CAPE COD (WPRI) — The Cape Cod Canal is back open Monday morning after three endangered North Atlantic right whales temporarily shut it down.

The U.S. Coast Guard Northeast said Sunday afternoon the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers closed the canal on Sunday to all vessel traffic because of the whales.

The canal reopened around 9:30 a.m. on Monday.

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution’s Dr. Michael Moore believes the whales were drawn to the canal in search of food.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said there are fewer than 350 right whales worldwide.

A similar situation happened 11 months ago when right whales were spotted just north of the canal in Cape Cod Bay.