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🇮🇱 Israel /Environment & Climate

Rare sperm whales spotted off Ashdod coast

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Researchers documented two sperm whales off the coast of Ashdod, a rare sight in the Mediterranean Sea.
  • The sighting occurred during a deep-sea survey on International Ocean Day, coinciding with the researchers' final day before being called back due to Iranian missile strikes.
  • Sperm whales are an endangered species in the Mediterranean, and this sighting highlights the need for their protection amidst human impacts and climate challenges.

Researchers from the University of Haifa's Morris Kahn Marine Research Station have documented two sperm whales off the coast of Ashdod, marking the first sighting of the species in the area since 2022. The rare encounter occurred on International Ocean Day, June 8, 2026, during a deep-sea survey.

Just moments before we lifted the hydrophone (an acoustic system used to locate dolphins and whales) from the water, about 35 km west of Ashdod, at a depth of 700 meters, we suddenly heard familiar clicks.

— Dr. Aviad ScheininPrincipal investigator of the project and head of the Apex Predators Division at the Morris Kahn Marine Research Station, describing the moment the whales were detected.

The team was preparing to retrieve their hydrophone, an acoustic system used to locate marine mammals, about 35 km west of Ashdod at a depth of 700 meters. "Just moments before we lifted the hydrophone... we suddenly heard familiar clicks," said Dr. Aviad Scheinin, principal investigator of the project. This marks the fifth time sperm whales have been detected using a hydrophone and the second time they have been seen since 2022.

We received an exciting glimpse of their presence here, and also a reminder of the importance of protecting them.

— Yali MevorachProject leader, commenting on the significance of the sighting.

Sperm whales are among the Mediterranean's rarest and most endangered species, with an estimated few hundred individuals in the region. Despite their presence, sightings remain infrequent. The Mediterranean Sea faces numerous human impacts, limited food availability, and climate challenges, making survival difficult for species like the sperm whale. A sperm whale found dead on Zikim beach in February underscored the vulnerability of the population.

The Israeli Mediterranean suffers from many human impacts, limited food availability, and a complex climate, making it difficult for species like these to survive in our region.

— Yali MevorachProject leader, explaining the challenges faced by marine life in the region.

"We have been researching them for several years, with sightings remaining relatively rare," said project leader Yali Mevorach. "Today, we received such an exciting glimpse of their presence here - healthy, beautiful, and actively hunting. It is proof that we have Israeli sperm whales that need us to study them and protect them."

Today, we received such an exciting glimpse of their presence here - healthy, beautiful, and actively hunting. It is proof that we have Israeli sperm whales that need us to study them and protect them.

— Yali MevorachProject leader, expressing the importance of the sighting for conservation efforts.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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