Gray Whales Starving: Climate Change Triggers Mortality Crisis

Gray whales are currently facing a "catastrophic mortality event," with their population dramatically declining. The estimated number of whales has fallen from 20,000 in 2019 to fewer than 13,000 this year, and these deaths appear to be accelerating. This decline is largely attributed to climate change, which is reducing Arctic sea ice and depleting the whales' food sources, leading to widespread starvation. Scientific literature indicates that observed strandings represent only a fraction of the total mortalities.

This crisis is exacerbated by numerous other threats, including ship strikes, oil spills, microplastic pollution, and harvesting by Indigenous populations in Russia, which some claim is for subsistence but is allegedly used for cattle feed. The Trump administration's policies, such as increasing oil drilling in the region, also contribute to the problem. Environmental groups have petitioned the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to relist the gray whale under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

Gray whales were previously delisted from the ESA in 1994 after successful conservation efforts, a decision now viewed as a significant error. As of 2026, stranding numbers have risen sharply, with estimates suggesting between 2,500 and 8,000 whales have died this year alone. NOAA's response to the petition is expected soon, with advocates prepared to sue if the request is denied. Efforts in California, like voluntary ship speed reduction zones, have shown success in mitigating ship strikes, but similar programs are lacking in other Pacific Northwest states.