Humpback whales have made a remarkable recovery from commercial whaling but continue to face welfare threats from ship strikes, fishing gear entanglement, and noise pollution that disrupts their celebrated songs.
Humpback welfare is significantly affected by entanglement in fishing gear, which causes chronic pain, progressive exhaustion, and eventual death if not disentangled. Ship strikes cause blunt force trauma and propeller lacerations, with acute suffering in animals that do not die immediately. Acoustic disruption from shipping and sonar may interfere with their complex communication system, affecting social bonds and reproduction. Ocean noise levels have increased by 20 decibels in some shipping lanes since the 1960s, significantly altering the acoustic landscape that humpback communication evolved within.