction, while rare, is a reminder that these interactions can be dangerous for both boaters and whales,” it said.

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Whale Lands on Fishing Boat While Breaching Off Mass. Shore in Shocking Video: 'Very Dangerous'

A 19-foot boat was floating in the area of White Horse Beach when a humpback whale leaped out of the water and landed on the watercraft, according to the Town of Plymouth

Abigail Adams is a Human Interest Writer and Reporter for PEOPLE. She has been working in journalism for seven years.

A humpback whale fell on top of a fishing vessel Sunday after breaching off the shore of a popular Massachusetts beach.

The 19-foot boat was floating in the area of White Horse Beach when the whale leaped out of the water and landed on the watercraft, according to a post shared Sunday on the Town of Plymouth's Facebook page .

Video of the incident shows the whale launching itself into the air, with several boats surrounding the vessel that was ultimately struck. The impacted boat did not capsize, however.

No one was injured as a result of the stunning event, Plymouth officials said. The boat, meanwhile, was not seriously damaged.

Plymouth Harbormaster Chad Hunter told NBC Boston that the situation "could have been much worse for all involved."

"Children like to lean over the side of the boat to watch the fish so it is very lucky that nobody got hurt here," he explained. "An incident like this is pretty rare but very dangerous to boaters."

Hunter did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.

Photos shared by Plymouth show the damage caused by the whale's impact with the boat.

Ryder Parkhurst, who witnessed the "crazy" occurrence, described the sight to NBC Boston. He said he "couldn't believe the [boat] was still floating" after it was whacked by the whale.

"All of a sudden, full breach, 10 feet out of the water, slams on top of his guy's boat," he recalled, "like his bow goes down, basically, into the water, engine out, full thing pops off, whale rolls over the side of it, totally fine, but his boat was messed up."

"It was insane," he continued, "the guy was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, that's all. Pops up, bang … right on the bow of the guy's boat."

A harbormaster boat "responded to check on the vessel occupants," according to the town.

Interactions between boats and whales are indeed "rare," according to the town.

"The Plymouth Harbormaster Department recommends a distance of at least 100 yards to minimize potential interactions with whales," officials said in Sunday's Facebook post.

"This interaction, while rare, is a reminder that these interactions can be dangerous for both boaters and whales," they added.

Breaching whale shocks father and son fishing off Jersey Shore as it nearly comes aboard boat

A father and son were fishing for striped bass and tuna off the Jersey Shore near Belmar on Wednesday when they hooked a prize memory: A massive humpback whale breached the sea inches from them.

The son, Zach Piller, 23, of the Philadephia area, captured the moment on video. The water boiled with activity, with dozens of small fish jumping from the sea, before the humpback's head emerged next to the duo's small boat.

"Uh-oh," Piller is heard saying just before the animal breached the surface and raised its head above the boat's midships.

“Got that on video!”Piller said among excited swearing.

The whale's head landed with a splash, and soon it was deep in the sea.

Piller said that small fish are abundant and nearshore this time of year, attracting whales and other animals that eat them. The weather was exceptionally nice Wednesday, with the high above 70 degrees and the water calm and glassy, Piller said.

Piller was on an 18-foot Starcraft built by his father. It’s based at a marina in Belmar.

Eric Otjen, SeaWorld San Diego vice president of zoological operations said apparent humpback whales feeding on small fish near shore is nothing unusual, but breaching near a boat is.

“This whale just happened to chase bait fish right next to a boat,” he said. “The feeding part is common. Being that close to the boat is not. You probably have a better chance of winning the lottery. It popped up where it popped up.”

Otjen said it’s possible the mammal was engaging in bubble-net feeding , in which humpback whales dive below a school of fish, blow bubbles in a circle around them to act as a virtual net, and then head for the surface, mouths open, to scoop up the fish.

"The guys on the boat had an experience of a lifetime," he said. "A lot of people would pay a lot of money to see what they saw."

Experts say humpbacks may use breaches to communicate because the resulting collision with the surface creates sound waves that travel far. They might also slap their fins for the same reason.

The Jersey Shore has been unusually active when it comes to whale sightings since at least July. And, reaching back to 2011, humpbacks have been staying longer for feeding season , possibly to feast on Atlantic menhaden, a small fish they prefer, researchers say.

