‘Dazzling array of sightings’: More than 160 whales spotted near Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket

“Highlights included seeing 93 sei whales—one of the highest concentrations of sei whales they’d ever seen during a single survey flight!”

More than 160 whales were recently spotted in the waters off Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket during an aerial survey by federal researchers.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries department shared photos from the survey on social media, calling it a “dazzling array of sightings.”

Researchers spotted 161 whales, comprised of seven different species, in the waters south of Martha’s Vineyard and southeast of Nantucket.

“Highlights included seeing 93 sei whales—one of the highest concentrations of sei whales they’d ever seen during a single survey flight!” the research team wrote.

Sei whales are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act and are most often found with pollock in Norway, according to NOAA.

A second highlight, according to the researchers, was capturing images of two killer whales, which typically are not seen during such surveys. One of the whales had a tuna in its mouth, the team said.

Teri Frady, head of research communications for the NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center, told The Boston Globe it is not unusual to find so many whales in the area at this time of year.

“But since we do not survey every day, or in the same area every time we fly, catching such a large and varied aggregation on one of our flights is indeed the exception rather than the rule,’’ Frady told the newspaper.

The other whales spotted included 36 humpbacks, 21 fin whales, and minke, sperm, and North Atlantic right whales. Humpbacks, fin, sperm, killer, and North Atlantic right whales are all endangered, according to NOAA. Minke whales are listed as protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.