Gray Whales

One of 94 gray whales that died in Baja, Mexico this winter 2025, just a portion of those unable to complete the winter’s migration. ⒸPRIMMA/UABCS

North Pacific Gray Whales are in Trouble

Concerning news has come from the Eastern North Pacific, in regard to the wellbeing of the gray whale population.

This year at Whale Tales, we gathered a group of scientists to share the latest insights into the status of the Eastern North Pacific gray whales. Broadcast directly from the field and beyond, this session features Dr. Steve Swartz, Dr. Jorge Urbán, and Dr. Sue Moore, offering firsthand observations, recent findings, and reflections on what’s happening now, why it matters, and what may lie ahead for gray whales.

One of our founders, Dr. Jim Darling, co-wrote a letter with colleagues Dr. Jorge Urbán and Dr. Steve Swartz, to raise awareness about the status of this population of whales.

Highlights from the letter include:

Gray whale numbers have dropped dramatically
The population of Eastern North Pacific (ENP) gray whales has recently fallen by more than half, from about 27,000 in 2016 to just under 13,000 in 2025.

Whales are malnourished and struggling to reproduce
Many gray whales appear undernourished, and birth rates have sharply declined. In 2025, only 85 mother-calf pairs were observed during migration, an all-time low.

Climate change is disrupting their food supply
Scientists believe that warming and ecosystem changes in the Arctic, where gray whales feed in summer, are reducing the availability of their prey. Without enough food, whales cannot build the energy reserves they need to survive and reproduce.

This population is the species’ last viable stronghold
Other gray whale populations have gone extinct or are critically endangered. The ENP gray whales are the only remaining robust group, making their survival crucial for the species.

Scientists urge urgent international action
Marine biologists are calling on global conservation bodies to reassess the species’ status and consider listing it as endangered. They emphasize that immediate efforts are needed to prevent further decline.

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