The Coast Guard is warning boaters in New York Harbor to be on watch after several whale were spotted. The first report of a whale near the Statue of Liberty came in about 8 a.m. on Thursday.
All the sightings have been between the Staten Island Ferry’s St. George and Whitehall terminals, according to reports.
“We have seen several reports and we consider them reliable,” Charles Rowe, a Coast Guard spokesman, told Patch. Daniel Gallagher (@dgallagher105) uploaded two videos of the whale on Instagram Thursday.
The type of whale has not yet been identified, but Howard Rosenbaum, ocean giants director at the Wildlife Conservation Society based in New York City,told WABC that Thursday’s whale was likely a humpback. A herd of humpback whales is known to swim around the shore between Fire Island and Brooklyn. The Atlantic menhaden fish, also known as a bunker fish, now serve as an abundant snack for whales.
“We have some of the largest animals on the planet in our own backyard,” Rosenbaum told WABC, adding that the recent sighting was “a reawakening to New Yorkers of all the amazing marine life in our waters.” American Princess Cruisesin Riis Landing offers seal and whale watching tours. From Facebook posts and videos, seven whales were spotted on Nov. 12.