Though the nearshore activity could be a sign that the endangered species is rebounding following the dark ages of hunting them for oil, scientists are concerned that boat traffic and fishing lines are posing serious threats.

On Sept. 26, the SeaWorld San Diego Rescue Team, as part of the West Coast Large Whale Entanglement Response Program, helped to disentangle a humpback whale from 300 feet of lines and buoys that appeared to be from crab fishing, the park said.

The park’s rescuers, joined off the coast of Carlsbad, California by responders from federal and local jurisdictions, were able to see the mammal set off for deeper climes.

“We celebrate and all that stuff, but we really want to not have to do it,” Otjen said.

Dennis Romero is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital. 

WATCH: New video shows massive whale breaching on boat in Plymouth

PLYMOUTH, MASS. (WHDH) - A Duxbury father and son fishing duo were surprised Sunday as they witnessed a juvenile whale breach the water onto a nearby boat, capturing video of the shocking incident.

“There was a big thud, you know the whale landed, basically full body contact right on the bow of the boat,” said witness Justin Enggasser. “It made three grunts that sounded like it was laughing at the boat. It’s something I couldn’t imagine.”

A group of small boats was sailing off of White Horse Beach Sunday morning when one of the many whales  recently seen in the area  breached in front of a vessel, making contact and hitting the ship’s bow, bending the boat’s starboard railing.

“It was a complete shock to everyone around that the whale came up right there. We would not have expected it,” said Enggasser.

According to the Harbormaster, no one was injured aboard the 19-foot-long boat. All of the passengers were at the stern at the time of the breach.

“Not many interactions like this happen in the world really,” said Plymouth Harbormaster Chad Hunter. “I’m a bit shocked that it happened but then the fact that there were no injuries, the boat didn’t capsize and sink. That was truly amazing.”

A Harbormaster boat was operating nearby at the time of Sunday’s whale bump, and was able to respond quickly to the incident.

According to wildlife experts, there is a large school of fish off the coast of Plymouth that are drawing in both fishing boats and three juvenile humpback whales.

Due to the age of the whales and their unpredictable feeding habits the Massachusetts Environmental Police advice caution when out on the water by Plymouth.

“We are advising recreational fishermen and people in the area to give the whales space. We ask that you give them at least 100 feet, more is better, to give them their space,” said National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration member Allison Ferreria. “These whales are unpredictable, they’re large animals, easily disturbed, and we wouldn’t want anyone to get hurt.”

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Whale breaches, lands on fishing boat off plymouth, massachusetts.

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A whale struck a fishing boat off the coast of Plymouth, Massachusetts, on Sunday in an area where whales have been spotted several times in the past week.

A viewer captured photos of the whale as it breached with several fishing boats nearby. The whale landed on one of the boats, causing the bow to dip down into the water.

Two people who were on the boat braced themselves as the boat tipped forward and back.

Plymouth officials posted a photo of the boat that showed the damage.

A harbormaster boat assigned to the area to watch for any potential violations of the Marine Mammal Act responded to check on the vessel occupants. The operator reported no injuries and no major damage that affected the seaworthiness of the boat, officials said.

"The Plymouth Harbormaster Department recommends a distance of at least 100 yards to minimize potential interactions with whales. This interaction, while rare, is a reminder that these interactions can be dangerous for both boaters and whales," Plymouth officials posted on Facebook.

The Massachusetts Environmental Police are investigating the incident.

Whales feeding and breaching in the area have brought residents and tourists to the area in the hopes of catching a glimpse of the marine animals.

Most of the whales sighted have been humpback whales, which can measure up to 55 feet and weigh 40 tons, according to the Whale & Dolphin Conservation, a non-profit group dedicated to the conservation of whales.

Photos from other sightings show the whales "lunge feeding," the group said, which is when the whales corral bait fish and lunge through to engulf a mouthful of fish and water.

Wildlife photographer Suzanne O'Shea said she had heard about the recent whale sightings. She said she grabbed her camera and headed for the coast Tuesday evening and again at daybreak on Wednesday morning.

