Island Waters: Right Whales, Submarines

RIGHT WHALES AND SUBMARINES AROUND AMELIA ISLAND


I’ve heard that northern right whales have been seen off Amelia Island recently. A local resident out boating was able to get a few shots of the whales with his cell phone camera last week. It was also reported that a right whale got tangled near Cumberland Island, GA (which is near Amelia) and was freed.

Female right whales migrate in the winter months, and each year are spotted in the waters near Amelia Island. Unfortunately, I’ve never had the thrill of seeing them myself. Apparently they are huge – the size of a school bus. On a more mammoth scale than a whale, I have seen the black nuclear subs come through the Cumberland Sound, occasionally, just off Fort Clinch. Last week, I was walking on the northern tip of Amelia Island island (within Fort Clinch State Park) and a submarine, flanked with guarding ships, passed by heading to its Kings Bay base.

Although not a living sea creature like a splendid whale, these subs are quite awe inspiring in their size and ominous power. You can’t help but gawk when you see a Trident sub up (relatively) close. These nuclear-powered, strategic missile Tridents are the largest submarines the U.S. Navy has – reportedly 560 feet long and 42 feet wide. It's these subs and other vessels in the busy shipping channels that pose a threat to the highly endandered right whales. Thankfully, there are guardian angels flying the skies to help prevent whale/vessel strikes. (See related article to be published this week “Watch Out For the Whales” in Amelia Island Living' eMagazine section.)
W.B.L.