Dodging New York traffic: hundreds of humpback whaless on a collision course with ships

"It is the beginning of August and a crowd is gathered on the deck of the American Princess cruise boat waiting for one thing and they are not disappointed. Suddenly, a juvenile humpback whale, known as NYC0318 in local records, bursts through the surface of the water, engulfing thousands of small, oily fish. For those onboard the 29-metre (95ft) vessel, the scene is a thrill to watch."

"Among the tourists watching is Chris St Lawrence, a naturalist and the communications director of Gotham Whale, a volunteer-run marine research organisation in the city. He is not just looking out for the whales, he is watching for danger around them. When they're feeding, they can get really distracted, and they don't care about boats, he says. Chris St Lawrence of Gotham Whale, which tracks whales and other marine mammals off New York and New Jersey."

"When Gotham Whale began tracking humpbacks in 2012, its NYC humpback catalogue contained just five individuals. Today, it includes 470 whales - mostly transient juveniles such as NYC0318 drawn by the rich feeding opportunities of the New York Bight. But with the hunt for such bounty comes a growing problem. What was once a marine highway connecting southern breeding grounds to northern feeding areas has, since 2010, become a regular foraging destination, putting humpbacks on a collision course with maritime traffic."

A juvenile humpback identified as NYC0318 surged through surface waters off Manhattan, engulfing thousands of small fish near a passenger vessel. Gotham Whale's humpback catalogue grew from five individuals in 2012 to 470, primarily transient juveniles attracted to rich feeding in the New York Bight. Since about 2010 the area shifted from a migration corridor to a regular foraging ground. Cargo vessels, tankers, cruise ships, fishing boats and recreational craft all traverse the Bight, increasing the chance of collisions. The Bight spans from southern New Jersey to eastern Long Island and offshore to the Hudson Canyon. Whales often ignore boats while feeding, creating safety concerns.

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