She was there when a whale put on a show for a group of people onboard a small boat .

"When it breached, you just click and hope you get that picture," O'Shea said. "I didn't check right away because then you don't if they're going to breach again. So I checked a little while later. And I was like, 'Oh, my God, I got the picture!'"

One week ago, a paddleboarder had a close encounter with a whale off Manomet.

"The thing comes out of the water, thing is like 25 feet in the air, there’s fish flying out of its mouth," paddleboarder Michael Manfredi said. "It’s just amazing, it’s incredible. It’s just one of those moments you’ll never forget."

The Whale & Dolphin Conservation said boaters should give whales a buffer zone.

“We love the enthusiasm that local residents are showing for these whales off our coast and want people to enjoy them while they are here, but it’s important that they do it safely. The whales are moving sporadically while trying to catch fish, so boat operators in the area should be proactive and make sure they are at least five boat lengths away," said Monica Pepe, WDC’s Safe Boating Policy Manager.

Man killed, one hospitalised after whale hits boat off Australia

Police say whale breaching may have caused boat to flip and throw two occupants into the water off Sydney.

One man died and another was hospitalised in Australia after a whale hit and flipped their small boat during a fishing trip, authorities said.

The two men were thrown from the boat when it was hit at about 6am local time on Saturday (20:00 GMT on Friday) in the waters off La Perouse, about 14km (nine miles) southeast of Sydney.

Keep reading

‘orca uprising’: why are orca whales targeting boats, photos: australia rescuers ‘optimistic’ for survival of stranded whales, ancient whale found in peru may be the heaviest animal ever, photos: humpback whales draw visitors to colombia’s coast.

People on a second boat raised the alarm after spotting a 4.8-metre vessel unoccupied in the water, police said.

The 53-year-old skipper was pulled from the water nearby, treated by paramedics and taken to hospital, where he was in a stable condition, according to authorities. A second man, aged 61, was unconscious and died at the scene.

The boat “was likely to have struck or been impacted by a whale breaching, causing the boat to tilt, ejecting both men”, police said in a statement.

Water Police Acting Superintendent Siobhan Munro described the collision as a “tragic accident” and told how the skipper of the boat had tried to hold his companion “as close as he could” in an effort to save him.

According to Australia’s ABC national broadcaster, Munro said the men could have been in the water for 45 minutes before they were rescued.

A man has died and another has been taken to hospital after an early morning fatal collision with a whale at Sydney's Botany Bay. https://t.co/4G7ybNq7fd — ABC News (@abcnews) September 29, 2023

Though Australia has an extensive coastline and its waters host 10 large and 20 smaller species of whales, human deaths caused by whales are rare.

Humpback and southern right whales travel north to warmer breeding grounds during Australia’s winter months, returning southwards between September and November.

“Right now there are lots of whales out there and there are lots of examples of whales breaching next to boats,” Munro said.

New South Wales Maritime executive director Mark Hutchings said that people on the water needed to stay 100 metres away from an adult whale , and 300 metres if the whale is accompanying a calf.

“Whales aren’t there to harm anyone, but those interactions can happen,” Hutchings told the ABC.

The accident comes less than two weeks after a four-metre humpback whale was struck in the head by a boat propeller off the coast of Western Australia.

In June, eight Danish people were rescued when their sailboat capsized in the Pacific Ocean after a collision with one or two whales.

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Viral Video Captures 'Amazing' Moment Whale Breaches Just Feet From Boat

A boat full of sightseers got the full whale-watching experience as a whale broke through the surface of the water and breached just a few feet away from the small boat in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and the video showing the moment was shared on TikTok and viewed nearly four million times.

"Incredibly rare what you experienced..." one viewer wrote.

"That time I almost died," read the caption on Ashleigh Strother's video , which was posted to her TikTok account @aestheticallyash0624.

A few photos and video clips of Strother and fellow passengers are seen at the start of the video before a whale shoots up and out of the water and turns slightly before it crashed near the boat, drenching the passengers with a mighty splash.

A piece published with Whale Facts stated that scientists have researched why whales breach.

"Breaching occurs when a whale picks up speed near the water and then lifts its body and leaps out of the water, exposing up to 90% of its body above the surface," the piece explained.

