'We need to be vigilant': Declining humpback whale population blamed on warming waters

Researchers are sounding the alarm after a recent study revealed a large decline in the humpback whale population.

The study focused on humpback whales in the marine waters of Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, California, Mexico, Central America, Hawaii, Russia and Japan. In 2012, there were about 33,500 humpbacks in the North Pacific. Average population growth was 5.9 between 2002 and 2013. “They identified marine heat waves as a major threat to the continued success of the species,” says Shaw, adding the project was a major collaborative effort.

“We had local indicators that there was likely going to be a strong impact because of warming water,” says Hildering.

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