Scientists from Greenland, Denmark and Iceland have documented a dramatic increase in baleen whale activity off East Greenland as ocean temperatures rise and sea‑ice retreats. The findings, published in Frontiers in Marine Science, detail how fin whales, humpback whales and common minke whales are now regularly feeding together in waters that were once too cold or ice‑covered for them.

Rising temperatures open new feeding grounds

Sea‑surface temperatures east of Greenland have risen roughly 2 °C since the 1990s, and the summer ice edge has moved far north since the mid‑2000s. These changes have created a “fish bonanza” for capelin, a cold‑loving fish that has shifted its own range toward the Greenland Sea. Baleen whales have followed, gathering in large numbers to hunt the abundant capelin.

Survey data reveal rapid growth in whale sightings

Systematic airborne surveys in August 2015 and again in 2024, supplemented by ship‑based observations dating back to 1987, show a steep rise in whale encounters. Humpback sightings jumped from none before 2006 to more than 150 in 2024. Minke whale sightings, once rare, have become a regular 10‑20 per year after 2001, and fin whale observations have risen steadily since the late 1980s.

In August 2025 a vessel reported an aggregation of up to 50 whales near 69° N, north of the Arctic Circle. Airborne surveys documented continuous presence of all three species between 60° N and 70° N in both 2015 and 2024.

Population estimates and ecological impact

Researchers estimate that in the summer of 2024 at least 4,000 humpback whales, 6,000 fin whales and 6,000 minke whales visited the Greenland Sea. The whales are primarily drawn to the region to feed on capelin, which has moved northward since the mid‑2000s.

While there are currently no commercial capelin fisheries in the area, the influx of large baleen whales could alter the marine food web. Ice‑associated species such as narwhals are now sharing habitat with temperate whales that typically avoid ice‑covered waters, indicating a broader ecological regime shift.

Implications for the Arctic ecosystem

Lead researcher Mads Peter Heide‑Jørgensen notes that the changing species composition underscores how climate‑driven changes are reorganizing the East Greenland marine ecosystem, with potential long‑lasting consequences for both wildlife and indigenous hunting practices.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.