When it lands, the whale may be positioned on its side or back.

Although there is not yet a conclusive reason behind breaching, researchers have offered some potential theories.

One is that it is a form of communication to convey a need or it is a form of play.

"During mating season, some species are known to breach much more than during their feeding season," the piece read.

It may also be a way for whales to let others know of nearby food or even predators.

"One common method for keeping an eye on their surroundings is spy-hopping, where the whale lifts itself partially above the water to get a good look at its surroundings," Whale Facts' article stated.

Some commented on the opportunity Strother had to experience seeing a whale breach so close.

"I'd die of complete happiness," one person commented.

Others wrote that while it was a spectacular sight, they would have been frightened of being so close to the massive whale as it breached.

"Omg scary yes but honestly a DREAM to see (safely!!)," a viewer shared.

"Girl they put you in a small boat?!!" another asked. "Omg how amazing though you have more of the video??"

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Strother shared two other videos in which she showed the whale breaching from a different angle and answered a few questions she received.

She said her group was on its way to see another whale when the whale in the video suddenly burst through the water.

"I was low-key bored and thought I had better whale watching from my patio before this happened," the second video's voiceover said. In the distance, the whale is seen popping up above the surface.

Newsweek reached out to Ashleigh Strother for further comment.

Uncommon Knowledge

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

About the writer

Catherine Ferris is a Newsweek reporter based in New York. Her focus is reporting for the U.S. Trends Team. She has covered viral trends and posts extensively. Catherine joined Newsweek in 2021 and previously worked at The Scarsdale Inquirer. She is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts Amherst. You can get in touch with Catherine by emailing [email protected] . Languages: English.

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Video captures breaching humpback whale nearly land on fishing boat off Jersey shore

Extremely close whale encounter caught on camera at the jersey shore on oct. 12.

Whale makes a surprise breach next to fishing boat

A whale surprises two fishermen on their boat when it breaches the water going after the same fish and hits the side of the boat. Both men and their boat were safe.

A father-son fishing trip turned into a whale of a good time at the Jersey shore when they captured a humpback whale breaching in front of their eyes.

Zach Piller and his dad Doug were visiting the water of Monmouth County from Bensalem, Pennsylvania on Oct. 12. 

The pair was casting a fishing line from a boat when suddenly hundreds of fish started jumping from the water, FOX 29 reports.  

"Moments later, the surface of the water broke, and a huge humpback whale breached in front of their eyes. The massive whale crashed back into the water, knocking against their boat," the report reads.

CAUGHT ON VIDEO: AGITATED BULL ELK CHARGES MAN IN COLORADO NATIONAL PARK

Video captures humpback whale surprise father and son on fishing trip off Jersey shore.  (Zach Piller via Storyful)

"Oh (expletive)! I got that on video! " the man behind the camera can be heard saying.

The pair spotted sharks and dolphins earlier in the day, FOX 5 reports. For some reason the day of the encounter with the sea creature the two had a "strange feeling about whales," Zach told Storyful.

HARRY STYLES HIT IN GROIN WITH AN APPARENT BOTTLE AT CHICAGO CONCERT: 'SHAKE IT OFF'

A whale crashes into a Massachusetts fishing boat earlier this year. No injuries were reported.  (Leo Enggasser / Amazing Animals+ / TMX)

The younger Piller had originally pulled out his phone to capture video of his dad’s catch.

Zach said his father managed not to lose his fish, and "wasn’t fazed at all."

A humpback whale breaches the waters of Massachusetts' Boston Harbor on Monday, August 1, 2022. (Credit: Paul Brogna/Joe Fabiano)

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Eric Otjen, vice president of zoological operations at SeaWorld San Diego told NBC News apparent humpback whales feeding on small fish near shore is nothing unusual, but breaching near a boat is.

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Environment | What experts say is likely causing the…

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Environment | what experts say is likely causing the mysterious whale deaths along our coast.

While three whales washing up on Hampton Roads beaches in three days is unusual, it is likely indicative of a long-term trend seen along the East Coast.

