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Sea-Ice Loss Sends Humpbacks and More Whales to East Greenland

8/20/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Scientists say humpback, fin and minke whales have begun feeding off East Greenland after sea-ice loss.
Ship surveys recorded zero humpback sightings before 2006, seven in 2007 and 150 in 2024.
Aerial and satellite data estimated 4,000 humpbacks, 6,000 fin whales and 6,000 minke whales visited in summer 2024.
Prof Mads Peter Heide-Jørgensen called the change a major ecological regime shift and warned narwhals and belugas are losing habitat.

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Story summary

Scientists say humpback, fin and minke whales have begun feeding off East Greenland after sea-ice loss.
Ship surveys recorded zero humpback sightings before 2006, seven in 2007 and 150 in 2024.
Aerial and satellite data estimated 4,000 humpbacks, 6,000 fin whales and 6,000 minke whales visited in summer 2024.
Prof Mads Peter Heide-Jørgensen called the change a major ecological regime shift and warned narwhals and belugas are losing habitat.