Two massive whale sharks glide beside cruise ship off New York City
Two endangered whale sharks were observed swimming close to an American Princess Cruises vessel near the Hudson Canyon off New York City.
On a night-long pelagic trip departing from Brooklyn, American Princess Cruises encountered two giant whale sharks near the Hudson Canyon, a deep underwater gorge linked to the Hudson River. The endangered fish, each weighing around 20 tons, swam close to the vessel’s port side, prompting the on-board naturalist to capture striking video. The expedition also recorded several uncommon species for the region, including whitetail tropic birds, a juvenile Sabine’s Gull, a leatherback sea turtle, a humpback mother with her calf, and yellowfin tuna.
The naturalist, who is affiliated with the research organization Gotham Whale, speculated that an influx of warm Gulf Stream water may have brought the sharks and tropical birds into metropolitan waters. Whale sharks have been listed as endangered since 2016 and continue to face threats such as vessel strikes, bycatch, illegal finning and climate change, with the IUCN estimating roughly 200,000 individuals remain worldwide.
Why it matters
The rare encounter highlights shifting marine patterns and underscores the vulnerability of endangered whale sharks.
In this story