Gib Brogan, campaign director for Oceana, said the recent deaths are “not normal by any means,” but Virginia isn’t alone in experiencing humpback and minke fatalities. Washington-based Oceana is an international organization focused on ocean conservation, including whale safety in the United States.

“There has been a string of humpback whale deaths, stretching from Florida up to Maine and then in the eastern Canada, stretching back a number of years,” Brogan said. “So this is part of a longer multi-year trend, and (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries) is looking into this and and trying to find a connection between these. Where they have been able to find the cause of death of the humpback whales, so far, it has been either from vessel strikes — being hit by a boat going by — or entanglement with fishing gear.”

On Sunday, the first whale washed up in Virginia Beach in the resort area. Identified as a young humpback, the whale garnered attention from about 200 people as scientists worked to move it up the shore for a necropsy. According to a spokesperson from the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Center, which has a response team for stranded animals, the necropsy for the first whale had no obvious signs for a cause of death. The next day, a second humpback whale was spotted off the coast of False Cape State Park before washing onto the shore.

According to NOAA, increased humpback whale mortalities have occurred since 2016. In Virginia, 31 humpback deaths were recorded on and off shore since January 2016. North Carolina reportedly had 28.

Location represents the nearest state to where the confirmed mortality was first observed and does not necessarily reflect the location of the death of the animal. About half of the humpback whales found washed up on the East Coast had full or partial necropsies, and NOAA reports 40% showed evidence of human interaction, either a ship strike or entanglement. Others had evidence for a vessel strike before they died, but NOAA reported that more research is needed.

“What we’ve seen in a number of cases with humpbacks is that they are chasing in the schools of smaller fish,” Brogan said. “They’re following them into these areas where they have not been in the past, and because there are abundant food sources for the whales — one scientist told me that they’re so fat and happy and following the buffet of food — they’re swimming into dangerous areas and maybe not behaving as they normally would.

“It’s a tragic story, but in some ways, it’s a success story because those fish (populations) have been rebuilt, and there are lots of food items for those whales. We need to recognize these threats and do what we can to minimize them.”

In Corolla, a minke whale was found on the beach. Since it washed back into the Atlantic, officials said Wednesday they have have not been able to conduct a necropsy. It may take a few days for the whale’s body to bloat and return to shore, or it may be eaten by other animals at sea.

Like humpbacks, minke whales also are facing  an unusual mortality event. Since 2017, 164 have been stranded on the East Coast. In Virginia and North Carolina, there have been 14 over the past six years. Necropsies done on about 60% of stranded minke whales showed that human interaction and infectious disease could be the biggest causes of death, but NOAA reported that more research is needed.

Winter is a popular time for whales in Hampton Roads, mainly humpbacks. Juvenile whales tend to hang out off the coast of Virginia Beach, as adult whales head south toward the Dominican Republic for breeding. Upwards of 300 different humpback whales have been identified by whale watchers in Hampton Roads, and it’s common to see some several years in a row.

Brogan said more needs to be done to protect whales from vessel strikes and other human-caused issues. One way to curb deaths is speed restrictions. The NOAA has proposed that boats 35 feet and longer hit the brakes during certain times of the year to help protect the highly endangered North Atlantic right whale.

“The government has a strong proposal out to update the speed zones in the U.S. Atlantic. That will reduce the risk that large whales will be hit by boats,” Brogan said. “This was done for North Atlantic right whales, for those critically endangered whales, but will undoubtedly have benefits for smaller whales, or other large whale species like humpbacks.”

Eliza Noe, [email protected]

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Climate change and boat strikes are killing right whales. Stronger speed limits could save them.

This coverage is made possible through a partnership with WABE and Grist , a nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future.

Amid a difficult year for North Atlantic right whales, a proposed rule to help protect them is one step closer to reality. 

Earlier this month, a proposal to expand speed limits for boats – one of the leading causes of death for the endangered whales – took a key step forward: it’s now under review by the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, the last stage of federal review.

Fewer than 360 of the whales remain; only about 70 of them are females of reproductive age. Every individual whale is considered vital to the species’ survival, but since 2017 right whales have been experiencing what scientists call an Unusual Mortality Event, during which 39 whales have died. 

Human actions — including climate change — are killing them.

