Scientists have recorded hundreds of humpback, minke, and fin whales feeding in ice-free waters off East Greenland's coast during summer months, a phenomenon they describe as a "major ecological regime shift" driven by climate change. The study found that an estimated 4,000 humpback whales, 6,000 fin whales, and 6,000 minke whales visited the Greenland Sea in 2024 alone, consuming at least 800,000 tonnes of fish and krill during a summer feeding season. Researchers from the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources say that this shift is likely due to rising sea temperatures and increased food availability, which have allowed these "opportunistic" baleen whales to adapt and take advantage of new opportunities in East Greenland's waters. However, other Arctic species such as narwhals and belugas may be displaced by the influx of these whales.
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Story summary
In recent years, hundreds of giant whales, including *humpback*, *minke*, and *fin whales*, have been spotted in East Greenland waters, where they were previously absent due to sea ice. This shift is attributed to the decline of sea ice caused by climate change, allowing these marine mammals to move into areas that were once inaccessible. The number of humpback whale sightings has increased significantly, from none in ship-based surveys until 2006, to 150 in 2024. Researchers have described this phenomenon as a "major ecological regime shift" and have estimated that the three whale species will consume at least 800,000 tonnes of fish and krill during a summer feeding season. The study, led by Prof Mads Peter Heide-Jørgensen, used data from satellite-tagged whales and testimony from Inuit hunters to build this picture. This shift has significant implications for the ocean environment in East Greenland, with scientists describing it as a "seasonal Arctic 'feeding frenzy'".
Written for “Whales Migrate to Warmer Waters” on 2026-08-31,
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Leaning score +0.35 for article 1511 (low confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-08-21
- Published
Sea ice has been disappearing from East Greenland, allowing giant whales to take advantage and move into previously inaccessible areas.
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whales → publish → areas
That is the conclusion of a decades-long study that has recorded - and filmed - hundreds of the world's biggest whales including humpbacks, minke and fin whales, feeding in ice-free seas along the coast in summer.
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that → record → summer
None of these marine mammals were historically found here as they have been locked out of the coastal waters by ice.
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they → find → ice
Now, as climate change warms the sea and melts that ice, they have adapted.
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they → warm → ice
Scientists describe the result as seasonal Arctic "feeding frenzies" - part of a major regime shift in the ocean environment along East Greenland.
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Scientists → describe → Greenland
The change is dramatic: ship-based surveys in the region did not record a single humpback whale sighting there until 2006.
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surveys → base → 2006
In 2007, seven humpbacks were seen, and by 2024, there were 150 ship-based sightings of these giant whales.
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humpbacks → see → whales
The first systematic aerial surveys of baleen whales - a group that includes fin, minke and humpbacks - off the East Greenland coast were carried out by the researchers during the summers of 2015 and 2024.
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that → include → 2015
They combined that information with the tracks of 15 satellite-tagged whales and testimony from Inuit hunters - all building a picture of what the lead researcher Prof Mads Peter Heide-Jørgensen called a "major ecological regime shift".
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researcher → combine → what
An estimated 4,000 humpback whales, 6,000 fin whales and 6,000 minke whales visited the Greenland Sea in the summer of 2024.
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whales → visit → 2024
Prof Heide-Jørgensen, from the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, told BBC News that the changes in the region were "probably the most radical we can see anywhere in the subarctic".
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we → tell → subarctic
That shift is driven by rising sea temperatures and food availability.
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shift → drive → temperatures
The whales appear to be feeding on fish that have moved into the warming waters of East Greenland.
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that → appear → Greenland
They estimated that the three whale species would consume at least 800,000 tonnes of fish and krill during a summer feeding season.
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species → estimate → season
It is not clear from this study whether the change reflects an overall increase in the populations of these whale species, or just a redistribution from other areas.
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change → reflect → areas
Other experts the BBC spoke to were concerned that the study suggested there was an influx of the animals from West Greenland.
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study → speak → Greenland
That is a sensitive issue in Greenland, a country where some whales are hunted.
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whales → hunt → Greenland
But the scientists said that their findings do suggest that these "opportunistic" baleen whales appear to be adapting and might even be benefiting from the change.
uncertain
whales → say → change
Other Arctic species, however, are "in trouble now", explained Prof Heide-Jørgensen.
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Jørgensen → explain → trouble
Animals including narwhals and belugas are sharing habitat with - or even being displaced by - these other whales.
"
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Animals → include → whales
For some species, climate change is not necessarily a problem - it opens up new opportunities," said Prof Heide-Jørgensen, "but other species are losing their habitat".
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species → open → habitat
The study is published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science, external.
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study → publish → Science
