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Prof Mads Peter Heide-Jørgensen documents a major ecological regime shift as baleen whales swarm East Greenland

Prof Mads Peter Heide-Jørgensen and his team at the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources have identified a major ecological regime shift in the East Greenland coast. A decades-long study reveals that rising sea temperatures and receding sea ice are allowing temperate baleen whales—specifically humpback, fin, and minke whales—to move into previously inaccessible coastal waters. Historically, these species were rarely seen in the region due to dense pack ice. However, data from 1987 to 2025 shows a dramatic increase in sightings. In 2024 alone, an estimated 4,000 humpback whales, 6,000 fin whales, and 6,000 minke whales visited the Greenland Sea. The whales are following their primary prey, the capelin fish, which have migrated from Icelandic waters to the Greenland Sea to escape warming temperatures. While these whales are finding new feeding opportunities, the study notes that ice-associated species like narwhals and belugas are being displaced or forced to share habitat with the new arrivals. The research highlights the need for rapid climate adaptation in marine management and the expansion of Marine Protected Areas to reflect these shifting biodiversity hotspots.

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