When the cause of a right whale’s death can be determined, it is most often a strike by a boat or entanglement in fishing gear. Three young whales have been found dead this year, two of them with wounds from boat strikes and the third entangled. One of the whales killed by a boat was a calf just a few months old. 

Climate change, meanwhile, has disrupted their food supply, driving down right whale birth rates and pushing them into territories without rules in place to protect them. 

“Our impacts are so great right now that the risk of extinction is very real,” said Jessica Redfern, associate vice president of ocean conservation at the New England Aquarium. “To be able to save the species, we have to stop our direct human-caused impacts on the population.”

This is not the first time humans have driven North Atlantic right whales to the brink of extinction.

Their name comes from whaling: they were known as the “right whale” to hunt because they spend time relatively close to coastlines, often swimming slowly and near the surface, and they float when dead. They also yielded large amounts of the oil and baleen whalers were after. So humans hunted them to near-extinction until it was banned in 1935.

Many of those same characteristics are what make right whales so vulnerable to human dangers today. Because they’re often near the surface in the same waters frequented by fishing boats, harbor pilots, and shipping vessels headed into port, it’s easy for boats to collide with them.

“They’ve been called an urban whale,” said Redfern. “They swim in waters that humans are using; they have high overlap with humans.”

To reduce the risk of vessel strikes, ships over 65 feet long have to slow down during set times of year when the whales are likely to be around. In the Southeast, the speed limits are in force during the winter when the whales are calving; off New England, the restrictions are in place in the spring and summer when they’re feeding. Regulators can also declare voluntary speed restrictions in localized spots if whales are seen, known as dynamic management areas.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in 2022 proposed expanding those restrictions in three ways. 

First, the new rule would cover larger geographical areas. The protection zones would extend down the coast from Massachusetts into Florida at various times of year, instead of only applying in certain distinct areas. 

Second, the change would apply the speed limits to smaller craft like fishing boats, rather than only ships over 65 feet.

Third, the new rule would make the speed restrictions in dynamic management areas – the temporary speed limits where whales have been spotted – mandatory.

Since NOAA published and gathered feedback on the proposed rule in 2022, whale advocates have been clamoring for the agency to implement it. Those calls have increased in recent months as dead right whales have washed up on beaches.

“There have been three deaths, and that has been really devastating this year, and two of them are related to vessel strikes,” said Redfern. “It’s just highlighted that absolute urgency, the necessity of getting this rule out.”

A leading boating industry group is speaking out against the expanded speed restrictions, arguing they could hurt small businesses in the recreational boating industry.

“We are extremely disappointed and alarmed to see this economically catastrophic and deeply flawed rule proceed to these final stages,” said Frank Hugelmeyer, president and CEO of the National Marine Manufacturers Association in a statement. “The proposed rule is based on incorrect assumptions and questionable data, and fails to distinguish between large, ocean-crossing vessels and small recreational boats.”

Right whale scientists have documented in recent years that small, recreational boats can injure and kill right whales. At least four of the lethal vessel strikes since the current restrictions began in 2008 have involved boats smaller than 65 feet and thus not subject to that speed limit, according to Redfern.

NOAA estimated that, based on the size and placement of the propeller wounds, the boat that killed the months-old calf this year was between 35 and 57 feet in length – too small to fall under the existing speed restrictions, but subject to the new rule if it were to be implemented. 

In his statement, Hugelmeyer also pointed to new marine technologies aimed at detecting right whales in the water to reduce vessel strikes without expanding the speed rules. 

Scientists like Redfern remain skeptical, though. 

The tech “offers a lot of promise,” she said, but the speed limits are proven.

“It’s really important, I think, that we rigorously evaluate the technology that’s proposed to make sure that it is going to achieve the same type of risk reduction that we see with the slowdowns in expanded areas,” she said.

Many groups, meanwhile, have raised concerns that offshore wind turbines could harm whales. There is no evidence of that , according to NOAA. 

This story was originally published by Grist with the headline Climate change and boat strikes are killing right whales. Stronger speed limits could save them. on Mar 14, 2024.

'A sad situation.' Newborn right whale calf injured by boat turns up dead in South Carolina

In another blow to the North Atlantic right whale population, a newborn calf has died, putting the death toll for the critically endangered animals at five in just the last three months.

