[Paddlewise] East Coast Whales

Rene Milo wrote that he is looking for east coast whales . . .

You're best bet may be off of Provincetown, Cape Cod.  There is an 
area called Stellwagen Bank that starts around 10 nm north of 
Provincetown in the Atlantic  Ocean where all the humpbacks and finbacks 
congregate to feed on the krill being stirred up by the tide.  
Stellwagen Bank strertches for about 40 -50 miles north.

We were there last summer in our sailboat and saw around half a dozen 
whales, and about a dozen whale watching boats.

I am not sure I'd want to be out there in a sea kayak though (given 
my own fitness and skill level) -- the 
area is basically open ocean and far from land.  You'd have to be a 
strong paddler with very good navigation skills and confidence in 
open ocean paddling.  Just to get to the edge of the banks will be a 
20 nm round trip, and there is no guarantee that the whales will be 
there at the closest edge of the banks.  You'll need a GPS to be sure 
you are on the banks.

There are certainly other places on the East Coast where whales are 
routinely spotted closer to shore, but these places are more hit or 
miss.  Stellwagen Bank is one place that ou can be practically 
certain to see whales if you get out there.

Good Luck!


Professor Karl S. Coplan
Pace Environmental Litigation Clinic, Inc.
78 North Broadway
White Plains, N.Y.  10603
kcoplan_at_genesis.law.pace.edu
(914) 422-4343
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