Thousands of sea creatures have been caught on camera in a miraculous gathering of endangered marine life just miles from Massachusetts.
Scientists from the New England Aquarium were in a survey plane near Cape Cod on August 16 when they spotted more than 2,000 animals from 15 different marine species splashing near the ocean surface.
This diverse group gathered in the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, a large protected patch of ocean about 130 miles from the US that contains deep underwater canyons and mountains.
It is believed that the wild scene was likely a feeding frenzy as giant packs converged on this area to take advantage of an unusually rich supply of food created by the canyons and mountains.
The plane’s crew spotted close to 1,800 dolphins from four different species swimming in a massive group as they were likely hunting for squid.
Meanwhile, endangered fin whales, humpback whales and an extremely rare blue whale were all filtering the water for krill and other tiny zooplankton.
Researchers did express concern over the safety of this hidden ocean habitat filled with endangered species, noting that the federal government rolled back some of the restrictions on fishing in this zone earlier this year.
Katherine McKenna, an associate research scientist in the Aquarium’s Anderson Cabot Center, said in a statement: ‘Seeing a variety of threatened and endangered species actively feeding in the Monument was particularly memorable and underscores the importance of protecting this productive habitat.’
Hundreds of dolphins pictured swimming in the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument near Cape Cod
A whale shark seen swimming at the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument on August 16, 2026
A manta ray swims alone at the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument 130 miles from Cape Cod
Researchers spotted four different species of dolphins at the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument
The April 2026 rollback on environmental protections means the government has lifted their earlier ban on commercial fishing in this protected ocean area.
Fishing boats may now catch fish there again, though some bottom-dragging gear is still restricted in parts of it to protect deep-sea corals.
Commercial boats are now allowed to catch fish, squid, tunas, swordfish and most other seafood at the Monument, raising concerns about the threat to dwindling species and their food sources.
The Monument is a nearly 5,000-square-mile marine habitat that was officially recognized as a protected zone in 2016.
The unique underwater geography of the canyons and mountains pushes cold, nutrient-rich water from the deep ocean toward the surface.
That water grows huge amounts of tiny plants and animals, such as plankton and krill, which attract bigger animals that come to the Monument to eat them, particularly in the summer months.
The crew also spotted whale sharks, manta rays, devil rays, hammerhead sharks and sperm whales joining the massive buffet in the North Atlantic.
‘The diversity of sightings was truly remarkable and a testament to why the Monument is such a special habitat,’ McKenna added.
Pictured: Map of the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument
A humpback whale comes to the ocean surface at the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument
A pack of Risso’s dolphins seen swimming on August 16 in the protected ocean sanctuary in the Atlantic
An endangered blue whale was seen at the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument
‘From regular visitors like dolphins and sperm whales, to large baleen whales drawn by aggregations of zooplankton and whale sharks and manta rays following warm Gulf Stream waters, the Monument brings together an incredible variety of marine life.’
Among the large number of whale sightings on August 16, large whales such as humpbacks and fin whales often feed in Northeast waters in summer and fall, then travel south in winter.
Blue whales, which are also an endangered species, have been seen here less often; they more commonly feed farther north in Canadian waters. However, one was caught on camera by the survey plane.
Photos shared by the aquarium revealed stunning gatherings of hundreds of common dolphins leaping in and out of the water as they moved as one giant formation.
Researchers also captured images of Risso’s dolphins, bottlenose dolphins and striped dolphins during the survey.
Another photo spotted three sperm whales, the largest toothed predators on Earth, including a mother, her calf and a third whale moving through the area seeking out their main source of food – squid, sharks and rays.
As for the massive blue whale, which appeared at the Monument, it is believed that only 10,000 to 25,000 remain today. Each one can live to be nearly 100 years old and can grow to a weight of over 400,000 pounds – making them the largest animal in history.
Three sperm whales, including a mother and her calf, were seen at the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument
A fin whale swims through the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument
A sperm whale, an endangered species, likely hunting for food, swims in the Atlantic Ocean on August 16
Another record-setting creature seen swimming around the Monument was the whale shark, the world’s largest known living fish species.
Whale sharks can range between 40 and 60 feet long. Although gigantic, these sharks are not the terrifying predators that great whites or tiger sharks are.
Whale sharks are considered filter feeders, meaning they dine on plankton near the surface of the Atlantic Ocean.
A large manta ray was also seen swimming alone in the area. It was the second major ray sighting this month, taking place around the same time as wildlife officials spotted an oceanic manta ray just miles from New York’s Jones Beach State Park.
On a previous flight over the Monument in July, researchers spotted nearly 650 animals gathered for another hunting trip, including 600 dolphins, four endangered sperm whales, nearly two dozen pilot whales and a whale shark.
