Published 3 days ago • Updated 23 hours ago

Increased sightings of humpback whales seen around UK coast in 2025

In 2025, there has been an increased number of humpback whale sightings near the UK's coast, particularly in the early months of the year.
Humpback whales, which typically reach 49 to 52 feet in length, migrate from feeding grounds near Tromsø, Norway, to warmer waters around the Cape Verde islands to rest and breed.
Sightings have been reported near Cornwall, Sussex, the English Channel, and Kent, including specific locations like Beachy Head, Rye, and Dungeness, with the Isles of Scilly reporting 17 sightings between December 29 and January 8, and the Sussex Dolphin Project reporting 26 sightings between November and January.
Ruth Williams, head of marine conservation for the Wildlife Trusts, noted to The Guardian that "We’re seeing a lot of bait fish – smaller fish like anchovies – around the south west coasts."
Researchers suggest the increased sightings and shift from the usual westerly route past Ireland to traveling through the Channel could be due to changing food availability caused by a warming ocean and a more northerly distribution of prey, although it is advised to keep a distance from the whales.

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