NOAA Announces Alarming Spike , in Stranded and Dead Whales , Washing Ashore.br 'Newsweek' reports that in recent weeks, br there has been an "unusual" spike in the number br of stranded and dead whales washing ashore.br 'Newsweek' reports that in recent weeks, br there has been an "unusual" spike in the number br of stranded and dead whales washing ashore.br A notable number of these strandings br have reportedly occurred on br the East Coast of the U.S.br Strandings occur for either natural reasons br like age or disease or human-related factors br such as vessel collisions or ocean noise. , Kate Wilson, a spokesperson for the International Whaling Commission, via 'Newsweek'.br Strandings occur for either natural reasons br like age or disease or human-related factors br such as vessel collisions or ocean noise. , Kate Wilson, a spokesperson for the International Whaling Commission, via 'Newsweek'.br Some strandings occur due to a combination br of factors and it's often very difficult to br identify the cause of a stranding, Kate Wilson, a spokesperson for the International Whaling Commission, via 'Newsweek'.br According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric br Administration (NOAA), there have been br nine whale strandings since December 1, 2022.br Among those strandings were br two sperm whales and br seven humpback whales.br There's concern recently about this br increased number and all of these br happening in a relatively tight br geographic area and time. , Sarah Wilkin, coordinator of the Marine Mammal Health br and Stranding Response Program of the NOAA Fisheries br Office of Protected Resources, via 'Newsweek'.br NOAA fisheries have reported br 178 humpback whales involved with br this "unusual mortality event" since 2016.br There are also ongoing unusual br mortality events for minke whales in br the North Atlantic and North Atlantic br right whales along the Atlantic coast. , Sarah Wilkin, coordinator of the Marine Mammal Health br and Stranding Response Program of the NOAA Fisheries br Office of Protected Resources, via 'Newsweek'.br So unfortunately, it's been a period br of several years, where we have had br elevated strandings of large whales. br But we are still concerned about this br pulse over the past six weeks or so, Sarah Wilkin, coordinator of the Marine Mammal Health br and Stranding Response Program of the NOAA Fisheries br Office of Protected Resources, via 'Newsweek'.br So unfortunately, it's been a period br of several years, where we have had br elevated strandings of large whales.