Whales migrate into East Greenland's ice-free waters

Whales are migrating into the newly ice-free waters of East Greenland, marking what researchers describe as a ‘major ecological regime shift’. A decades-long study reveals that thousands of humpback, fin, and minke whales are now feeding in coastal areas that were previously inaccessible due to extensive summer sea ice.

The shift is particularly evident in humpback whale sightings. Ship-based surveys recorded no humpback whales in the region until 2006; however, sightings increased from seven in 2007 to 150 in 2024. Researchers utilized aerial surveys, satellite tracking of 15 whales, and testimony from Inuit hunters to document these changes. In the summer of 2024, an estimated 4,000 humpback, 6,000 fin, and 6,000 minke whales visited the Greenland Sea.