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Unusual sighting of endangered right whales off New York has scientists concerned
BOSTON – Scientists are concerned after seeing nearly a quarter of the world’s population of critically endangered North Atlantic right whales in an unusual and potentially dangerous spot for them.
The New England Aquarium said at least 82 whales were observed in late July and August during research flights south of New York’s Long Island, hundreds of miles away from New England and Canadian waters where they are typically seen in the summer.
“To see those kind of numbers at this time of year near the offshore canyons that are about 40 to 70 miles south of Long Island, New York is pretty unusual,” aquarium scientist Katherine McKenna told WBZ-TV.
New England Aquarium
Why were there so many right whales off Long Island?
On one flight alone researchers spotted 56 right whales alongside fin and humpback whales, dolphins, tuna and sea turtles. That’s the most right whales many of the scientists on the trip have ever seen at one time.
“It was a lot. They were concentrated in such a small area,” said McKenna, who was watching the whales from the air. “There’d be several whales on one side of the plane, and then off to the other side there’d be double that.”
McKenna says scientists don’t know for sure why the whales are near New York, but they seem to be following food. Right whales primarily feed on tiny zooplankton.
“They were first seen in late May and they’ve continued to persist there for several months,” she said. “That indicates there’s been good prey, a good food resource for them to stick around there for that long.”
Concerns about right whales off New York
The presence of whales in the new location is concerning to scientists because the aquarium says there are no mandatory speed restrictions for the many commercial boats in the area of the Hudson and Block submarine canyons where the whales were spotted.
“This is sort of a newer area for the right whales to be popping up in,” McKenna said.
The aquarium noted that several whales had propeller wounds. McKenna said the team spotted boats near the whales and one whale was also pictured swimming near fishing gear.
New England Aquarium
“We were definitely nervous seeing that,” she said.
Vessel strikes and fishing gear entanglement are the leading causes of death for right whales. There are estimated to be fewer than 360 left on Earth.
The aquarium says federal authorities proposed expanding seasonal speed restrictions years ago to protect the whales, but “the untenable delay has put this endangered species at continued risk of extinction.”
Right whale movements “becoming more unpredictable”
Where will the whales go next? McKenna says they are always adapting and in recent years have shown they are ready to go wherever their food is.
“They’re kind of becoming more unpredictable with what they’re doing in response to how the ocean conditions are changing,” she said.
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Nima Momeni has been found guilty of second degree murder in the fatal stabbing of Cash App founder Bob Lee, a verdict reached by a San Francisco jury after seven days of deliberations.
The verdict of second degree murder carries a 15 years to life sentence and includes an enhancement for using a knife in the crime. Momeni was found not guilty of the more serious charge of pre-meditated first degree murder.
Prosecutors Dane Reinstedt and Omid Talai were present in the courtroom for the verdict, as was Sgt. Brent Dittmer – who testified in the trial – and a handful of members of the DA’s office.
Defense attorneys Tony Brass and Zoe Aron were also present along with Nima’s mother Mahnaz Momeni.
Outside the courtroom, Lee’s brother Timothy Oliver Lee said the family was satisfied with the verdict.
“We we’re happy with the result today. We’re happy that Nima Momeni won’t be on the streets, no longer has the opportunity to harm anyone else in this world,” he said. “The verdict of murder two will put him away for a long time.”
Shocking murder
Momeni was accused of fatally stabbing tech executive Lee in a secluded part of San Francisco’s East Cut neighborhood under the Bay Bridge in April 2023.
Court officials announced late Monday afternoon that the jury had reached a verdict shortly before 4 p.m.
Prosecutors accused Momeni of stabbing Lee with a kitchen paring knife following a heated discussion regarding his sister’s relationship with Lee as well as their ongoing drug use. During the trial, Momeni’s lawyers claimed that their client acted in self-defense, alleging that Lee lunged at Momeni with a knife in his hand while high on ketamine and cocaine. The defense said Lee became erratic and aggressive after Momeni made a “bad joke” at the expense of Lee’s family.
Intense trial
The trial, which lasted six weeks, was punctuated by dramatic testimony, including an appearance on the stand of Momeni’s sister, Khazar Momeni. She testified as a witness for the prosecution and insisted during her first day of testimony that her brother didn’t kill Lee. She also detailed consuming several drugs with Lee and others in the days leading up to the fatal stabbing.
During cross examination by defense attorneys, Khazar Momeni described Lee as “all over the place” and “aggressive” while high on drugs. Her testimony was criticized outside the courtroom by Lee’s ex-wife Krista Lee, who accused her of trying to “make herself a victim.”
The testimony turned contentious when Nima Momeni took the stand, as the defendant sparred with the prosecution during cross-examination after earlier describing how Lee allegedly attacked him while his defense team questioned him about the confrontation.
Prosecutorial challenge
San Francisco Assistant District Attorney Omid Talai challenged Momeni’s version of the story and focused on his actions immediately after Lee’s death, including his calls to attorneys and text messages with his sister.
The case wrapped up in the first week of December with prosecutors trying to tear down Momeni’s defense in their closing arguments and asking why he didn’t call police or tell anyone about Lee allegedly attacking him.
The defense showed a bombshell video during their closing arguments, presenting surveillance footage they claimed showed Lee doing cocaine on the street outside a private club with the same knife used to kill him hours later. Defense attorney Saam Zangeneh used a cardboard cutout of the knife in court so the jury could see the size of the paring knife he said the video proved Lee had in his possession all along.
That video sparked a tense exchange between Zangeneh and Lee’s former wife, who let out a loud, mocking laugh as he showed the footage.
Zangeneh turned to directly address her, saying it wasn’t funny. Prosecutors quickly objected and the judge intervened to restore order in the courtroom.
The jury began deliberations on the morning of Dec. 4.
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