Finback whale (Balaenoptera physalus), the most abundant and widely distributed baleen whale along the Mid- and North Atlantic coasts, was listed as endangered in 1970. Mid-winter through early spring, finback whales are found within a mile of the shoreline along the eastern portions of Long Island and the New York Bight Apex (at the mouth of New York - New Jersey Harbor), apparently feeding on the high densities of herring and mackerel that occur there at that time of year. Calves are observed throughout the year, with newborn calves appearing in early July. The finback whale is one of the fastest of the large whales, and is able to reach burst speeds of over 37 kilometers/hour (20 knots). Finbacks were not an important commercial species until the comparatively recent development of fast catcher boats and the depletion of the blue whale stock. Today finback whales are subject to human stresses in the marine environment, including habitat degradation from coastal development and pollution, competition for food resources, entrapment and entanglement in fishing gear, and collision with ships. 

Northern right whale (Eubalaena glacialis), the world's most endangered large whale, was listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act in June 1970. Worldwide, there are about 600 individuals remaining, and current estimates indicate the occurrence of only 300 to 350 individuals in the North Atlantic Ocean. The low population numbers signal that this large whale species is most in danger of extinction in the near future. Possible reasons for continued right whale decline include the effects of ship traffic, marine pollution, and coastal development in the North Atlantic calving grounds; entanglement with fishing gear; collision with vessels; and competition for food. 

Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) was classified as endangered when the U.S. Endangered Species Act was passed in 1973 and remains so today. Humpbacks are the fourth most depleted large cetacean worldwide, and were heavily exploited by commercial whalers until the middle of the 20th century. Today these whales meet with a number of other threats, including entrapment and entanglement in fishing gear, collision with ships, acoustic disturbance, habitat degradation from both pollution and coastal development, and competition for resources with humans. This is one of the few species that has been observed frequently along western Long Island, including New York Harbor and the surrounding shore. 

Sperm whale (Physeter catodon) was listed as endangered with the passage of the U.S. Endangered Species Act in 1973. It is distributed widely throughout the deep waters of the North Atlantic, almost always in waters greater than 200 meters (656 feet). The deeper waters of the New York Bight seem to be important to the various life stages of the sperm whale; a great many sightings of individuals have been reported in the Bight, and the area has an abundance of squid, a favorite food item. Mating occurs in the spring, during migration north through the Bight waters. Cows and calves are regularly sighted in the Bight.