Whale invasion off the east coast of Greenland

Off the east coast of Greenland, the marine ecosystem has changed significantly over the past few decades. Fin whales, humpback whales and minke whales, which used to be rather rare there, now appear in their thousands every summer. Researchers estimate that by 2024 there will be around 4,000 humpback whales, 5,000 to 6,000 fin whales and more than 6,000 minke whales. This means that a total of around 16,000 baleen whales will be present in the waters off East Greenland.

Particularly striking were observations made in August 2025 off the Blosseville coast. There, groups of up to 50 humpback whales were sighted simultaneously. Such gatherings would have been almost unimaginable in the region just a few decades ago.

Climate change is a major contributing factor. Since the late 1990s, the waters off East Greenland have become warmer, whilst summer sea ice has continued to retreat further north. This makes coastal areas accessible to the whales. However, the availability of food is the decisive factor: capelin and other schooling fish have increasingly shifted their summer habitats from Iceland towards the Greenland Sea. Krill also serves as an important food source for the whales.

During their stay of around four months, the three whale species could consume a total of around one million tonnes of prey. This makes them an important part of the food web.

Researchers speak of a rapid ‘borealisation’ of the ecosystem. Species from warmer waters are spreading northwards and encountering typical Arctic inhabitants such as narwhals. In the long term, this change could affect the entire food web of East Greenland.

Rosamaria Kubny, PolarJournal