On March 3, two months after fishermen spotted it offshore from Edisto, South Carolina , with its head, mouth and lips cut open by a boat propeller, the calf was reported dead on Cumberland Island National Seashore in Georgia, according to the  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 's  Fisheries division .

The baby was the firstborn of the current calving season. It was initially spotted with its mother, Juno— listed as No. 1612 in the North Atlantic Right Whale Catalog — on Nov. 28. It was Juno's eighth known calf since 1986.

"The carcass was heavily scavenged by sharks. Responders identified it as Juno’s calf based on the unique injuries and markings documented when the calf was alive," NOAA Fisheries reported this week . "Due to the state of the carcass, we will use genetic testing to determine the sex."

The calf is the second North Atlantic right whale in less than a month to die after being struck by a vessel. The other was a female yearling found dead offshore of Savannah, Georgia, on Feb. 13 , the first known offspring of Pilgrim (#4340) — a local favorite thought to have been born in 2013 in the warm waters of Cape Cod Bay near the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station.

Vessel strikes and entanglements in traditional fishing gear are now considered the top threats to the survival of the species. Within the calf's family alone, its mother, Juno, has suffered from four entanglements, and other family members have experienced 24 entanglements and two vessel strikes, according to data from the New England Aquarium.

The  latest population study , released this fall, estimated the population at about 356 individuals, plus or minus seven, with relatively few reproductively mature females.

"It's a sad situation," said Philip Hamilton , a senior scientist at the New England Aquarium 's Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life.

Although the baby was observed nursing in the days following its injury, reported on Jan. 3, and seemed to be getting enough nutrition based on its body condition, researchers said early on that its prognosis was not optimistic.

The calf's mouth and lips were "so structurally damaged," Hamilton said, "in my assessment, it would have been challenging to open its mouth to swim along the surface (to feed after weaning)."

So far this calving season, which extends from mid-November to mid-April, 19 calves have been born into the population. Juno's calf is one of three mortalities among the newborns. While Juno's calf is the only one whose remains have been found, two other newborns are no longer with their mothers and are presumed deceased from unknown causes.

Besides the three calves, and the yearling found off Georgia, a 3-year-old female ( #5120 ) washed up dead on Martha's Vineyard on Jan. 28. That individual suffered a chronic entanglement with traditional fishing rope consistent with rope used in Maine state waters for trap/pot buoy lines, according to NOAA Fisheries.

The loss of females is especially troublesome, Hamilton said, since each one may produce upwards of 10 offspring over a lifetime. Charles "Stormy" Mayo , director of the Right Whale Ecology Program at the  Center for Coastal Studies  in  Provincetown has noted there are only about 70 reproducing females, who don't reach maturity until about age 10; on top of that, researchers have noted a lower birth rate and longer intervals between births.

Hamilton said science is still being done on the reproductive success of male right whales, though it's thought most of them sire only a few calves "with one or two exceptional males siring up to 10." If that is the case, the species' ability to rebound is more closely tied to the survival of females. But that's challenging when the whales face threats from entanglements and boat strikes.

Every injury from these causes is a concern, scientists such as Mayo and Hamilton say, because it can lead to an individual's death, or disrupt a whale's ability to thrive and successfully reproduce to help replenish the population.

"As always, those two issues are just front and center," Hamilton said.

There are some protections in place, but scientists and conservationists say they don't go far enough to protect the whales throughout their habitat — territory that stretches the length of the eastern seaboard up to the Canadian Maritimes.

U.S. Rep Bill Keating , who on Tuesday discussed various subjects during a meeting with Times' reporters, said measures such as seasonal speed zones where the whales are active and ropeless fishing gear programs are not consistent throughout the whales' habitat.

Massachusetts has some of the strongest regulations in place, he acknowledged, but many other areas don't do enough. He supports strengthening and expanding seasonal speed requirements consistently throughout the habitat, and financial assistance for fishermen to convert to fishing gear that reduces or eliminates the need for ropes.

