sylvia ackerman works for the gotham whales conservation group and is out here almost every day on the lookout for humpbacks. that whales. have recovered significantly since their day. well in because of that protection and our waters now also we are. then they've been in decades. odds are then we see the 1st 2 whales spouting. a sign that they're on the hunt. the whale watchers are then also treated to a pod of young dolphins a key prey for both dolphins and humpback whales is menhaden. come. it's an oily forage fish that isn't rich supply in these waters. what looks like rain hitting the water is actually a dense school of fish the menhaden often cluster in such concentrations that they can be easily spotted from the air off the coast of long island. the fish feed algae and plankton that have absorbed carbon dioxide as such men have been are both invaluable filter fish for the ocean and a vital part of the marine food chain. they not only supply the whales and dolphins but other species the fish like stride and fish are sea birds they're what's known as a keystone species. menhaden a