Florida’s extensive coastline, situated at the junction of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, establishes a unique marine habitat. This geographical location serves as a migratory corridor for numerous cetacean species traveling between northern feeding grounds and tropical breeding areas. The state’s waters range from shallow, nearshore environments to deep abyssal plains, supporting diverse populations of large marine mammals.
Defining Florida’s Whales: Baleen and Toothed
Whales are categorized into two biological groups based on their feeding anatomy: Mysticetes and Odontocetes. Mysticetes, or baleen whales, are generally the largest species and include the Right and Humpback whales. They possess two external blowholes and lack teeth, instead using flexible, keratinous plates called baleen to filter small prey, such as copepods and krill, from seawater.
Odontocetes, or toothed whales, include Sperm whales, dolphins, and porpoises. These species have a single blowhole and use their teeth to capture and consume larger prey like fish and squid. They use echolocation, emitting high-frequency sounds to navigate and hunt in dark or deep waters.
Key Species of the Atlantic Coast
The Atlantic waters off Florida are most significant as the only known calving ground for the critically endangered North Atlantic Right Whale (Eubalaena glacialis). Pregnant females migrate over a thousand miles from their northern feeding areas to the warmer, shallow waters between North Carolina and northeastern Florida to give birth. This migration takes place annually between November and April, with peak sighting potential occurring from December to March.
A defining characteristic of the Right Whale is the presence of callosities—roughened patches of tissue on their head and jaw. These patches appear white due to colonies of small crustaceans called whale lice, and their unique patterns allow researchers to identify individual whales. Right Whales also lack a dorsal fin, and when they exhale, their spout forms a distinctive V-shape.
Another species sighted along the Atlantic coast is the Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), known for its long pectoral fins and acrobatic behaviors like breaching. Humpbacks are transient visitors, passing through Florida waters in winter as they travel between North Atlantic feeding grounds and Caribbean breeding areas.
Species Common to the Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico hosts a distinct, resident population of whales that primarily inhabit the deeper offshore waters of the continental slope. The most notable is the Rice’s Whale (Balaenoptera ricei), recognized as a distinct species in 2021 (formerly the Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s Whale). With an estimated population of only about 51 individuals, it is one of the most endangered large whales in the world.
This baleen whale is non-migratory, living year-round along the continental shelf break in the northeastern Gulf, generally in waters between 100 and 400 meters deep. The Rice’s Whale is distinguished from other rorquals by three prominent ridges on its rostrum. Its core habitat is concentrated near the De Soto Canyon off the Florida Panhandle, making it the only baleen whale resident to the Gulf.
The Gulf’s deep waters host the Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus), the largest of the toothed whales. These deep-diving predators are year-round residents of the northern Gulf of Mexico, hunting squid and fish in the abyssal depths. Gulf Sperm Whales are considered a distinct stock, exhibiting no clear seasonal migration patterns. Sightings are rare and occur far offshore, often requiring acoustic monitoring to detect.
Regulations and Responsible Viewing
All marine mammals in United States waters, including whales, are protected by federal law, primarily the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA). These protections prohibit the harassment, hunting, capture, or killing of any marine mammal. Specific regulations are in place to prevent vessel strikes, which pose a significant threat to large, slow-moving species.
For the North Atlantic Right Whale, a federal regulation mandates that all vessels must maintain a distance of at least 500 yards from the animal at all times. If a vessel inadvertently enters this buffer zone, the operator must immediately slow down to a safe speed and steer away from the whale. This distance is required because these whales often swim just below the surface, making them difficult to see.
The public plays an important role in protecting these animals. Sightings of any large whale, especially an injured, stranded, or entangled animal, should be reported immediately. The NOAA Fisheries whale hotline, 877-WHALE-HELP (877-942-5343), is the designated resource for reporting sightings along the Florida coast. Providing the date, time, and specific location is essential for researchers to coordinate a response.