At the federal level, stronger rules are under consideration, and conservationists are urging immediate action — particularly in southeastern waters where calving happens and where mothers and calves are especially vulnerable. At present, Hamilton said, speed restrictions along much of the Mid-Atlantic apply only to vessels over 65 feet in length and are in place only in certain areas.

According to NOAA Fisheries, initial findings from the investigation into the death of Juno's calf suggest the vessel involved in the calf's injuries was smaller, likely 35 to 57 feet in length.

“We cannot save North Atlantic right whales from impending extinction if we do not take commonsense measures to protect them, especially calves and juveniles, from being run over and killed by boats,” said Jane Davenport, a senior attorney at Defenders of Wildlife , in an email this week.

Existing federal seasonal speed restrictions are outdated, and protect "limited areas where right whales showed activity in 2008," the organization said. Proposed expanded speed rules, first published in 2022, would require vessels between 35 and 57 feet long to comply with seasonal slowdowns along with the larger vessels. 

Oceana insists that an updated vessel speed rule covering the smaller boats, plus increased enforcement, "are both necessary" to protect right whales. According to the organization's analysis, nearly 80% of ships already subject to mandatory speed limits (65 feet and over) violated these limits during the period Juno’s calf was struck "and left with critical injuries."

"Our government already knows what to do to protect these critically endangered whales, so why are they sitting on it?" said Hermina Glass-Hill, a senior field representative for Oceana out of Georgia in a statement issued Tuesday. "Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and President Biden need to immediately release the updated vessel speed rule their own agency proposed nearly two years ago. Until they do, this right whale’s death, and the future ones to come, are on their watch.” 

Heather McCarron writes about climate change, environment, energy, science and the natural world . Reach her at [email protected], or follow her on X @HMcCarron_CCT

The Cape Cod Times mobile app gets you to the heart of the matter — fast. Whether breaking news, sports, entertainment or weather get succinct, personalized coverage along with award-winning videos, captivating photography, and interactive user features. Download the app .

Russia mistakenly doxed its own spies and secret bases by uploading their addresses on a public city hall website: investigative outlet

• Russia accidentally exposed the locations of its secret bases and spy homes, per the Dossier Center.
• It included them in a long list of buildings that are supposed to always have power, per the outlet.
• The 434-page list was temporarily uploaded to the Moscow's city hall website, the outlet reported.

Moscow's city hall accidentally leaked the addresses of government safehouses, undercover facilities, and the homes of state operatives, the Dossier Center reported on Monday.

A 434-page list containing the addresses was uploaded on the city hall website. It appeared to be a guide for local electricity suppliers, wrote the investigative outlet, which was founded by the Russian opposition politician and activist Mikhail Khodorkovsky.

The document, titled "Special Group," earmarked specific buildings that authorities wanted to stay connected to in the event of blackouts or power shortages, reported the Dossier Center.

When Insider checked the Moscow city hall website on Monday, the document was no longer available online .

Several officials signed the document, including Moscow's mayor, Sergey Sobyanin, the Dossier Center reported.

Related stories

While most of the list covered the addresses of public institutions like metro stations, police headquarters, and hospitals, it also pinpointed secret locations like an ammunition depot in Leningrad and undercover facilities run by the Federal Protective Service, according to the Dossier Center.

In one case, the document even included the apartment numbers of two homes used by spies in Moscow, the Dossier Center reported.

A list of residential addresses also revealed at least six apartment buildings in Moscow that contain homes sold or given to intelligence officers in the Foreign Intelligence Service, Russia's top external intelligence agency, per the outlet.

About 10 other entries in the document listed buildings in Moscow used by agents of the Federal Security Service, Russia's internal security and counterintelligence agency, per the Dossier Center.

Further entries also revealed dozens of undercover offices and facilities used by the Federal Protective Service, which is responsible for guarding Russia's top leaders, and the Federal Security Service, the outlet wrote.

Many of these locations have already been identified as Russian intelligence facilities by investigative outlets such as Bellingcat , the Dossier Center noted.

Facilities and safe houses in the Primorsky, Leningrad, St. Petersburg, and Bryansk regions were also on the list, the Dossier Center wrote, showing screenshots of the document.

A spokesperson for the Kremlin did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent outside regular business hours.

Watch: Female spy ring working for Russia busted in Ukraine

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