See Blue Whales in San Diego
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The blue whale is the largest mammal, possibly the largest animal, to ever inhabit the earth. The longest blue whale ever recorded was a 108-foot (33 m) adult female caught during whaling efforts in Antarctica! In modern times, blue whales in the Southern Hemisphere reach lengths of 90 to 100 feet (27–30 m), but their Northern Hemisphere counterparts are smaller, on average 75 to 89 feet (23 to 27 m). Blue whales can weigh over 100 tons (99,800 kg).
A cold-water up-welling system that brings especially nutrient-rich water up to the surface is drawing in hungry, migrating Blue Whales to the San Diego coastline. Although often seen in the Summer months, they are still being sighted. San Diego Whale Watch, a popular whale-watching service, spotted 4 blue whales on Sept 11. . . And can be seen as late as Nov before heading to their breeding grounds off of Central America.
A spokesperson from Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography had this to say about seeing these incredible animals:
“Murmurings through the industry say that this year has been different than usual as oceanic conditions have caused the blue whales to spend more time on the west side of the Channel Islands, and less time directly offshore of LA/Orange County/Santa Barbara - an area oceanographers call the Southern California Bight. This is not unusual, the blue whales' movements and behavior are based on krill’s movements and availability. They are going to be found where they can find food, and this summer it happens to be a bit further offshore.
These blue whales, often mothers with calves, are feeding in an area of the ocean with incredibly high ship traffic, and this can be a challenge for even Earth’s largest creature. Noise pollution from huge vessels like those shipping goods into LA (one of the busiest ports on the West Coast), massive Naval vessels, and even recreation boats and fishermen are all challenges for these whales. Ship strikes are also a problem for blues, which are listed as endangered.