By Shannon Handy / CBS8 / July 8-9, 2026
Researchers reveal alarming statistics about gray whales, declaring a “catastrophic mortality event” along the West Coast as strandings escalate dramatically this year. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reports a staggering 145 gray whales have been found stranded dead on the West Coast, including regions in Mexico and Canada, marking a significant increase that could make 2026 one of the deadliest years on record for these marine mammals.
The current stranding rate starkly contrasts with the previous two decades, where the average number of stranding per year was around 43 from 2006 to 2023. In 2025, the number surged to 179, raising further concerns among scientists and conservationists.
Miyoko Sakashita, from the Center for Biological Diversity, indicates that starvation is a leading factor in these whale deaths. She attributes the lack of food to climate change, particularly the warming of the Arctic, which has adversely affected the whales’ food supply during their summer feeding months. “The sea ice melt has made it so there’s not as much prey,” Sakashita said.
The second major issue impacting gray whales is ship strikes. According to Sakashita, while 24 whales were reported to have been hit by ships last year just along the California, Oregon and Washington coasts, scientists believe this is a significant undercount, estimating that around 80 whales may die each year in the Western U.S. due to such encounters.
In a related effort, on Wednesday, researchers and students from UCSD: Scripps Institution of Oceanography conducted a skeleton excavation of a whale that was struck by a ship in San Diego Bay two years ago. Dr. Margaret Morris, who helped lead the excavation, revealed the severe injuries sustained by the whale, noting, “Some of the vertebrae are fractured in half, and these are big bones, they’re very sturdy.”
The purpose of the excavation project is educational, with goals to create 3D models of the bones for teaching purposes and eventually articulate the skeleton for display to raise awareness about the dangers posed by ship strikes.
As part of ongoing efforts to protect gray whales, the Center for Biological Diversity is suing the Coast Guard to lower ship speeds in areas with high whale activity. The organization also calls on lawmakers to take stronger action against climate change as gray whale populations have reportedly declined by 50 percent over the past ten years. “We’re really concerned about the future of these gray whales,” Sakashita expressed.
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