Marine scientists have documented a significant ecological shift in East Greenland waters, where large whale populations are increasingly present in areas historically blocked by sea ice. A study spanning multiple decades, which combined ship-based surveys, aerial observations, and satellite tracking data, reveals that humpback, fin, and minke whales are now regularly feeding in ice-free coastal regions during summer months.
The change has been dramatic in recent years. Ship-based surveys recorded no humpback whale sightings in the region until 2006, with only seven observed in 2007. By 2024, sightings had increased to 150 annually. Systematic aerial surveys conducted in 2015 and 2024, combined with tracking data from 15 satellite-tagged whales and reports from Inuit hunters, documented approximately 4,000 humpback whales, 6,000 fin whales, and 6,000 minke whales visiting the Greenland Sea during the 2024 summer season.
Researchers attribute the shift to warming sea temperatures and increased food availability in the region. The whales appear to be following fish and krill stocks that have migrated into the warming waters. During a single summer feeding season, the three whale species combined are estimated to consume at least 800,000 tonnes of fish and krill. Lead researcher Prof Mads Peter Heide-Jørgensen characterized the changes as “probably the most radical” ecological shift observable in the subarctic.
However, the transformation carries mixed consequences for Arctic wildlife. While baleen whales appear to be adapting and potentially benefiting from new feeding opportunities, other Arctic species face challenges. Narwhals and belugas are either sharing habitat with or being displaced by the influxes of larger whales. The study does not clarify whether the whale population increases represent overall species growth or a redistribution from other regions. The research was published in Frontiers in Marine Science.
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