Climate Crisis Hits Hard: Gray Whale Population Faces Dire Decline Due to Starvation

Once celebrated for their recovery, the Eastern Pacific gray whale now faces a grim fate, serving as a warning about the effects of climate change.

Growing evidence shows that the Eastern Pacific gray whale population is declining sharply. Many of these whales are dying of starvation, and the number of stranded whales is alarmingly high. Unfortunately, government action to help them has been lacking.

A recent report by three expert biologists paints a dire picture. They warn that if fossil fuel emissions continue unchecked, these whales may soon be nothing more than a memory.

Scientists regard gray whales as crucial indicators of ocean health. The report reveals that the population has dwindled from around 27,000 a decade ago to roughly 13,000 today. This represents the lowest count since the 1970s.

An open letter from biologists highlights the whales’ distress: increased deaths, lower reproduction rates, more malnourished individuals, and unexpected changes in feeding habits are contributing to this decline.

Only 85 calves have been spotted migrating past Central California this year—the lowest number since records began in 1994. Scientists from NOAA point out that low calf counts since 2019 indicate that reproduction rates are insufficient for the population to recover. Alisa Schulman-Janiger, who leads a gray whale census, describes seeing whales that are emaciated and suffering, highlighting the shocking condition they’re in.

Gray whales inhabit regions from Mexico to the Arctic seas. Their annual migration is the longest of any mammal, covering about 19,312 kilometers. Once common on both sides of the North Atlantic and Pacific, only the Eastern North Pacific gray whale remains. Although they were hunted nearly to extinction in the 1800s, current threats include hunting and refreshed approvals for limited whale hunts by certain Indigenous tribes.

According to estimates, hunters are allowed to take 140 whales per year, which adds pressure to an already vulnerable population. The International Whaling Commission has set a quota of 980 gray whales from native groups in Alaska and Washington State from 2019 to 2025, with unused quotas rolling over.

These whales can live up to 80 years. Their scientific name, Eschrichtius robustus, reflects their remarkable resilience. Known as “devil fish,” gray whale mothers are incredibly protective, creating a bond with humans during migration experiences in Baja, Mexico, where tourists often encounter them up close.

Despite significant challenges, both Republican and Democrat administrations have refused to designate the gray whale as endangered. Historically viewed as a conservation success story, they now face multiple threats ranging from environmental changes to continuing battles for survival without protective legislation.

Recent unusual mortality events (UMEs) have caused major losses; between 2018 and 2023, 690 strandings linked to malnutrition occurred along the west coast. A previous UME in 1999-2000 resulted in 650 grey whale deaths due to similar environmental factors. Recent studies revealed that climate change affects not just gray whales but marine biodiversity as a whole, resulting in a significant reduction of available prey.

As sea ice melts due to climate change, gray whales are losing crucial feeding grounds. Research suggests that the decline in their primary food source, amphipods, hinders their long-term survival. Studies show that the whales have evolved to depend primarily on these organisms, and as their availability decreases, the risk of further population collapse increases.

Current circumstances highlight the severity of the climate crisis and its direct consequences on marine life. The ongoing reluctance to address fossil fuel emissions reflects a wider disregard for marine life in U.S. policy—not just for the gray whale, but for ecosystems at large. The upcoming meeting of the International Whaling Commission will provide a crucial platform to discuss the dire future of gray whales, but immediate action on climate change is crucial for their survival.

For more on how climate change is affecting marine life, visit NOAA Fisheries. This resource details ongoing research and urgent conservation needs.

Sue Arnold is an investigative journalist focused on environmental issues. Follow her on Twitter @koalacrisis.

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CLIMATE CRISIS, gray whales, whale extinction, climate change, marine life, ocean ecosystems, NOAA, Arctic sea ice, endangered species, fossil fuels, whale migration, biodiversity loss, gray whale strandings, Eastern Pacific gray whales, Sue Arnold