A rare whale sighting off Cape Cod delighted boaters last weekend when a pod of North Atlantic right whales passed through the shipping channel.
Marine biologists counted at least seven individuals, including two calves born this season. The species remains critically endangered with fewer than 350 remaining.
Coast Guard officials issued voluntary slow zones for the area. Most recreational vessels complied without incident.
Photographer Alan Torres captured images from his sailboat. “We kept our distance but the experience was incredible. They surfaced maybe 200 yards away,” he recalled.
Boaters in the region should remain alert and report any sightings to NOAA’s marine mammal hotline.
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