Boater records video of close encounter with humpback whales off Mass. coast
MARBLEHEAD, Mass. —
A boater was about six miles off the Massachusetts coast when his vessel was surrounded by three humpback whales that spent about 90 minutes in the vicinity while he and his dog watched.
Price Williams, who shared video of the encounter with NewsCenter 5, said it happened off the coast of Marblehead, along the Bay State’s North Shore.
“It was surreal it was honestly surreal, certainly as curious about us as we were about them,” he said.
Williams’ video shows the whales surfacing and swimming around the vessel.
Williams said he is convinced the whales were drawn to his dog, who was watching with interest.
“It was basically so graceful and gentle,” he said.
Humpbacks are baleen whales that can live up to 90 years, can grow up to 60 feet and can weigh up to 40 tons, according to NOAA and state information. They feed on schooling fish and other small marine animals.
The marine mammals tend to be found off the Massachusetts coast between March and November.
While NOAA said the species’ numbers are increasing, experts say humpbacks still face threats from vessel strikes, climate change, fishing gear entanglement, vessel-based harassment, and underwater noise.