Marine Mammal Advisory Group calls for vigilance and reporting during spring migration

11th Hour Racing goes offshore for training leading up to the start of the 2021 Transat Jacques Vabre © 11th Hour Racing

As spring awakens in the Northern Hemisphere, a powerful migration is under way - not just of boats returning north from winter sailing grounds in the Caribbean, but of whales traveling thousands of miles between tropical breeding grounds and cooler feeding waters.

The Marine Mammal Advisory Group (MMAG) is issuing a seasonal alert and call to action survey for all mariners and offshore sailors navigating these shared waters between April and June.

This is whale migration season, and it's also peak time for yacht deliveries, offshore races, and cruising voyages northward. The risk of vessel strikes and near misses increases significantly during this overlapping window - especially along routes from the Caribbean to the U.S. East Coast, Canada, Bermuda, and the Azores or Europe. See below for common Atlantic whales and participating in Marine Strike Survey.

Watch out for whales!

Depending on the species, many whales that spent the winter in the warm Caribbean and tropical Atlantic are heading north to feed. Here are some facts, and whales to look out for:

• North Atlantic Right Whales (Critically Endangered): These whales migrate northward from calving grounds off Georgia and Florida to feeding grounds in New England and Atlantic Canada. By April-May, they are commonly found off the coasts of the Carolinas to Cape Cod, moving through high-traffic shipping and sailing areas.

  Source: NOAA Fisheries

• Humpback Whales: Having calved in the Caribbean (e.g., off the Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, and the Virgin Islands), humpbacks now travel north along the U.S. East Coast and across the North Atlantic toward Iceland, Greenland, and Norway. Sightings are increasing in the Sargasso Sea, Bermuda Triangle, and along the Azores transit route.

  Source: Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC)

• Sperm Whales and Beaked Whales: These deep-diving species are year-round residents of some parts of the Atlantic and Caribbean but are often encountered during ocean crossings. They can be hard to spot and may not breach before a collision risk arises.

  Source: International Whaling Commission (IWC)

Graphic - photo © Parcs Canada / C. Soucy et Esther Blier, ROMM

Each year, multiple vessel strikes go unreported - some causing injury or death to marine mammals, and others damaging boats or endangering crews. MMAG has launched the Marine Strike Survey to gather critical data from mariners that can help:

• Map high-risk areas of marine mammal collisions
• Contribute to official international datasets and scientific reports
• Educate boaters on safer routes and response protocols
• Prevent future collisions, making offshore sailing safer for all

Have you seen a whale? hit one? had a near miss?

If you've ever witnessed a collision with a whale - or had a close encounter - now is the time to report it. Whether it happened recently or in the past, your story can help protect whales and mariners alike.

Take the Marine Strike Survey Now (Survey available in English, Spanish, German, Portuguese and French)

MSS Infographic - photo © Marine Mammal Advisory Group

MMAG encourages skippers, delivery crews, racers, cruisers, and offshore sailing organizations to distribute this survey widely. All survey data are confidential and anonymized. Every submission brings us closer to understanding how and where these events happen - and how to prevent them.

"We'd like to thank in advance everyone who takes the time to complete this survey," said Damian Foxall, professional offshore sailor, Co-Founder and Coordinator of the Marine Mammal Advisory Group. "Seafarers are the eyes and ears of the scientific community, by sharing our observations we build a better understanding of our impact on ocean life and can use this knowledge to inform better practices as we shift our role from being Ocean users to Ocean stewards."