Pet bottles, cans of all sizes, tires and even entire car bodies. For years, anyone passing by the banks of the Bronx River, in northern Manhattan, got used to seeing everything in what was practically an open sewer. At the beginning of this year, however, what appeared in the waters showed that the efforts to recover the river are on the way: two dolphins, swimming in the vicinity of the zoo.
The New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) believes the animals arrived there in search of food. The agency has annually released hundreds of fish into the waters, as part of a broad strategy that also encompasses the restoration of vegetation on the banks and garbage collection with support from the community.
Though small compared to the Hudson River and East River, the Bronx is the city’s only freshwater river. One of DEC’s priorities is to reduce the presence of nitrogen and favor oxygenation in the water —benefiting not only the fish, but the entire ecosystem.
If the visit of dolphins to the north of Manhattan can be considered something surprising, the presence of whales in the south of the island has already passed that category; an increasing number of humpbacks have been recorded in the region known as the Lower Bay.
The NGO Gotham Whale, dedicated to studying marine mammals in the region, had sighted 101 whales of this species between 2012 and 2018. Since then, until the beginning of 2023, there have been almost 200 more, surpassing the mark of 300 registered individuals. “There is an improvement in the condition of the waters, mainly in the Hudson River, which helps the fish return to the bay, but also the impact of the climate crisis on the migratory behavior of marine animals”, says Paul Sieswerda, director of the organization.
The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) uses five indicators to annually measure water quality in the state: levels of dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll and nitrogen, presence of specific bacteria and transparency. The most recent results available, from 2021, show that the situation in the Lower Bay has improved or remained within recommended parameters. The dissolved oxygen concentration, for example, reached 7.42 milligrams per liter, the highest measurement in all stations in the state in the last three years (the ideal, according to the DEP, is above 5).
Despite the positive signs about the recovery of the water and the increase in the population of humpbacks being celebrated by scientists, the presence of the animals also raises concern, since the port of New York is the busiest on the east coast of the USA. “It’s like we have a bunch of kids playing in the middle of Manhattan traffic,” compares Sieswerda. “The risk of collision is enormous.”
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), responsible for protecting whales in the country, has recorded 181 deaths of these animals on the east coast alone in the last eight years. According to the organ, which considers the number to be abnormal, necropsies were performed in approximately half of these cases, and in 40% of them there was evidence that death was caused by some type of interaction with man – such as collision with ships.
The discussion on the safety of mammals gained political contours after Republican leaders cast suspicion on the relationship between the death of animals and construction works on maritime farms to capture wind energy in New York and New Jersey —an important part of the modernization project of the country’s energy matrix, proposed by President Joe Biden.
Between December and January, ten whales were found dead in the region. NOAA has so far not found evidence to support the Republicans’ accusation, but it is proposing changes to the rules of navigation in the Lower Bay, which include expanding the speed restriction areas and imposing new limits for small vessels as well.
City already offers whale watching tours
Seeing whales jumping in the sea is perhaps not exactly the image most associated with New York, but the offer of boat trips to see the animals has caught the attention of interested parties.
The trips are carried out between the end of April and October, when the chances of seeing the humpbacks are higher, but the operators make it clear that they cannot guarantee a sighting.
Tickets cost about US$ 60 (R$ 310), with boats departing from two points in Manhattan: East river, at 35th Street, in Midtown, and Pier 11, in Wall Street. From there, the boats sail for about an hour and a half to reach one of the main observation points in Lower Bay.
Guides offer tips to tourists who compete for the best places in the external area of ​​the boat and at the windows. According to them, three signs can indicate the presence of whales before they are properly seen: a strong smell of decomposing fish, the approach of birds that will try to feed on these shoals and, finally, the air spray that betrays the exact location of the humpback.
With a little luck it is possible to photograph the whales with the famous buildings of the Manhattan skyline as a backdrop.
With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
