Humpback whales in the Massachusetts area are considered endangered species. Over 80,000 humpbacks are effected by things like entanglement in fishing gear, collisions with ships, and noise pollution that are continuing to impact humpbacks worldwide. In the early 1800's, many were hunting  humpback whales and the increasing use of weapons caused a big decline in humpback whale population by the beginning of the mid 1900's, whale population were reaching alarming levels which are believed to be as low as 700 in North Atlantic.