Cape Cod Canal shut down Sunday to make way for right whale mom, calf

A North Atlantic right whale mother and her calf, feeding with whales on Sunday east of the Cape Cod Canal, ended up taking a swim in the canal, resulting in an escort from maritime authorities.

After the pair were observed entering the canal in the late morning on Sunday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Cape Cod Canal operations team closed the 17.4-mile canal to maritime traffic, according to Army Corps spokesman Bryan Purtell. The canal remained closed from about 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Authorities were on heightened alert for right whale activity at least since Friday, as a number of the marine mammals were observed by an aerial team from the Center for Coastal Studies feeding nearby on a rich patch of zooplankton.

"Our canal operations team observed right whale activity near the vicinity of the east entrance of the canal on Friday, Saturday and Sunday," Purtell said.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and U.S. Coast Guard officials were notified, and Corps patrol vessels and park rangers were dispatched "to monitor whale activity, keep mariners informed and manage traffic around the presence of the endangered species," he explained.

Mother whale identified, explores with her fourth calf

New England Aquarium assistant research scientist Amy Warren said Monday that scientists identified the mother whale as 27-year-old Smoke, who is listed in the North Atlantic Right Whale Catalog as 2605. It appears the pair only recently entered Cape Cod Bay after migrating from coastal waters off Georgia, where Smoke's calf — her fourth known baby — was born. The two were last observed by Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s Georgia team on Dec. 26 and 27, according to the aquarium.

Many of the critically endangered right whales have been coming into the bay in the last few weeks, scientists at the aquarium and the Center for Coastal Studies, in Provincetown, have reported. The whales often spend time in the bay, resting and feeding, on their annual trek to summer feeding waters off Canada.

"From my knowledge, the pair had not yet been seen in Cape Cod Bay by any of the survey teams," Warren said. "They were making their way up from the southeast calving grounds."

Smoke and her calf passed under the Sagamore Bridge during their exploration, but did turn back and re-enter Cape Cod Bay, according to authorities.

It is unusual for North Atlantic right whales to swim into the Cape Cod Canal.

While it doesn't happen frequently, it's not unheard of for the whales to enter the canal.

In early March, two juvenile whales caused closure of the canal, for a little more than 21 hours. One of them entered from the Buzzards Bay side and swam nearly the entire length of the canal before turning around. The other was observed feeding near the eastern entrance of the canal.

In March Whales that swam into Cape Cod Canal were young. Researchers may know their mothers.

It is standard to close the waterway to vessels when the whales do enter the canal, or are present very near the east and west openings, until the animals have cleared out.

Many right whales are now in Cape Cod Bay, according to researchers.

At this time of year, Warren said, there are a lot right whales the bay, constantly shifting around as they follow the food source.

"There was a lot going on last Friday when there were about 30 whales near the Cape Cod Canal," she said.

Jesse Mechling, the marine education director at the Center for Coastal Studies, predicted in late March that the current abundance of zooplankton will result in an especially good year for shore-based whale watching. Mechling conducts shoreline walks in Provincetown for viewing whales.

Here there be whales Right whales come up for air in Provincetown. Here's how to get a look from dry land.

The center's right whale ecology program team, which undertakes regular aerial surveys of the bay and was out on Monday, has observed more than 100 individual right whales so far this season, which starts in December, including three calves and their mothers.

Warren said she last heard there were potentially at least 70 to 80 right whales presently in the bay — nearly a quarter of the world's total population of right whales. According to a report released in the fall by the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium, there are only about 340 right whales — plus or minus seven — remaining.

Another mom and calf also bring excitement

While Smoke and her baby were the focal point for many over the weekend, another mother and calf pair also captured the attention of the scientific community last week.

On March 27, a 41-year-old female named Spindle — listed in the right whale catalog as 1204 — was seen in the bay with her calf. It was a notable sighting because the calf was observed nursing as it swam under its mother, a moment that was captured on video from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, New England Aquarium, and Whale & Dolphin Conservation.

According to Woods Hole Oceanographic scientist Michael Moore, the intimate interaction between mother whale and calf is something he has rarely captured on video.

Mariners are reminded to slow down.

With so many right whales in the bay at this time, authorities are reminding mariners that speed limits for Cape Cod Bay are in effect, and they should remain vigilant. Besides entanglement, boat strikes are a leading cause of serious injury and death for North Atlantic right whales.

A current entanglement 'We will do the best we can.' Cape Cod rescuers hope to help severely entangled right whale in the bay

The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries has a seasonal 10-knot speed restriction in the bay for vessels less than 65 feet in length until April 30, which can be extended if whales remain in the area. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration also has a 10-knot seasonal speed restriction in and around Cape Cod Bay for vessels 65 feet or greater.

Heather McCarron writes about climate change, environment, energy, science and the natural world, in addition to news and features in Barnstable, Brewster and Falmouth. Reach her at hmccarron@capecodonline.com, or follow her on Twitter @HMcCarron_CCT

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Cape Cod Canal closed for 5 hours Sunday when right whale, calf seen