DATA & FIGURES
The Pacific gray whale population has declined from 20,000 in 2019 to fewer than 13,000 this year. The average annual number of gray whale strandings from 2006 to 2023 was 43, but rose to 179 in 2025. Through the first half of this year, 146 whale carcasses have been directly counted. The scientific literature estimates the ratio between unobserved, or sunk, mortalities offshore and observed mortalities onshore for gray whales is between 7-to-1 and 25-to-1.
THE SCENARIO
The Pacific gray whales are migratory animals that travel from Baja California to Alaska to feed each year. However, climate change is depleting their food supply, leading to widespread starvation and death. The whales are also facing other threats, including ship strikes, oil spills, microplastic pollution, algal blooms, and Russian harvesting. The situation is dire, and the Trump administration is being urged to take action to protect the whales.
DIRECT QUOTE
"The gray whales are in 'very, very serious trouble'. The stranding numbers last year and this year are enormous compared to their annual average." — Rick Steiner, Alaska marine ecologist and chair of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility's (Peer's) board of directors
BBN INSIGHT
The crisis facing the Pacific gray whales has significant implications for the ecosystem and the economy. The Positive Side is that the Trump administration has the opportunity to take action to protect the whales and alleviate the problems they are facing. The Negative Side is that the administration's actions, or lack thereof, could have devastating consequences for the whales and the ecosystem as a whole. The die-off of the Pacific gray whales could also have significant economic implications, particularly for the fishing industry and tourism.