GRAY WHALES

Other Interesting Facts about Gray Whales

The rampant hunting of gray whales in the 18th century almost resulted in the extinction of these large marine mammals. Data from government agencies and private organizations showed that the population of grey whales was reduced to a hundred when commercial whaling was at its peak. Alarmed by this scenario, several governments like the US, Mexico, and Canada created laws that aim to protect these kinds of marine mammals. Since gray whales remain close to the coast, it is easy for whalers to hunt them. The worst thing is that some hunters targeted their nursing lagoons, which also kill pregnant and nursing mothers, as well as their calves. Some whalers even set floating factories at sea to facilitate the processing of whales. This large marine mammal, which belongs to the cetacean family, was primarily hunted for its meat and oil.

Do you want to learn more about our California gray whales? Here are the other interesting facts that we have compiled for you:

• Gray whales usually live in small groups but can also form large pods.
• They travel 9,000 – 16,000 miles or an average of 2-3 months to complete the migration trip. It is considered as the longest migration trip of any marine animal.
• They are commonly sighted in Baja California, Mexico, San Francisco, Monterey, and nearby areas. Just look for a cruise company that can bring you to the above mentioned areas. If possible, choose a company that offers gray whale watching sightseeing cruises in Long Beach CA.
• In 2011, the gray whale population in California was estimated at around 28,000. Just imagine seeing a large number of these mammals in the coastline of Los Angeles.
• During their migration, gray whales will travel night and day at an average speed of 5mph.
• Gray whale hunting is illegal. It is protected under the International Whaling Commission (IWC). Gray whales are also protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and Endangered Species Act.

Are you excited to see these marine mammals up close? Call us and we guarantee you that you’ll enjoy our gray whale watching sightseeing cruises in Long Beach CA.

Scheduling Your First Gray Whale Watching in Long Beach

Gray whales are typically spotted in the coastline of California during the migration season. A lot of local companies offer sightseeing cruise but only get one that can provide the best service. There are also a lot of possible destinations for your planned gray whale watching sightseeing cruise. The popular locations are San Diego, Dana Point, Monterey, Dana Bay, Half Moon, San Francisco, and Long Beach. The latter is the most popular because of the large number of cruise companies in the area. These service providers are licensed, certified, and well-experienced.

After planning your whale watching trip, go for a well-experienced company that offers gray whale sightseeing cruises in Long Beach CA. Choose Harbor Breeze Cruises to have a unique but satisfying experience watching these gray whales complete their journey. Our company offers outstanding trip packages for groups, family, friends, couples and individuals. We also have the best rates and we even offer special rates for children and the elderly. Contact us at 310-547-9916 or book online to reserve your slot now.

Info: the Gray Whale is often found off the coast of Southern California is a dark slate and gray in color and is covered in gray and white patterns. The Gray Whale is characterized by scars all over the body caused by parasites which are shed off in cold water feeding grounds. There are several methods of identifying these whales but the most common is by matching photographs of their dorsal surface and matching the scars and patches caused by the parasites. When the parasites fall off, they often take with them pieces of the Gray Whale’s skin leaving scar tissue. With regard to the size, Gray Whales are fairly large but are not the largest type of whale in Southern California. At birth, Gray Whales can measure from 16 ft (4.9 m) long. Upon maturity, Gray Whales can measure up to 45 ft (14 m) long and can be up to 40 tons. Typically, adult females tend to be slightly larger in size than male Gray Whales. They have two nostrils on top of their head, which can create a distinctive V-shaped blow at the surface in calm wind conditions.