Humpback whale is back! Piscataqua River boaters get a show after Kittery sightings

PORTSMOUTH — A humpback whale caught the attention of boaters on the Piscataqua River off the coast of Portsmouth and New Castle on Sunday. It's believed to be the same whale recently seen breaching in Pepperrell Cove in Kittery, Maine.

"There were a lot of boats around it," said Dianna Schulte, co-founder and director of research for the Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation, who is urging caution. "It was coming up for a breath every few minutes."

Schulte said she's "100% certain" it's the same whale seen in Pepperrell Cove, "based on the shape of the dorsal fin and the small while spot on the dorsal fin."

The Coast Guard was issuing notices about the whale on Sunday morning, according to Schulte. She first spotted the whale from Peirce Island in Portsmouth around 2 p.m.

How unusual is it to see whales in the Piscataqua River?

"It's very unusual," Schulte said. "I've lived on the Piscataqua River all my life, I never saw whale in the river."

She noted the whale in Pepperrell Cove was spotted eating menhaden, referred to as pogies, which is what she believes attracted the whale into the river.

"There have been a lot of pogies moving in," she said. "This whale is just following the schools of fish."

During July 4 week, Kittery harbormaster John Brosnihan said he spotted the whale feeding on pogies.

Safety concerns for whale and boaters

Schulte reminded boaters and fishers of safety advice when whales are nearby: Fishing lines and lobster equipment pose a major entanglement threat for whales, she said.

"Definitely keep your distance," she said. "If you're fishing, reel in your line. It could easily snag the whale. That could cause severe injury if not lead to death. Keep fishing gear out of the water."

Whales are a threat to boaters, too, she noted.

"Whales are wild animals and can be very unpredictable and could sink the boat," she said.

Humpback whales can weigh upwards of 40 tons, can stretch 60 feet in length and live to be about 80 to 90 years old, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Found in oceans worldwide, humpback whales face threats around the globe, including being struck by vessels, climate change, fishing net and gear entanglement, harassment and noise.