South Carolina’s position along the Atlantic coastline places it directly in the migratory path of several large marine mammal species. Sightings are not constant throughout the year but occur primarily as these animals travel between their northern feeding grounds and southern breeding or calving areas.
Species Commonly Observed in South Carolina Waters
The most significant visitor to South Carolina’s coastal waters is the critically endangered North Atlantic Right Whale. This species is one of the world’s rarest large whales, with a population estimated at only around 370 individuals. Right whales are large, growing up to 52 feet long and weighing up to 70 tons, distinguished by the absence of a dorsal fin and rough, white or yellowish patches of skin called callosities on their heads. When they exhale, their blow is often visible as a distinctive V-shape, which is a key identifying feature for observers.
Another regularly observed species is the Humpback Whale, a common sight as they travel along the coast. Humpbacks reach lengths between 36 and 52 feet, and they are known for their impressive acrobatics like breaching and tail-slapping. They possess extremely long pectoral fins, which can be nearly a third of their body length, and a small dorsal fin on a low hump. Less frequently, deep-water species like the Pygmy Sperm Whale may be found closer to shore, but these animals generally remain far beyond the continental shelf.
Seasonal Presence and Migration Routes
Whale sightings off the South Carolina coast are primarily seasonal, coinciding with the species’ annual north-south migration. The migration window typically opens in late fall and continues through early spring, as whales move between their summer feeding grounds and their winter breeding locations. Humpback Whales, for example, travel southward from areas like the Gulf of Maine and Eastern Canada toward the warmer, tropical waters of the Caribbean.
The southward migration of the North Atlantic Right Whale occurs from approximately November to January. These whales move toward the coastal waters of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, which serve as the only known calving grounds for the species. The return journey north with new calves takes place in late winter and early spring, with sightings common near areas like Charleston and Myrtle Beach.
Conservation Status and Reporting Sightings
The North Atlantic Right Whale is vulnerable to extinction, with entanglement in fishing gear and vessel strikes being the leading causes of death or serious injury. Federal law requires all vessels to maintain a distance of at least 500 yards from any sighted right whale. This mandatory distance is enforced across all U.S. waters to protect the whales from harassment and collision.
Vessels 65 feet or longer must adhere to mandatory speed restrictions of 10 knots or less in certain Seasonal Management Areas along the coast during the migration season. Anyone who sights a North Atlantic Right Whale is asked to immediately report the location, time, and direction of travel to federal authorities. The dedicated reporting line for the southeast U.S. coast is 1-877-WHALE-HELP, or the sighting can be reported to the U.S. Coast Guard on Channel 16.