The Humpback Whale is endangered in its range along the US coastline. There are approximately 80,000 Humpbacks worldwide, representing about 8% of estimated historic populations. Humpbacks feed in polar waters in the summer and migrate to tropical or sub-tropical waters to breed and give birth in the winter. It is thought that around 7,000 of these whales travel in US waters at some point each year. Humpbacks typically migrate over 15,500 miles (25,000 km) annually. Like other large whales, this species was and still is a target for the whaling industry. Because of over-hunting the population fell by about 90% prior to the emergency suspension of whaling in 1966.

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