State warns boaters about humpback whales off Plymouth after week of sightings, collision

PLYMOUTH – After one whale crashed into a fishing boat and others were seen off the South Shore coast in the past week, the state is warning boaters to use caution as a group of young humpbacks feeds in Plymouth Harbor.

The state's environmental agencies have warned all boaters, kayakers, paddleboarders and others on the water to watch out for three juvenile humpback whales that have been feeding near Plymouth for at least a week. The young whales' behavior is "very unpredictable," the state said, and they are feeding on schools of fish in shallow waters.

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"A collision with a vessel or personal watercraft can cause damage to the vessel, physical injury to the whale, and potential serious injury or death to humans involved," state Environmental Police and the Division of Marine Fisheries said in a statement this week. "The shallow water and presence of encroaching vessels, along with the young age of the animals, may increase the unpredictability of their behavior."

A whale on Sunday struck a fishing boat off the coast of Plymouth after breaching with several boats nearby. The whale hit one of the boats and caused the bow to dip down into the water. Two people on the boat braced themselves as the boat tipped forward and back, a video shows.

A paddleboarder had a close encounter with a whale off Manomet last week, and amateur wildlife photographer Suzanne O'Shea managed to photograph a breaching whale off the coast of Plymouth a week ago Tuesday.

The whales feeding and breaching in the area have brought residents and tourists in the hopes of catching a glimpse of them.

Most of the whales seen have been humpback whales, which can measure up to 55 feet and weigh 40 up to tons, according to the Whale and Dolphin Conservation, a nonprofit group dedicated to the conservation of whales.

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Photos from other sightings show the whales "lunge feeding," the group said, which is when the whales corral bait fish and lunge through to engulf a mouthful of fish and water.

It is illegal to harass marine mammals under the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act. Harassment includes any act of pursuit, torment or annoyance that can injure or disrupt the feeding behavior of the animal.

The National Marine Fisheries Service recommends that boaters stay at least 100 feet from whales and take caution given the unpredictable behavior of whales and the potential safety hazards involved.

“We love the enthusiasm that local residents are showing for these whales off our coast and want people to enjoy them while they are here, but it’s important that they do it safely. The whales are moving sporadically while trying to catch fish, so boat operators in the area should be proactive and make sure they are at least five boat lengths away," said Monica Pepe, Whale and Dolphin Conservation's safe boating policy manager.

People are asked to limit observing animals to 30 minutes or less; do not chase, circle or trap animals between boats and the shore; slow down in areas of whale sightings; and put engines in neutral if whales are seen.

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Reach Mary Whitfill at mwhitfill@patriotledger.com. 

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: State warns boaters about humpback whales off Plymouth after collision