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Right Whale Season 2016 has Begun in Cape Cod Bay

Center for Coastal Studies

January marks the time of year when North Atlantic Right whales typically begin to show up in Cape Cod Bay. This year has been no exception, with a pair of whales being sighted on January 7.

There are only about 526 North Atlantic Right Whales left in existence. 

Cape Cod Bay is a critical habitat for the right whale. Surveys show that almost half the population have congregated in the Bay each winter and spring during the last 6 years, to feed on dense concentrations zooplankton. 

In the audio below, Dr. Charles "Stormy" Mayo, a Senior Scientist at the Center for Coastal Studies, talks with Steve Junker about the mystery of these rare creatures' cyclic return.

 

Steve is Managing Editor of News. He came to WCAI in 2007. He also hosts the weekly News Roundup on Friday mornings and produces The Fishing News.